Question

Is the following authentic?

Sayyiduna ‘Abdullah ibn Mughaffal (radiyallahu ‘anhu) reported that Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) forbade combing the hair except every alternate day.

 

Answer

Imams Nasai, Tirmidhi and Abu Dawud (rahimahumullah) have recorded this Hadith.

(Sunan Nasai; Al Mujtaba, Hadith: 5055, Sunan Tirmidhi, Hadith: 1756, Sunan Abi Dawud, Hadith: 4156)

 

Imam Tirmidhi (rahimahullah) has declared the Hadith authentic (hasanun sahih). Imam Ibn Hibban (rahimahullah) has also declared the Hadith authentic.

(Sahih Ibn Hibban; Al Ihsan, Hadith: 5484)

 

Explanation 

This Hadith does not discourage cleanliness and neatness as cleanliness is part of Iman. Rather, Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) cautioned against a person becoming obsessed with combing and neatening his hair/body which leads to vanity. A person may comb/oil his hair as the need arises.

‘Allamah Khalil Ahmad Saharanpuri (rahimahullah) writes, ‘There is no harm in combing/cleansing the hair daily if the need arises.’

 

(Refer: Tuhfatul Ahwadhi, Hadith: 1756, Badhlul Majhud, Hadith: 4159)

 

Kindly refer to a Mufti/Darul Ifta for a fatwa on this issue.

 

And Allah Ta’ala Knows best.

 

Answered by: Moulana Suhail Motala

 

Approved by: Moulana Muhammad Abasoomar