What is status of following narration?
أن النبي مر بركوة من ماء فنظر فيها فسوى من رأسه ولحيته فقلت وأنت تفعل هذا يا رسول الله فقال ينبغي للرجل إذا خرج إلى أصحابه أن يسوي من رأسه ولحيته فإن الله عز وجل جميل يحب الجمال
Answer
The Muhaddithun have declared this narration a fabrication. Imam Ibn ‘Adiy (rahimahullah) has declared the text of the Hadith unreliable (munkar).
The Hadith is therefore not suitable to quote.
(Refer: Al Kamil, vol. 2 pg. 195/196, Lisanul Mizan, vol. 2 pg. 254, number: 1382, Dhaylul La-Alil Masnu’ah, vol. 2 pg. 572, Hadith: 691 and Tanzihush Sharia’h, vol. 2 pg. 278)
The following Hadiths should be quoted instead:
1) Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said, “Allah is certainly beautiful and he loves beauty.” (Sahih Muslim, Hadith: 91. See here)
2) A dishevelled unkempt Sahabi came to Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) looking like a Bedouin [due to his untidiness]. Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) asked him, “Don’t you have any wealth?” He replied, ‘Allah has blessed me with all types of wealth.’ Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said to him, ‘When Allah bestows his servant with some bounty, he loves to see it on him.’” (Sahih Ibn Hibban; Al Ihsan, Hadith: 5417. See here)
3) Imam Malik (rahimahullah) has recorded that once while Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) was in the Masjid, a man entered with untidy hair on his head and beard. Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) indicated to him with his hand, for him to leave, intending for him to tidy up his hair. The man did so and returned. Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) commented: ‘Is this not better than some of you coming here with dishevelled hair [looking] like a shaytan?’ (Muwatta Imam Malik, kitabul jami’- mursalan– see here)
And Allah Ta’ala Knows best.
Answered by: Moulana Suhail Motala
Approved by: Moulana Muhammad Abasoomar