the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) was given a choice between two matters but that he would choose the easier of the two (26). It is also because in it there is opposition to the people of innovation. It has been narrated from Sufyan al-Thawri that he said to Shu'ayb ibn Harb (27): "What you have written will not benefit you until you consider wiping over the khuffayn to be better than washing." Hanbal narrated from Ahmad that he said: "Both are permissible, wiping and washing; I have no doubt in my heart regarding wiping, nor regarding washing." This is the view of Ibn al-Mundhir. It is narrated from Ibn Umar that he ordered them to wipe over their khuffayn, yet he [himself] removed his khuffayn and performed ablution, saying: "Ablution has been made beloved to me." Ibn Umar also said: "I am fond of washing my feet, so do not follow me in this." It is said: "Washing is better, because it is the obligation ordained in the Book of Allah the Almighty, and wiping is a concession." We have already mentioned from the hadith of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him): "Indeed, Allah loves for His concessions to be accepted."
78 - Issue; Abu al-Qasim, may Allah have mercy on him, said: (And whoever puts on his khuffayn while he is in a state of complete purity, then breaks his ablution, may wipe over them.)
We are not aware of any disagreement regarding the condition of having performed ablution [first] for the permissibility of wiping. The proof for this is what al-Mughirah narrated, saying: "I was with the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) on a journey, and I reached down to take off his khuffayn, but he said: 'Leave them, for I inserted them while they were in a state of purity,' and so he wiped over them." Agreed upon (1). As for if he washed
(26) Recorded by al-Bukhari, in: Chapter of the description of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), from the Book of Virtues, and in: Chapter of the Prophet's (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) saying: 'Make things easy and do not make them difficult,' from the Book of Good Manners, and in: Chapter of Establishing Penalties, from the Book of Penalties. Sahih al-Bukhari 4/230, 8/37, 198, 199. And Muslim, in: Chapter of the Prophet's (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) distancing himself from sins, from the Book of Virtues. Sahih Muslim 4/1813. And Abu Dawud, in: Chapter of Forgiveness in matters, from the Book of Good Manners. Sunan Abi Dawud 2/550. And Imam Malik in: Chapter of what has been mentioned regarding good character, from the Book of Good Character. Al-Muwatta 2/903. And Imam Ahmad, in: al-Musnad 6/85, 113, 114, 116, 130, 162, 182, 189, 191, 209, 223, 232, 262. (27) Shu'ayb ibn Harb al-Mada'ini the ascetic, one of the scholars of hadith, who died in the year 197 AH. Al-'Ibar 1/323. (1) Recorded by al-Bukhari, in: Chapter of 'If one inserts his feet while they are pure,' from the Book of Ablution, and in: Chapter of the wool cloak during military expeditions, from the Book of Clothing. Sahih al-Bukhari 1/62, 7/186. And Muslim, in: Chapter of Wiping over the Khuffayn, from the Book of Purification. Sahih Muslim 1/230. And Abu Dawud, in: Chapter of Wiping over the Khuffayn, from the Book of Purification. Sunan Abi Dawud 1/33. And al-Darimi, in: Chapter on Wiping over the Khuffayn, from the Book of Purification. Sunan al-Darimi 1/181. And Imam Ahmad, in: al-Musnad 4/245, 251, 255.
