He used to command us, when we were on a journey or were travellers, not to remove our leather socks for three days and nights—except in the case of Janābah (major ritual impurity). In other cases such as defecation, urination, or sleep, it is sufficient to wipe over leather socks

Explanation

Zirr ibn Hubaysh came to Safwān ibn ‘Assāl (may Allah be pleased with him), asking him about wiping over the leather socks. Safwān said: What has brought you here, O Zirr? He replied: The pursuit of knowledge. Safwān said: Indeed, the angels lower their wings for the seeker of knowledge, in approval of and honor for what he does. Zirr then said: I have some doubts in my heart about wiping over the socks after defecation and urination, and you are one of the Companions of the Prophet (ﷺ), so I have come to ask you whether you heard the Prophet mention anything about that. Safwān said: Yes. He used to command us when we were traveling, not to remove our leather socks for three days and nights due to minor impurity—such as defecation, urination, or sleep—except in the case of Janābah, for then they must be removed. I (Zirr) said: Did you hear him mention anything about love? He said: Yes. While we were with the Prophet (ﷺ) on a journey, a Bedouin called out in a loud voice: O Muhammad! The Prophet (ﷺ) answered him in a similarly loud voice, close to his tone, saying: Come here. We said to the Bedouin: Woe to you! Lower your voice, for you are in the presence of the Prophet (ﷺ), and you have been forbidden to raise your voice before him. Because of his roughness, the Bedouin replied: By Allah, I will not lower it. Then he said: O Messenger of Allah, a man loves righteous people but has not done deeds like theirs—what about him? The Prophet (ﷺ) said: A person will be with those he loves on the Day of Judgment. Zirr said: Safwān continued telling us until he mentioned a gate of repentance in the direction of the Levant (Shām), which Allah created on the day He created the heavens and the earth—its width is such that a rider could travel across it for forty or seventy years, and it will not be closed until the sun rises from the west.

Benefits

• The virtue of seeking knowledge, the high status of the seeker of knowledge, and the honor and care that the angels show toward him.
• Clarifying the great keenness of the Tābi‘is (the generation after the Companions) to seek knowledge from the noble Companions (may Allah be pleased with them).
• The permissibility of wiping over the leather socks, with its duration being three days and nights for the traveler, and one day and night for the resident.
• Wiping over the leather socks is permitted only in the case of minor Hadath (ritual impurity).
• It is permissible for a questioner to ask a scholar whether his answer is based on a textual proof or on reasoning and personal judgment, and the scholar should not be embarrassed by such a question.
• Showing proper manners with scholars and righteous people, and lowering one's voice in the knowledge assemblies.
• Teaching the ignorant good manners and proper rules of conduct.
• Encouragement to follow the example of the Prophet (ﷺ) in his forbearance, excellent character, and in addressing people according to their knowledge and understanding.
• Al-Mubārakfūrī said: The Prophet (ﷺ) raised his voice out of compassion for the Bedouin, so that his deeds would not be rendered void by the verse: {O you who believe, do not raise your voices above the voice of the Prophet}. Thus, he excused him due to his ignorance, and the Prophet (ﷺ) raised his voice to be like his or louder, out of great mercy and compassion toward him.
• The importance of keeping the company of righteous people, staying close to them, and loving them.
• An-Nawawi said: It does not necessarily entail that being with them means having the same rank and reward as them in every respect.
• Opening the door of hope and optimism, giving glad tidings of salvation, and showing gentleness in admonition.
• The vastness of Allah's mercy and His opening of the door of repentance.