Bukhari

Hadith Commentary:

There is great wisdom in this. Firstly, it is unsightly that one foot is shod while the other is bare.
Secondly, there is also the risk that, due to the unevenness of the feet, one may sprain an ankle.
There is, in addition, the danger of being pricked by a thorn.
In any case, the command of the Noble Messenger sallallahu alayhi wa sallam is not devoid of wisdom.
The action of the Wise One is never without wisdom.

Hadith Commentary:
(1)
When removing footwear, beginning from the left side is done because wearing shoes is a good deed, as it provides protection to the body. Since the right foot is superior and more honorable than the left, one begins with the right foot when putting on shoes, and removes it last when taking them off, so that the right foot receives greater honor and respect, and its share in this protection is more frequent.

(2)
In any case, a person who begins putting on shoes with the left foot has displayed disrespect due to opposing the Sunnah, but wearing shoes will not become unlawful because of this.
And Allah knows best. (Fath al-Bari: 10/384)

(1) "Do you understand?"—Perhaps someone had spoken ill of him due to his narrating abundantly. The Iraqis were somewhat like this.

(2) "Correct it"—It is understood from this that a believer should maintain his dignity, both in clothing and in manner of walking. He should not be so simple that he disregards his dignity and becomes a source of ridicule and mockery for people.

Benefits and Issues:

➊ Walking with only one shoe or sock causes difficulty and there is a risk of stumbling, because balance in walking is lost. In addition, it is also contrary to dignity and decorum.

If, for some reason, one has to remove one shoe, it is better to remove both shoes.

Walking barefoot is not prohibited in the Shari‘ah.

Explanation of the Hadith:
There are many wisdoms contained in the Prophet’s (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) prohibition of walking with only one shoe, and there are various reasons for this prohibition.

Imam Khattabi rahimahullah states:
The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) forbade walking with one shoe because walking in this manner causes hardship for a person, and there is also the risk of falling and getting injured. In addition, the greatest flaw is that to the onlooker, it appears as if one of his feet is large and the other is small.

Ibn al-‘Arabi rahimahullah states:
Walking with one shoe is a satanic manner of walking.

Imam Bayhaqi rahimahullah states:
To walk in such a state that one foot is covered with a shoe and the other is bare—this method is a cause of disgrace and is legally prohibited, whether it is in relation to clothing or any other matter that brings about notoriety. After this, Imam Bayhaqi rahimahullah mentions a golden principle:
«فَكُلّ شيئٍ حَيَّرَ صَاحِبُهُ شُهْرَة فَحقُّهُ أَنْ يَّجْتَنِبَ»
“Every matter that causes a person to become notorious must be avoided.” (See: [عمدة القاري: 18/ 52 - فتح الباري: 10/ 309، 310])

Imam Baghawi states:
It is narrated from Sayyiduna Ibn ‘Abbas (radi Allahu anhu) that the Sunnah method is that when a person sits down, he should remove his shoes and place them to one side. See: [شرح السنة: 12/ 78]

One must completely avoid walking with only one shoe, so that the complete and perfect following of the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) can be achieved.

Takhrij al-Hadith:
[وأخرجه البخاري 5856، ومسلم 68/2097، من حديث مالك به]

Jurisprudential Explanation:
➊ In the religion of Islam, there is a solution for every issue, whether it is a major or minor matter, and within it lies goodwill for people.
➋ It is narrated from Ka‘b al-Ahbar rahimahullah that a man took off his shoes, so he (Ka‘b) said: "Why have you taken off your shoes? Perhaps you have done so in compliance with this command: «فَاخْلَعْ نَعْلَيْكَ إِنَّكَ بِالْوَادِ الْمُقَدَّسِ طُوًى» 'So remove your shoes; you are in the sacred valley of Tuwa.' [طٰهٰ : 12] Then Ka‘b said to this man: 'Do you even know what kind of shoes Musa (alayhis salam) had?... They were made from the skin of a dead donkey.' [الموطأ 2/916 ح1768، وسنده صحيح]
➌ If a person has only one foot, then due to necessity, he is exempt from the ruling of this hadith, and it is permissible for him to walk with one shoe.
➍ Hafiz Ibn Abd al-Barr states that if you are prohibited from using something you own, then this prohibition is disciplinary, unless there is another evidence that makes it unlawful. See: [التمهيد 18/177، ملخصاً]
➎ If there is no fear of harm to the foot or of being pricked by thorns, then it is permissible to walk barefoot.
➏ The religion of Islam is the religion of natural disposition (fitrah). (Also see: [الموطأ ح360])

Takhrij:
[بخاري : 5856],
[مسلم : الباس 5497],
[بلوغ المرام : 1248],
[تحفة الاشراف 187/10]

Vocabulary:
«لينعلهما» Nawawi has recorded it with a dammah on the ya, from «انعل» «ينعل» (if‘al form), which means “to put on a shoe.” By «هما» is meant “both feet.” Although they have not been mentioned earlier, the pronoun is used because it is self-evident from the act of putting on shoes which limb is meant. If «لينعلهما» is with a fatha on the ‘ayn, then it will be from «علم يعلم». In Qamus it is stated: «نعل كفرح وانتعل وتنعل» “He wore a shoe.” In this case, by «هما» is meant “both shoes,” i.e., wear both shoes. «ليخلعهما» «هما» means “shoes,” i.e., take off both shoes. In one narration of Bukhari, «اؤ ليحفهما» is mentioned, or “leave both bare,” in which case «هما» will mean “both feet.”

Benefits:

➊ The purpose of a shoe is to protect the foot from harmful things such as thorns, etc. When only one foot is shod, special effort is required to protect the other foot, which disrupts one’s normal gait and the body’s balance is not maintained. There is also a risk of spraining the foot, and in this effort, a person may fall (Fath). These appear to be the apparent wisdoms, but the real cause of every command is known only to Allah, the Exalted.

➋ From this hadith, it is understood that walking with one shoe is forbidden, because the basic principle from the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam is this. In Sahih Muslim, in the hadith of Abu Hurayrah radi Allahu anhu, the words are: “When the strap of one of your shoes breaks (the one that is between the toes, and when it breaks, a person cannot walk in the shoe), then do not walk with one shoe.” If even in the case where the strap breaks while walking, it is not permitted to walk with one shoe, then how can it be permitted without necessity?

➌ Some people say that it is better not to walk with one shoe, but if someone does so occasionally, it is not forbidden, because in Tirmidhi, it is narrated from Aisha radi Allahu anha that: «ربما مشي النبى صلى الله عليه وسلم فى نعل واحدة» “Many times the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam would walk about wearing one shoe.” [ترمذي، اللباس]
But this narration is weak; in it is Layth ibn Abi Sulaym. In Taqrib it is stated: «صدوق اختلط ولم يتميز حديثه فترك» Moreover, it is contrary to the agreed-upon hadith. The correct view is that this is the action of Aisha radi Allahu anha, as is mentioned in Tirmidhi with a sound chain. Imam Bukhari rahimahullah and others have given preference to this. [فتح]
The action of a Companion is not a proof. On behalf of Aisha radi Allahu anha, it will be considered that the hadith did not reach her, or due to some interpretation she did not act upon it.

➍ Jabir radi Allahu anhu heard in a battle from the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam that “Most often keep your shoes on, for as long as a person is wearing shoes, he is mounted.” [مسلم، لباس ب 66]

➎ Fadala ibn Ubayd radi Allahu anhu states that the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam used to command us to sometimes walk barefoot. [ابوداود الترجل ب : 1] And see [صحيح ابوداود]

The purpose is that toughness should remain among Muslims. It should not be that in case a shoe breaks or is not available, they are unable to walk at all. When a person becomes accustomed to occasionally walking barefoot, then in the event of one shoe breaking, neither will shyness before people prevent him from walking barefoot, nor will physical delicacy stop him from walking without shoes.

➏ Jabir radi Allahu anhu narrates that the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said: “When the strap of one of your shoes breaks, do not walk with one shoe until you fix its strap, and do not walk with one sock (muwza) either.” [مسلم، لباس ب 20]

From this it is understood that it is also not permissible to walk about with a sock or stocking on one foot only.

Some people add to this that one should not walk with one sleeve of the shirt removed, etc., but these additions are from themselves; nothing from them can become part of the religion.

Takhrij:
«أخرجه البخاري، اللباس، باب لا يمشي في نعل واحد، حديث:5855، ومسلم، اللباس، باب استحباب لبس النعل في اليمين أولاً...، حديث:2097.»©Explanation:
➊ From this hadith, it is understood that one should not walk wearing only one shoe. Either both should be worn or both should be taken off. Some scholars have stated the wisdom behind this is that the purpose of wearing shoes is to protect both feet from harmful things, such as thorns, etc. When one foot is bare, this purpose is not achieved. Others have said that this is the way the Shaytan walks. (Subul al-Salam)
➋ It is a straightforward matter that the Noble Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) has prohibited this, and furthermore, walking with a shoe on one foot and the other foot bare is also contrary to propriety and etiquette.