Our Crowning Glory

by Khadeeja Kiyani

A Muslim should thus make the effort to maintain his self-image. This includes etiquette, grooming and personal hygiene. Allah سبحانه وتعالىٰ‎ in His infinite wisdom has guided us in many ways to help us in our lives, even in matters of our hair.

The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) said the hair should be cleaned and groomed. ‘Ata bin Yasir narrated, “Once, a man came before the Prophet (ﷺ) with his hair and beard unkempt. The Prophet made some gestures as though ordering the man to comb his hair. He did so, and upon his return, the Prophet remarked, ‘Is this not better than one of you coming with disheveled hair, looking like a devil?’” (Mâlik in Al-Muwaṭṭa)

The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) took great care in grooming his hair. Qatadah reported, “I asked Anas ibn Mâlik رضي الله عنه , ‘How was the hair of Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ)?’ He said, ‘His hair was neither very curly nor very straight, and [it] hung over his shoulders and earlobes.’” (Muslim) The companions, too, used to oil their hair.

Our sense of fashion should be tempered by modesty and moderation and so, we should not exceed Muslims should not exceed limits. There may be trends that are forbidden in Islam and we should avoid these. For example, we are not allowed to shave part of our hair and leave tufts of hair here and there - a practice called Al-Qaza’.

Women should not cut their hair excessively short so that they resemble men and are also not allowed to wear wigs. Mu’awiya ibn Abi Sufyan  رضي الله عنه had said the year he performed Hajj, “O people of Madinah! Where are your learned men? I heard the Prophet (ﷺ) forbidding such thing as this (i.e., false hair) and he used to say, ‘The Israelites were destroyed when their ladies practiced this habit (of using false hair to lengthen their locks).’” (Bukhari)

Aishah, Ibn Masʿûd and Abû Hurairah رضي الله عنهم all report that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) “cursed al-waṣila and al-mustawaṣila,” referring both to the wig-maker and the wig-wearer and describing the use of false hair a “forgery”. (Bukhâri and Muslim)

In addition to trimming his hair and mustache, other hair and nails should also not be neglected for more than forty nights.

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) warned: “Do not pluck your gray hair. If any believer grows gray hair in Islam, He will have a light on the day of judgment.” Rather, he recommended that grey hair be treated with henna and katam.

In conclusion, we should strive always to present a pleasant appearance and to maintain high standards of cleanliness. These are commandments from Allah and His Messenger and they inculcate in ourselves a sense of gratitude, respect towards others and fulfils the purpose of our human nature. We should also work hard to ensure that our inner selves are just as pure and pleasing.

About Author Khadeeja Kiyani is student of 7th semester and teacher's assistant at IIQL Weekend Islamic School.