Answered by Shaykh Amjad Rasheed
What is the proof that it is a sunna for men to cover their heads?
The proof for it is the action of the Prophet doing it, may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him, and his perseverance in it, with what has come of hadiths about the merit of wearing a turban, which were compiled by our imams in many independent publications.
Imam Ibn Hajar al-Haytami said in the Tuhfa (3/63), “It is recommended to wear a turban for the prayer and for beautification. There are many hadiths about it, and the extreme weakness of many of them is strengthened by the multiple chains of narration.” Then he said, “And there is no harm in wearing a fitted cap that sticks to the head, one that is tall and quilted (i.e. stuffed), or other types [of caps] under to the turban [or even to wear these caps on their own] without the turban because all of that has been related from him, may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him.”
الجواب : الدليلُ هو فعلُه صلى الله عليه وسلم لذلك ومواظبتُه عليه ، مع ما جاء من الأحاديث في فضل العمامة ، وقد جمعها أئمتُنا في تصانيف مستقلة ، قال الإمام ابنُ حجر الهيتمي في “التحفة” (3/36) :” وتسنُّ العمامةُ للصلاةِ ولقصدِ التجمل ؛ للأحاديث الكثيرة فيها ، واشتدادُ ضعفِ كثيرٍ منها يجبرُه كثرةُ طُرُقِها … “. اهـ ثم قال :” ولا بأسَ بلبس القلنسوةِ اللاطئةِ – أي اللاصقة بالرأس ، والمرتفعةِ المضربةِ – أي المحشوة – وغيرها تحت العمامة وبلا عمامة ؛ لأن كلَّ ذلك جاء عنه صلى الله عليه وسلم “. اهـ