Question:
Assalamualaikum SS Datuk Mufti. Is there an encouragement to wear sandals from the hadith?
Answer:
Waalaikumussalam wrt. wbt.
Alhamdulillah, praise and thanks to Allah for the countless blessings He has blessed us all with. Blessings and salutations to the Prophet Muhammad PBUH, his wives, his family, companions and all those that follow his teachings to the day of judgement.
Islam is a religion that emphasizes cleanliness from both physical and spiritual aspects. The reason is Allah SWT loves His slaves who are clean and this is stated in the Quran:
فِيهِ رِجَالٌ يُحِبُّونَ أَن يَتَطَهَّرُوا ۚ وَاللَّـهُ يُحِبُّ الْمُطَّهِّرِينَ
“Within it are men who love to purify themselves; and Allah loves those who purify themselves.”
Surah al-Taubah (108)
Imam al-Baghawi in his commentary stated that purify in the above verse means pure from hadas (minor or major), janabah and najis. Al-Atha’ said, they are from those who purify themselves with water and do not sleep in the state of janabah (major hadas).
- From Jabir RA, the Prophet PBUH said:
اسْتَكْثِرُوا مِنَ النِّعَالِ، فَإِنَّ الرَّجُلَ لَا يَزَالُ رَاكِبًا مَا انْتَعَلَ
“Make a general practice of wearing sandals, for a man is riding as it were when he wears sandals.”
Sahih Muslim (2096)
The Meaning of Hadith
According to Imam al-Nawawi, the meaning of the hadith is a comparison with a person who is riding of which it eases his hardship and tiredness, protecting his feet from harm of the road such as thorns, roughness or jaggedness of the surface of the road and other harms. It is also sunnah for a traveller to wear sandals or other type of footwear needed for travels. Furthermore, it is also sunnah for a leader to remind his companions about this. (See al-Minhaj Syarh Muslim, 73/14)
Thus, it can be understood from the hadith of the Prophet PBUH that it is encouraged to wear sandals or other footwear when a person is going somewhere to protect his feet.
Manners of Wearing
Among the manners encouraged by the Prophet PBUH when wearing sandals are:
- From Abu Hurairah RA, the Prophet PBUH said:
إِذَا انْتَعَلَ أَحَدُكُمْ فَلْيَبْدَأْ بِالْيُمْنَى، وَإِذَا خَلَعَ فَلْيَبْدَأْ بِالشِّمَالِ، وَلْيُنْعِلْهُمَا جَمِيعًا، أَوْ لِيَخْلَعْهُمَا جَمِيعًا
"When one of you puts on sandals, he should first put in the right foot, and when he takes off the sandals, he should take off the left one first. And he should wear both of them or take both off."
Sahih Muslim (2097)
The prophetic guidance from this hadith are divided into several parts:
- Start wearing one’s sandals with the right foot.
- Take off the sandals with the left foot first.
- Wear and take of one’s sandals simultaneously.
Furthermore, the Prophet PBUH restricts us from walking with just one sandal. This is narrated in a hadith:
- From Jabir RA, the Prophet PBUH said:
لَا تَمْشِ فِي نَعْلٍ وَاحِدٍ
“Do not walk in one sandal,”
Sahih Muslim (2099)
Imam al-Nawawi stated that the ruling of walking in just one sandal is makruh (undesirable). If the rope (which hold the sandals and toes together) breaks, then do not walk with just one sandal (which isn’t broke) until you repair the broken sandal. (See al-Minhaj Syarh Muslim, 75/14)
Conclusion
To conclude, this shows that Islam is a religion that emphasizes on every aspect of life including clothing. Lastly, may Allah SWT give us the strength and understanding in practising the sunnah of the Prophet PBUH. Amin.
Wallahua’lam.