Q: Is it permissible to have dread locks or can I braid my hair?
A: Long hair for a man is allowed if it is kept according to the Sunnah of Rasulullah (Sallallaahu Alayhi wa Sallam). According to the books of Hadeeth, the Messenger of Allah (Sallallaahu Alayhi wa Sallam) had three lengths of hair.
One length was till the middle of the ear, the second till the ears, and the third till just above the shoulders. Rasool (Sallallaahu Alayhi wa Sallam) never tied his hair into a pony tail nor did he plait his hair. Hence, the long hair must not resemble the styles of the non-Muslim West for the Qur’aan-e-Kareem and Hadeeth-e-Shareef have condemned the imitation of disbelievers.
Furthermore, hair should not be so long that it resembles the hair of a woman, which normally falls down to the waist or middle of back. Resemblance of a woman by man is prohibited in a Hadeeth of Bukhaari Shareef.
Dread locks and braids are in conflict with the Sunnah.
Allah Ta’aala knows best.
Moulana Yusuf Laher