Is it obligatory to cut down sandals (khuffayn) when wearing them due to lack of proper sandals during the state of Ihram?
Chapter on What the Muhrim Must Avoid and What is Permissible for Him
Al-Mughni
Book of Hajj
Primary text
It is not obligatory to cut the sandals (khuffayn) when wearing them due to the absence of proper sandals (na'layn). This is the established opinion attributed to Ahmad. This view is also narrated from Ali ibn Abi Talib, and held by 'Atta, 'Ikrimah, and Sa'id ibn Salim al-Qaddah. The evidence for this position is based on the Hadith narrated by Ibn 'Abbas and Jabir that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "Whoever cannot find sandals, let him wear khuffayn." The interpretation is that the permission to wear them implies wearing them as they are, without cutting, as the instruction to cut was not explicitly mentioned in these narrations. Furthermore, cutting the khuffayn is considered an unnecessary destruction of property, which the Prophet (peace be upon him) forbade.
Supporting text
The opposing view, held by 'Urwah ibn al-Zubayr, Malik, al-Thawri, al-Shafi'i, Ishaq, Ibn al-Mundhir, and the companions of Ra'y (Ahl al-Ra'y), is that the sandals must be cut down so that they fall below the ankles. If worn uncut, the person must offer expiation (iftida'). Their evidence is the narration from Ibn 'Umar, which states: "Whoever cannot find sandals, let him wear khuffayn and cut them so that they are below the ankles," which is agreed upon (Muttafaq 'alayh). Some scholars suggest the command to cut is abrogated, citing Aisha's narration that the Prophet (peace be upon him) permitted the pilgrim in Ihram to wear khuffayn without cutting them. Others argue that the narration specifying cutting (Ibn 'Umar's) occurred before the narration from 'Arafah (Ibn 'Abbas's), indicating abrogation, as the latter speech occurred during the Farewell Pilgrimage (Khutbat al-Wada').