Bulugh al-Maram, Book 1, Hadith 70 (In-Book) ⓘ
Narrated ‘Ali (rad): If the religion were based on opinion, it would be more important to wipe over the under parts of the leather socks than the upper, but I have seen Allah’s Messenger (rad) wiping over the upper parts of his leather socks. [Reported by Abu Da’ud with good Isnad (chain of narrators)].
وَعَنْ عَلِيٍّ - رضى الله عنه - قَالَ: { لَوْ كَانَ اَلدِّينُ بِالرَّأْيِ لَكَانَ أَسْفَلُ اَلْخُفِّ أَوْلَى بِالْمَسْحِ مِنْ أَعْلَاهُ, وَقَدْ رَأَيْتُ رَسُولَ اَللَّهِ - صلى الله عليه وسلم -يَمْسَحُ عَلَى ظَاهِرِ خُفَّيْهِ } أَخْرَجَهُ أَبُو دَاوُدَ بِإِسْنَادٍ حَسَن ٍ (76). 2 - صحيح. رواه أبو داود (162).
also referenced under: Book 1, Hadith 65 (English)