Combing the Hair - Section 1

Thauban told that when God’s messenger went on a journey the last member of his family he saw was Fatima and the first he visited on his return was Fatima. Once when he returned from an expedition she had hung up a hair-cloth, or a curtain, at her door and adorned al-Hasan and al-Husain with silver bracelets, so when he arrived he did not enter. Thinking that he had been prevented from entering by what he had seen she tore down the curtain, unfastened the bracelets from the boys and cut them off them. They went weeping to God's messenger, and when he had taken them from them he said, “Take this to so and so’s family, Thauban. These are my family and I dislike their enjoying their good things in the present life. Buy Fatima a necklace of <i>‘asb</i>( the meaning is not clear. It is suggested that it means the tendons of the joints of animals cut into beads, or the teeth or bones of the hippopotamus) , Thauban, and two ivory (Or, 'tortoise-shell’ (’aj) bracelets.” Ahmad and Abu Dawud transmitted it.

وَعَنْ ثَوْبَانَ قَالَ: كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ إِذَا سَافَرَ كَانَ آخِرُ عَهْدِهِ بِإِنْسَانٍ مِنْ أَهْلِهِ فَاطِمَةَ وَأَوَّلُ مَنْ يَدْخُلُ عَلَيْهَا فَاطِمَةَ فَقَدِمَ مِنْ غَزَاةٍ وَقَدْ عَلَّقَتْ مَسْحًا أَوْ سِتْرًا عَلَى بَابِهَا وَحَلَّتِ الْحَسَنَ وَالْحُسَيْنَ قُلْبَيْنِ مِنْ فِضَّةٍ فَقَدِمَ فَلَمْ يَدْخُلْ فَظَنَّتْ أَنَّ مَا مَنَعَهُ أَنْ يَدْخُلَ مَا رَأَى فَهَتَكَتِ السِّتْرَ وَفَكَّتِ الْقُلْبَيْنِ عَنِ الصَّبِيَّيْنِ وَقَطَعَتْهُ مِنْهُمَا فَانْطَلَقَا إِلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَبْكِيَانِ فَأَخَذَهُ مِنْهُمَا فَقَالَ: «يَا ثَوْبَانُ اذْهَبْ بِهَذَا إِلَى فُلَانٍ إِنَّ هَؤُلَاءِ أَهْلِي أَكْرَهُ أَنْ يَأْكُلُوا طَيِّبَاتِهِمْ فِي حَيَاتِهِمُ الدُّنْيَا. يَا ثَوْبَانُ اشْتَرِ لِفَاطِمَةَ قِلَادَةً مِنْ عَصْبٍ وَسُوَارَيْنِ مِنْ عَاجٍ» . رَوَاهُ أَحْمَدُ وَأَبُو دَاوُد

Ibn ‘Abbas reported the Prophet (ﷺ) as saying, “Apply antimony, for it clears the sight and makes the hair grow.” And he asserted that the Prophet (ﷺ) had a collyrium-case from which he applied collyrium every night in each eye three times. Tirmidhi transmitted it.

وَعَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ: «اكْتَحِلُوا بِالْإِثْمِدِ فَإِنَّهُ يَجْلُو الْبَصَرَ وَيُنْبِتُ الشَّعْرَ» . وَزَعَمَ أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ كَانَتْ لَهُ مُكْحُلَةٌ يَكْتَحِلُ بِهَا كُلَّ لَيْلَةٍ ثَلَاثَةً فِي هَذِهِ وَثَلَاثَةً فِي هَذِه. رَوَاهُ التِّرْمِذِيّ

He said the Prophet (ﷺ) used to apply antimony three times in each eye before going to sleep, and reported him as saying, “The best medicines you apply are those sipped at the corners of the mouth, those snuffed up the nose, cupping, purgatives; the best thing you apply to your eyes is antimony, for it clears the sight and makes the hair grow ; and the best days for cupping are the seventeenth, nineteenth and twenty-first.” When God’s messenger was taken up to visit heaven every company of angels he passed said, “Keep up the practice of cupping.” Tirmidhi transmitted it, saying this is a <i>hasan</i> <i>gharib</i> tradition.

وَعَنْهُ قَالَ: كَانَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَكْتَحِلُ قَبْلَ أَنْ يَنَامَ بِالْإِثْمِدِ ثَلَاثًا فِي كُلِّ عَيْنٍ قَالَ: وَقَالَ: «إِنَّ خَيْرَ مَا تَدَاوَيْتُمْ بِهِ اللَّدُودُ وَالسَّعُوطُ وَالْحِجَامَةُ وَالْمَشِيُّ وَخَيْرَ مَا اكْتَحَلْتُمْ بِهِ الْإِثْمِدُ فَإِنَّهُ يَجْلُو الْبَصَرَ وَيُنْبِتُ الشَّعْرَ وَإِنَّ خَيْرَ مَا تَحْتَجِمُونَ فِيهِ يَوْمُ سَبْعَ عَشْرَةَ وَيَوْمُ تِسْعَ عَشْرَةَ وَيَوْمُ إِحْدَى وَعِشْرِينَ» وَإِنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ حَيْثُ عُرِجَ بِهِ مَا مَرَّ عَلَى مَلَأٍ مِنَ الْمَلَائِكَةِ إِلَّا قَالُوا: عَلَيْكَ بِالْحِجَامَةِ. رَوَاهُ التِّرْمِذِيُّ وَقَالَ: هَذَا حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ غَرِيبٌ

‘A’isha said the Prophet (ﷺ) forbade men and women from entering baths, but afterwards permitted men to enter them wearing lower garments. Tirmidhi and Abu Dawud transmitted it.

وَعَنْ عَائِشَةَ: أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ نَهَى الرِّجَالَ وَالنِّسَاءَ عَنْ دُخُولِ الْحَمَّامَاتِ ثُمَّ رَخَّصَ لِلرِّجَالِ أَنْ يَدْخُلُوا بِالْمَيَازِرِ. رَوَاهُ التِّرْمِذِيّ وَأَبُو دَاوُد

Abul Malih told that some women who belonged to Hims came to ‘A’isha and she asked where they were from. On their replying that they came from Syria she said, “Perhaps you come from the region whose women enter the baths.” They replied that that was so, and then she told them she had heard God’s messenger say, “A woman does not remoye her clothes elsewhere than in her husband’s house without tearing down the veil between her and her Lord.” A version has, "elsewhere than in her house without tearing down her veil between her and God who is great and glorious.” Tirmidhi and Abu Dawud transmitted it.

وَعَنْ أَبِي الْمَلِيحِ قَالَ: قَدِمَ عَلَى عَائِشَةَ نِسْوَةٌ مِنْ أَهْلِ حِمْصٍ فَقَالَتْ: مَنْ أَيْنَ أنتنَّ؟ قلنَ: من الشَّامِ فَلَعَلَّكُنَّ مِنَ الْكُورَةِ الَّتِي تَدْخُلُ نِسَاؤُهَا الْحَمَّامَاتِ؟ قُلْنَ: بَلَى قَالَتْ: فَإِنِّي سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَقُولُ: «لَا تَخْلَعُ امْرَأَةٌ ثِيَابَهَا فِي غَيْرِ بَيْتِ زَوْجِهَا إِلَّا هَتَكَتِ السِّتْرَ بَيْنَهَا وَبَيْنَ رَبِّهَا» . وَفِي رِوَايَةٍ: «فِي غيرِ بيتِها إِلا هتكت سترهَا بَيْنَهَا وَبَيْنَ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ» . رَوَاهُ التِّرْمِذِيُّ وَأَبُو دَاوُد

‘Abdallah b. 'Amr reported God’s messenger as saving, "The land of the foreigners will be conquered for you, and you will find in it houses called baths. Men must not enter them without lower garments. Keep women away from them, except those who are ill or in childbed.” Abu Dawud transmitted it.

وَعَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عَمْرٍو أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ:

سَتُفْتَحُ لَكُمْ أَرْضُ الْعَجَمِ وَسَتَجِدُونَ فِيهَا بُيُوتًا يُقَالُ لَهَا: الْحَمَّامَاتُ فَلَا يَدْخُلَنَّهَا الرِّجَالُ إِلَّا بِالْأُزُرِ وَامْنَعُوهَا النِّسَاءَ إِلَّا مَرِيضَةً أَوْ نُفَسَاءَ

. رَوَاهُ أَبُو دَاوُد

Jabir reported the Prophet (ﷺ) as saying, "He who believes in God and the last day must not enter a bath without a lower garment; he who believes in God and the last day must not bring his spouse into a bath ; and he who believes in God and the last day must not sit at a cloth where wine is being circulated.” Tirmidhi and Nasa'i transmitted it.

وَعَنْ جَابِرٌ أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ: «مَنْ كَانَ يُؤْمِنُ بِاللَّهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الْآخِرِ فَلَا يَدخلِ الحمّامَ بِغَيْر إِزارٍ وَمَنْ كَانَ يُؤْمِنُ بِاللَّهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الْآخِرِ فَلَا يدْخل حَلِيلَتَهُ الْحَمَّامَ وَمَنْ كَانَ يُؤْمِنُ بِاللَّهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الْآخِرِ فَلَا يَجْلِسُ عَلَى مَائِدَةٍ تُدَارُ عَلَيْهَا الْخمر» . رَوَاهُ التِّرْمِذِيّ وَالنَّسَائِيّ

Thabit told that when Anas was asked whether the Prophet (ﷺ) dyed his hair he replied, "If I had wanted to count the hoary hairs which were on his head I could have done so,” adding that he did not dye his hair. In a version he added that Abu Bakr dyed his hair with henna and katam, and ‘Umar dyed it with henna alone. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

عَن ثابتٍ قَالَ: سُئِلَ أَنَسٌ عَنْ خِضَابِ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فَقَالَ: لَوْ شِئْتَ أَنْ أَعُدَّ شَمَطَاتٍ كُنَّ فِي رَأْسِهِ فَعَلْتُ قَالَ: وَلَمْ يَخْتَضِبْ زَادَ فِي رِوَايَةٍ: وَقَدِ اخْتَضَبَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ بِالْحِنَّاءِ وَالْكَتَمِ وَاخْتَضَبَ عُمَرُ بِالْحِنَّاءِ بحتا

Ibn ‘Umar used to make his beard yellow with a yellow dye so that his clothes were full of it. He was asked why he used the yellow dye and replied, "I saw God's messenger using it as a dye, and he liked nothing better than it. He used to dye all his clothes with it, even his turban.” Abu Dawud and Nasa’i transmitted it.

وَعَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ أَنَّهُ كَانَ يَصْفِّرُ لِحْيَتَهُ بِالصُّفْرَةِ حَتَّى تَمْتَلِئَ ثِيَابُهُ مِنَ الصُّفْرَةِ فَقِيلَ لَهُ: لِمَ تُصْبِغُ بِالصُّفْرَةِ؟ قَالَ: أَنِّي رَأَيْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَصْبُغُ بِهَا وَلَمْ يَكُنْ شَيْءٌ أَحَبَّ إِلَيْهِ مِنْهَا وَقد كَانَ يصْبغ ثِيَابَهُ كُلَّهَا حَتَّى عِمَامَتَهُ. رَوَاهُ أَبُو دَاوُدَ وَالنَّسَائِيّ

‘Uthman b. ‘Abdallah b. Mauhib said :

I went to visit Umm Salama and she brought out for us some hairs of the Prophet (ﷺ) which had been dyed. Bukhari transmitted it.

وَعَن عُثْمَانَ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ مَوْهَبٍ قَالَ: دَخَلْتُ عَلَى أُمِّ سَلَمَةَ فَأَخْرَجَتْ إِلَيْنَا شَعْرًا مِنْ شَعْرِ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ مخضوبا. رَوَاهُ البُخَارِيّ

Abu Huraira told that a <i>mukhannath</i> who had dyed his hands and feet with henna was brought to God’s messenger who asked, "What is the matter with this man?” On being told that he affected women’s get-up he ordered him to be banished to an-Naqi'. The people suggested that they should kill him, but he said, “I have been prohibited from killing people who pray.” Abu Dawud transmitted it.

وَعَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ قَالَ: أَتَى رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ بِمُخَنَّثٍ قَدْ خَضَبَ يَدَيْهِ وَرِجْلَيْهِ بِالْحِنَّاءِ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «مَا بَالُ هَذَا؟» قَالُوا: يَتَشَبَّهُ بِالنِّسَاءِ فَأَمَرَ بِهِ فَنُفِيَ إِلَى النَّقِيعِ. فَقيل: يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَلَا تَقْتُلُهُ؟ فَقَالَ: «إِنِّي نُهِيتُ عَنْ قَتْلِ الْمُصَلِّينَ» . رَوَاهُ أَبُو دَاوُدَ

Al-Walid b. ‘Uqba said :

When God’s messenger conquered Mecca the people of Mecca began to bring their boys and he would invoke a blessing on them and rub their heads. I was brought, but as I had been perfumed with a mixture of saffron he did not touch me because of the perfume. Abu Dawud transmitted it.

وَعَن الوليدِ بن عقبةَ قَالَ: لَمَّا فَتَحَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ مَكَّةَ جَعَلَ أَهْلُ مَكَّةَ يَأْتُونَهُ بصبيانهم فيدعو لَهُم بِالْبركَةِ وَيمْسَح رؤوسهم فَجِيءَ بِي إِلَيْهِ وَأَنَا مُخَلَّقٌ فَلَمْ يَمَسَّنِي من أجل الخَلوق. رَوَاهُ أَبُو دَاوُد

Abu Qatada told that he said to God’s messenger, "I have locks coming down to the shoulders, so should I comb it ?” He replied, “Yes, and show honour to it.” Abu Qatada often greased it twice a day because God’s messenger said, “Yes, and show honour to it.” Malik transmitted it.

وَعَنْ أَبِي قَتَادَةَ أَنَّهُ قَالَ لِرَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ إِنَّ لِي جُمَّةً أَفَأُرَجِّلُهَا؟ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «نَعَمْ وَأَكْرِمْهَا» قَالَ: فَكَانَ أَبُو قَتَادَةَ رُبَّمَا دَهَنَهَا فِي الْيَوْمِ مَرَّتَيْنِ مِنْ أَجْلِ قَوْلُ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «نِعْمَ وَأَكْرمهَا» . رَوَاهُ مَالك

Al-Hajjaj b. Hassan said :

We went in to visit Anas b. Malik, and my sister al-Mughira told me that at that time I was a youth with two plaits of hair (The text mentions <i>qarnan</i> or <i>qussatan</i>. The former would mean two side plaits and the latter two plaits over the forehead. The alternative is given evidently because the transmitter is not sure which was the correct word), and he wiped my head, invoked a blessing on me and said, “Shave these two, or clip them, for this is the style of the Jews.” Abu Dawud transmitted it.

وَعَن الحجاح بْنِ حَسَّانَ قَالَ دَخَلْنَا عَلَى أَنَسِ بْنِ مَالك فَحَدَّثَتْنِي أُخْتِي الْمُغِيرَةُ قَالَتْ: وَأَنْتَ يَوْمَئِذٍ غُلَامٌ وَلَكَ قَرْنَانِ أَوْ قُصَّتَانِ فَمَسَحَ رَأْسَكَ وَبَرَّكَ عَلَيْكَ وَقَالَ: «احْلِقُوا هَذَيْنِ أَوْ قُصُّوهُمَا فَإِنَّ هَذَا زِيُّ الْيَهُود» . رَوَاهُ أَبُو دَاوُد

‘Ali said God's messenger forbade that a woman should shave her head. Nasa'i transmitted it.

وَعَنْ عَلِيٍّ قَالَ: نَهَى رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ أَنْ تَحْلِقَ الْمَرْأَةُ رَأْسَهَا. رَوَاهُ النَّسَائِيُّ

‘Ata’ b. Yasar told that when God’s messenger was in the mosque a man whose head and beard were dishevelled entered, and God’s messenger pointed his hand at him as though he were ordering him to arrange his hair and his beard. When he had done so and returned, God's messenger said, “Is this not better than that one of you should come with his head dishevelled, as though he were a devil ?” Malik transmitted it.

وَعَن عطاءِ بن يسارٍ قَالَ: كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فِي الْمَسْجِدِ فَدَخَلَ رَجُلٌ ثَائِرُ الرَّأْسِ وَاللِّحْيَةِ فَأَشَارَ إِلَيْهِ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ بِيَدِهِ كَأَنَّهُ يَأْمُرُهُ بِإِصْلَاحِ شَعْرِهِ وَلِحْيَتِهِ فَفَعَلَ ثُمَّ رَجَعَ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «أَلَيْسَ هَذَا خَيْرًا مِنْ أَنْ يَأْتِيَ أَحَدُكُمْ وَهُوَ ثَائِرُ الرَّأْسِ كَأَنَّهُ شَيْطَان» . رَوَاهُ مَالك

Ibn al-Musayyib was heard saying :

“God is good and likes what is fragrant (<i>Tayyib</i> is ‘good’ and <i>tib</i> is ‘perfume’, or ‘fragrance.’); clean and likes cleanliness; generous and likes generosity; munificent and likes munificence; so cleanse (I think he said, your courtyards), and do not imitate the Jews.” I mentioned that to Muhajir b. Mismar and he said he had been told by ‘Amir b. Sa‘d, on his father’s authority, that the Prophet (ﷺ) had said something similar, but he said, “Cleanse your courtyards.” Tirmidhi transmitted it.

وَعَن ابنِ الْمسيب سُمِعَ يَقُولُ:

إِنَّ اللَّهَ طَيِّبٌ يُحِبُّ الطِّيبَ نَظِيفٌ يُحِبُّ النَّظَافَةَ كَرِيمٌ يُحِبُّ الْكَرَمَ جَوَادٌ يُحِبُّ الْجُودَ فَنَظِّفُوا أُرَاهُ قَالَ: أَفْنِيَتَكُمْ وَلَا تشبَّهوا باليهود

قَالَ: فذكرتُ ذَلِك لمهاجرين مِسْمَارٍ فَقَالَ: حَدَّثَنِيهِ عَامِرُ بْنُ سَعْدٍ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ مِثْلَهُ إِلَّا أَنَّهُ قَالَ: «نَظِّفُوا أَفْنِيتَكُمْ» . رَوَاهُ التِّرْمِذِيّ

Yahya b. Sa'id told that he heard Sa'id b. al-Musayyib say :

Abraham, the friend of the Compassionate One, was the first man to entertain a guest, the first man to be circumcised, the first man to clip his moustache, and he first man to notice grey hairs, so he said, “What is this, my Lord?” The Lord who is blessed and exalted replied, “Dignity, Abraham.” He said, “My Lord, give me more dignity.” Malik transmitted it.

وَعَنْ يَحْيَى بْنِ سَعِيدٍ أَنَّهُ سَمِعَ سَعِيدَ بْنَ الْمُسَيَّبِ يَقُولُ: كَانَ إِبْرَاهِيمُ خَلِيلُ الرَّحْمَنِ أوَّلَ النَّاس ضيَّف الضَّيْف وَأَوَّلَ النَّاسِ اخْتَتَنَ وَأَوَّلَ النَّاسِ قَصَّ شَارِبَهُ وَأَوَّلَ النَّاسِ رَأَى الشَّيْبَ فَقَالَ: يَا رَبِّ: مَا هَذَا؟ قَالَ الرَّبُّ تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى: وَقَارٌ يَا إِبْرَاهِيمُ قَالَ: رَبِّ زِدْنِي وَقَارًا. رَوَاهُ مَالك