Answered by Shaykh Yusuf Weltch
Question
On which occasions did the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) wear different colored turbans, like white, green, and black?
Answer
In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful and Compassionate
There are various narrations mentioning the turban of the Prophet (peace and blessing be upon him). However, the descriptions of the various colours of the Prophet’s turban are sparse. Below are a few narrations, that I hope to prove beneficial.
Black Turban
Ibn ‘Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) said, “I entered upon the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and give him peace) and he was wearing a black head wrap.” [Bukhari]
Jabir (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates saying, “The Prophet (may Allah bless him and give him peace) had a black turban and would wear it on the two ‘Eid days and He would let it hang down His back.” [Ibn ‘Adi, Hadith Da‘if]
Jabir (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates saying, “The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) entered the day of the conquest of Mecca wearing a black turban.” [Bayhaqi, Dala’il al-Nubuwwa] in another narration, “without Ihram” was added.
Yellow Turban
Abu Huraira (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates, “The Prophet (may Allah bless him and give him peace) came out to us wearing a long yellow shirt, a yellow shawl, and a yellow turban.” [al-Sira al-Halabiya]
Fadl bin ‘Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) said, “I entered upon the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and give him peace) in the sickness which he later died from and on his head was a yellow head wrap.”… [Tirmidhi, Shama’il al-Tirmidhi]
White Turban
It is mentioned in Zad al-Ma‘ad that the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) had a turban named the cloud which he gave ‘Ali to wear as a hat. [Tabarani, Bayhaqi; on the condition of Sahih]
Etiquettes of Wearing the Turban
Letting the Ends Hang Between the Shoulders
‘Amr bin Umayya (may Allah be pleased with them) narrates, “It is as if I am, right now, looking at the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and give him peace) of the pulpit. Upon Him is a black turban and He has let its end hang between His shoulders.” [Nasa’i]
Supplication of Wearing New Clothing
Abu Sa‘id (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that whenever the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and give him peace) would wear a new garment He would name it by its name, turban or shirt or cloak, then say,
اللَّهُمَّ لَكَ الحَمْدُ أَنْتَ كَسَوْتَنِيهِ، أَسْأَلُكَ خَيْرَهُ وَخَيْرَ مَا صُنِعَ لَهُ، وَأَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ شَرِّهِ وَشَرِّ مَا صُنِعَ لَهُ
“O Allah for you is all praise. You have clothed me this (garment). I ask You the good of it and the good for which it was made and I seek refuge in You from the evil of it and the evil for which it was made.” [Tirmidhi]
Not to Lengthen the Clothing Out of Haughtiness
Salim bin ‘Abdullah narrates from his father (may Allah be pleased with them) that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and give him peace) said, “Excessive lengthening is regarding the lower garment (izar), the shirt, and the turban. Whoever drags any of it out of haughtiness Allah will not look at then of the Day of Rising.” [Abu Dawud]
Hope this helps. May Allah increase us all in love and emulation of the Beloved Messenger of Allah.
Allahu A‘lam
[Shaykh] Yusuf Weltch
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani