The shoes in 'Arabia were not of the type of are known here in India. They consisted of a leather sole with two straps on them.

It means that every strap was made of two strips of leather sewn together. In the chain of narrators of this hadith there is a narrator Khaalid Hadh-dhaa. Hadh-dhaa in 'Arabic means a shoe maker. The 'ulama write that this narrator was not a shoe maker, but had an acquaintance with those whose trade was shoe making. Due to his acquaintance and friendship, he was also named (Khaalid) Hadh-dhaa, and became known by his name. one is surely influenced and develops the habits and manners of those with whom one keeps company.

It was common in 'Arabia that the hair was not removed from the skin from which shoes were made. For this reason the narrator mentioned the hair.

The reason for asking this question is that at that time it was it was not a general practice to wear shoes without hair on them. Imaam Bukhaari quotes a detailed hadith in his kitaab, where sayyidina Ubayd bin Jurayj radiallahu anhu said to Sayyidina Ibn Umar radiallahu anhu, "I see you observe a few things which the other sahaabah do not observe?" Among other question he asked the reason for wearing shoes with a smooth leather surface. sayyidina Ibn Umar radiallahu anhu made strong efforts to follow Rasulullah Sayyidina Rasulullah sallallahu alaihe wasallam in every aspect. The others generally wore the common leather shoes with hair.

It means that the sole was double. It had two layers of leather. It may also mean that because the shoe was tearing a patch was sewn onto it.

The reason for mentioning this Hadith in the shamaa-il is that it was not the noble habit of sayyidina Rasulullah Sayyidina Rasulullah sallallahu alaihe wasallam to wear one shoe only. If sayyidina rasulullah Sayyidina Rasulullah sallallahu alaihe wasallam prohibited others to do so, he would not practice this himself. Apparently the prohibition in this hadith is for doing so habitually. However if a single shoe is worn for a little while because the other one is torn or because of some difficulty, then there is no harm. Arising from this hadith the 'ulama have added that , in the same manner only one khuff (leather sock) or one sleeve should not be worn. Both should be worn as is done commonly. One should keep away from cheap formalities, fashions and rudeness.

According to the majority of the ulama the fulfilment of these commands are meritorious, that means, not haraam. Some ulama of the Zaahir have stated that it is prohibited to act contrary to this.

The shoe being an ornament for the feet, should be long on the feet, as has been mentioned earlier. In the same manner all those things, the wearing of which are ornaments, when wearing them, the right should be first, and when removing them, the left first, like the wearing of qamis (kurtah) ,izaar, jubbah etc.

This is not confined to the above three only, but covers all other acts as stated previously. The saying, As far as possible, means that for some unforeseen reason he began from the left, then there is no harm.

Sayyidina radiallahu anhu may have adopted the use of one strap so that it may not be assumed that two straps are strictly necessary.