Footwear
CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE
SUNNAH OF SHOES
O Allah (The Exalted) bless our master Muhammad (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) in everything You have already created and in what You will create and in whatever is encompassed by Your Knowledge and then double all of that.
To wear footwear is the Sunnah. It saves from damaging the feet from stones, glass, thorns etc. In winter it saves the feet from illnesses and in summer from the heat. Let us learn more about the Prophet’s (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) footwear and what he said regarding it.
The Prophet’s (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) footwear
The Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) would wear sandals made from skin or wooden sandals, he also wore leather socks, and at the time of Wudhu he would perform Masah (wipe over the socks).
‘Abd-Allah ibn ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) states that, “I saw the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) wearing shoes that had no hair (leather shoes without animal skin).” i
Two Straps
Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that, “The Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) had two straps (on his footwear).” ii
Right First
Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) has related that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) said that, “When one of you puts on footwear, wear the right first and when taking them off, take the left one off first. So that the right one be the first to be put on and the last to be taken off.” iii
Walking With One Shoe
Jabir (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) states that, “The Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) forbade eating with the left hand and walking with one shoe.” iv
If one shoe is lost or there is a problem with the other, then do not just wear one.
Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) states that, “Do not walk with one shoe, wear them both or take both of them off.” v
Wearing shoes whilst standing
The Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) would wear his shoes while seated. Whenever he lifted up his shoes he did so with the index and middle finger of his left hand. vi
Jabir (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) disallowed wearing shoes whilst standing. vii
This is for those who have a problem wearing their shoes standing, as it is difficult to tie the laces whilst standing. Look at the concern the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) had for his followers, that he does not want to see us in any type of difficulty. However, who wants to listen to good advice today? People want to go their own way, it’s a free life do what you want. Remember follow the teachings and advice of Allah’s beloved (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) and lay the path to Jannah for ourselves, the choice is ours!
Placing under the Arm
‘Abd-Allah Ibn ‘Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) states that, “To place the shoes under the arms is also a Sunnah.” viii
The Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) states that, “When one takes a seat, take your shoes off and your feet will be relaxed.” ix 2 www.GardensOfSunnah.co.uk
Curse Masculine women
Ibn Abu Malayka (may Allah be pleased with him) told that when someone remarked to ‘Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) that “A woman was wearing men’s sandals she replied that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) cursed masculine women.” x
Allahu Akbar! Men should only wear mens’ clothing and footwear. The women should only wear clothing and footwear that is for women. Do not even dress children with clothing of the opposite gender.
Bear feet
‘Abd-Allah bin Burayda (may Allah be pleased with him) states that, “Someone asked Fadhala bin ‘Ubayd (may Allah be pleased with him) that ‘What it is that I see you bear feet?’ He said, ‘The Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) has ordered us to stay bear feet at times.’” xi
To walk bear feet at times is a great Sunnah.
VIRTUES OF THE NALAIN OF THE PROPHET
(may Allah bless him and grant him peace)
The Nalain is an image of the Prophet’s (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) blessed footwear. Many books have been written on this subject by great scholars’ hundreds of years ago. We will mention some of the benefits for sake of blessings.
Nalain
Abu Ishaq (al-Zuhri) said: al-Qasim ibn Muhammad (ibn Abu Bakr al-Siddiq) said: Of the proven blessing of the likeness of the Prophet’s (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) sandal is that whoever has it in his possession for tabarruk, it will safeguard him from the troublemaking of rebels and the mastery of enemies, and will be a barrier against every recreant devil and the evil eye of the envious. If the pregnant woman holds it in her right hand at the time of labour, her delivery will be easier by Allah’s (The Exalted) change and His might.
Al-Qastallani also said that Abu al-Yaman ibn ‘Asakir wrote a volume on the image of the Prophet’s (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) sandal, and so did Ibn Hajj al-Andalusi. He relates the account of a pious Shaykh by the name of Abu Ja’far Ahmad ibn ‘Abd al-Majid: I cut the pattern of this sandal for one of my students. He came to me one day and said: “I saw a wonder yesterday from the blessing of this sandal. My wife was suffered from a pain that almost took her life. I placed the sandal on the spot of her pain and said: O Allah (The Exalted), show me the blessing of the owner of this sandal. Allah (The Exalted) cured her on the spot.”
The Benefits
Shaykh Ahmad Raza Khan in ‘Fatawa-e-Razwiyya’ writes the virtues of the Nalain, he writes:
“The scholars state whoever has the Nalain will be saved from:
1. Oppression 2. Evils of Shaytan 3. You will be saved from the jealous 4. At the time of labour keep it in the hand and it will become easy. 5. If kept on oneself at all times, one will be respected 6. You will see the Rowda (Prophet’s, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, shrine) 7. You will see the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) in your dream 8. Not be separated from the group 9. Your group will not be robbed 10. The ship will not sink 11. The stock will not be stolen, 12. The supplication asked with its intercession will be accepted, 13. With which intention it is kept with will be fulfilled, 14. If placed on the part one has pain it will be relieved, 15. If asked for it’s intercession in the times of difficulties, the doors of success will open.” xii 3 www.GardensOfSunnah.co.uk
i Bukhari
ii Bukhari
iii Bukhari
iv Shamail-e-Tirmidhi
v Muslim
vi Tirmidhi
vii ibid
viii Abu Dawood
ix Bazzaz
x Abu Dawud, Mishkat-ul-Masabih, Fatawa-e-Razawiyya, Vol: 1, p. 9, Jam’i-ul-Hadith, Vol: 3, p. 16
xi Abu Dawud
xii Fatawa-e-Razawiyya
xiii Ruhul Bayan
xiv Nizam-e-Shariah
xv Alamgiri
xvi Muslim
xvii Faizane Sunnat, p. 743
xviii Shamail-e-Tirmidhi
xix ibid
xx Tirmidhi
xxi Abu Dawud
xxii Tirmidhi
xxiii Abu Dawud
xxiv ibid
xxv Sunni Behsti Zewar
xxvi Faizane Sunnat, p. 744
Manners of Shoes
1. It is not good to wear black shoes. ‘Abd-Allah bin Zubair and Imam Jaleel Muhammad bin Kathir (may Allah be pleased with them) forbade from wearing black shoes as it creates worries. xiii
2. It is good to wear yellowish (tan) shoes, ‘Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) states that, “Whoever wears tanned (yellowish) shoes their worries will be reduced.” xiv
3. To wear shoes made from skin is Sunnah. xv
4. Wear both shoes or take both off. xvi
5. Shake the shoes before wearing, so that stones or such things come out. xvii
6. Wear the right shoe first and then the left. xviii
7. Take the left shoe off first and then the right. xix
8. Hold the shoes with the left-hand index and middle finger. xx
9. When taking shoes off put the shoes on one side so people do not trip over them.
10. To carry the shoes under the arm is Sunnah. xxi
11. Do not wear shoes standing up. xxii
12. Try to walk bear foot at times as the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) has advised us to do so. xxiii
13. Women should not wear shoes of men and men should not wear shoes of women. As for those who do, Allah’s (The Exalted) curse is on them. xxiv This also applies to clothing. A lot of sisters are seen wearing shirt and trousers, beware!
14. If the shoes are turned over put them straight, and there will be no fear of poverty. xxv
15. Do not take someone else’s shoes if yours are lost as this would be stealing. Especially in large gatherings or when on pilgrimage to Makkah as the sin is multiplied by 1,000. It is a sin even though you think someone may have taken yours by mistake and you take someone else’s shoes. xxvi
May Allah (The Exalted) give us the ability to follow the Sunnah in wearing our shoes and seek blessings from the Nalain of the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace), Ameen.