Fath al-Rabbani

Benefits: … The verse referred to from Surah al-Ma'idah is: {یَا اَیُّھَا الَّذِیْنَ آمَنُوْا اِذَا قُمْتُمْ اِلَی الصَّلَاۃِ فَاغْسِلُوْا وُجُوْھَکُمْ وَاَیْدِیَکُمْ اِلَی الْمَرَافِقِ وَامْسَحُوْا بِرُئُ وْسِکُمْ وَاَرْجُلَکُمْ اِلَی الْکَعْبَیْنِ} The explanation of this hadith is that this verse from Surah al-Ma'idah was revealed in 5 AH on the occasion of the Battle of Banu Mustaliq, and Sayyiduna Jarir (radi Allahu anhu) accepted Islam in 10 AH. Some of the Companions were of the opinion that the ahadith regarding the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) wiping over the leather socks (khuffayn) should be understood as having occurred before the revelation of this verse, and that, based on the command given in this verse, the feet should only be washed and there should be no allowance for wiping over the leather socks. When the Companions learned of the aforementioned hadith of Sayyiduna Jarir (radi Allahu anhu)—that he accepted Islam in 10 AH and he says that he saw the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) wiping over the leather socks—this meant that the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) continued the practice of wiping even after the revelation of this verse. Therefore, they greatly appreciated the hadith of Sayyiduna Jarir (radi Allahu anhu), because it removed their doubt.