The Footgear

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that ’Amir al-Mu’minin has said, ‘Good shoes (footgear) are protection for the body and helps for Salat (prayer) and al-Tahur (cleansing).”’

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘The first one who used footgear was Ibrahim ‘Alayhi al- Salam.”’

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, has said, ‘One who uses a sandal must find a good one.’”

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that ’Amir al-Mu’minin has said, ‘Do not use an al-Mals footgear (one without heels and strip between the toes); it is the kind of the footgear of the pharaoh who was the first to use such footgear.’”

“Abu Ja‘far (a.s.), has said, ‘I dislike a man whose footgear is without pursuer (the back part to support the back of the heels).”’

“Once I was with abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), and I was wearing a sandal which was smooth. He (the Imam) said, ‘This is of the kind of sandals that Jews wear.’ Minhal then returned, took a knife and carved to narrow down its middle.’”

narrated to me Ishaq al-Hadhdha’ who has said the following: “Once abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), sent for me, when we were in Mina, to come to him with my tools. I went to his tent and offered him (the Imam) the greeting of peace to which he responded and made a hand gesture for me to sit down. I sat down. He (the Imam) took a new shoe and threw it to me. When I wanted to leave I said, ‘I pray to Allah to keep my soul in service for your cause, I wish you gave this sandal to me as a present so I can use it as a model. He (the Imam) threw the other pair to me saying, ‘How can you benefit from one pair?’ He (the narrator) has said, ‘It had a back support, a narrow middle part and two straps in their front part (to go between the toes). He (the Imam) said, ‘It is the model of the footgear of the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause.’”

“I once heard abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), saying, ‘I dislike a man when I see him wearing a sandal which does not have a narrow middle part. The first one who changed the model of the Messenger of Allah was so and so.’ He (the Imam) then asked, ‘What do you call this model?’ I said, ‘It is smooth.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘This smooth model (that I dislike).”’

“Once abu al-Hassan, looked at me when I was wearing sandals which were smooth. He (the Imam) took it in his hand and turned it, then said to me, ‘Do you want to be like Jews?’ I said, ‘I pray to Allah to keep my soul in service for your cause, it is only what a human being has given to me as a gift.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘It then is not unlawful.’”

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), disliked tying of shoelaces. He (the Imam) took the sandals of one of them and opened its laces.”

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘My father would keep Dhawa’ib (the clump) of his shoes longer.’”

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), once looked at a shoe which had laces that were tied down. He (the Imam) picked it up, opened its laces and said, ‘This must not be tied down.’”

“I once was walking with abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), when the thong and strap of his shoe broke. I took out one from my bag with which he repaired his shoe. He (the Imam) touched my left shoulder saying, ‘O ‘Abd al-Rahman ibn Kathir, if one helps a believing person in the matters of his shoe thong Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, will carry him on a fast running camel when he comes out of his grave until he will knock at the door of the garden (paradises).”’

“Once we were walking with abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), to (the house of) one of his relatives for offering condolences because of the death of their child. The strap and thong of the shoe of abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), broke, so he took his shoes in his hand and began to walk barefoot. Ibn abu Ya‘fur looked at him and took his shoes off, removed its strap and thong to give it to abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), who refused to accept it as if disappointed. He (the Imam) then said, ‘The mourner has a greater responsibility to exercise patience.’ He (the Imam) continued walking barefoot until he arrived at the house of the man whom he wanted to offer condolences.’”

“Once I was with abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), when he visited a man. On his arrival he took off his shoes and then said, ‘You must take off your shoes; when shoes are removed the feet receive more comfort and rest.’”