What is the ruling on one who imitates Ali ibn Abi Talib, Abdullah ibn Abbas, Anas ibn Malik, Al-Hasan al-Basri, Ikrimah, Al-Sha’bi, and Abu al-Aliyah regarding wiping the feet in ablution instead of washing them? And what is said to one who issues such a fatwa? And is the disagreement on this issue strong and valid?

The obligatory act in ablution is washing the feet, and it is not permissible to suffice with wiping unless it is wiping over the leather socks (khuffayn), a matter upon which Muslims have reached a consensus.

Those who advocated for wiping argued based on the verse: (وَامْسَحُوا بِرُءُوسِكُمْ وَأَرْجُلِكُمْ) [and wipe over your heads and your feet] by reading (Arjulikum) with a kasra (genitive case) according to one of the readings. However, there is another reading with a fatha (accusative case): (وَأَرْجُلَكُمْ) [and your feet], which explicitly indicates washing. The genitive case is either due to proximity [to the preceding word 'heads' which is also in genitive] or it is interpreted as wiping over the khuffayn, or that the word 'wiping' can also denote 'washing.'

Regarding what was narrated from some Companions concerning wiping, it has been established that they recanted it and that the confirmed statement from them was in favor of washing. Moreover, numerous reports have been transmitted successively from the Prophet (peace be upon him) describing his ablution, indicating that he washed his feet.