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