Students in Kastamonu, Turkey at a Quran retreat
“Such is the high nobility of the turban that we are told even the angels wore it. Of the Qur’anic verse, “Your Lord shall help you with five thousand angels bearing marks” (Surat Ali ‘Imran, verse 125), Ibn ‘Abbas, the greatest of the early exegetes, said: “The signs are that they wore turbans.” ” ~ The turban tradition in Islam by Sh. G. F. Haddad
“The Gospels also describe Prophet Muhammad as “wearing a crown.” Yes, this title is particular to God’s Messenger (Upon whom be blessings and peace), for “crown” means turban, for in former days, it was the Arabs who as a people, all wore the turban and headband. This definitely therefore refers to God’s Messenger (UWBP).” ~ Treatise of Light 19 Letter
Recently my class, specifically the sisters, in my class asked me about wearing Kufis. They noticed their male classmates not wearing kufis while they are obligated to wear hijab. This is a great point and a point of contention among Muslim men and women in the west. Why should a Sister have to face society alone? Why don’t the Brothers also represent? Why do the Brothers always use the excuse of Sunnah when we should be following all Sunnah and our purpose in the west is to be actively doing dawah?
All great questions! I for one have for many years been lax in my implementation of kufi wearing and until recently never wore a turban. Alhamdulilah my time with the Nur Jemaat has changed all of that!
Whenever I see a Jewish man wearing a yamaka, a Christian wearing a cross or a Sikh wearing a turban, I am reminded of the religious freedom in this country. We are allowed to practice our faith, we are allowed to have a beard and wear a kufi, and we should! It is the best types of dawah because often the conversation becomes personal and emotional. Causing one to imprint upon a person heart both the knowledge and emotional value of the beard or kufi or hijab within the Islamic tradition.
The following are Hadith, Quran and scholar opinons that support the wearing of Turbans:
Just a reminder that following the Prophet pbuh in actions, speech and way of life is an obligation laid out in the Quran in the following verses:
The Holy Quran, Sura #3;Ayah #31
“Say (O Muhammad SAW to mankind): “If you (really) love Allâh then follow me (i.e. accept Islâmic Monotheism, follow the Qur’ân and the Sunnah), Allâh will love you and forgive you of your sins. And Allâh is Oft Forgiving, Most Merciful.”
The Holy Quran, Sura #33;Ayah #21
“Indeed in the Messenger of Allâh (Muhammad SAW) you have a good example to follow for him who hopes in (the Meeting with) Allâh and the Last Day and remembers Allâh much.”
The Holy Quran, Sura #42;Ayah #52
“And thus We have sent to you (O Muhammad SAW) Ruhan (an Inspiration, and a Mercy) of Our Command. You knew not what is the Book, nor what is Faith? But We have made it (this Qur’ân) a light wherewith We guide whosoever of Our slaves We will. And verily, you (O Muhammad SAW) are indeed guiding (mankind) to the Straight Path (i.e. Allâh’s religion of Islâmic Monotheism).”
The Holy Quran, Sura #59;Ayah #7
“And whatever the Prophet gives you, ACCEPT IT and whatever he forbids you, ABSTAIN (from it)”
Hadith – There are numerous narrations of the Prophet pbuh, Sahaba and Saliheen (righteous people) wearing Turbans. I will pick out the hadith that I find most awesome in meaning, and most motivating to my spirit:
-Abu Dawood and Tirmidhi
Roknah (Radhiallaahu Án) reports that Rasulullah (Sallallaahu Álayhi Wasallam) said “The distinction between us and the polytheists is the turbans over our caps. “Note : Also quoted by Al-Tabrizi in his Mishkat Al-Masabih and this clears up the false notion that this was just the way of the arabs and not a particular practice of Rasulullah (SAW) and this shows us that we should wear caps under our Imaamas to differentiate from the sieks and other Kufar who wear turbans but without caps under them.
-MISHKAT page #377 and also reported by Baihaqi in Shuabul Imaan.
Ubadah (Radhiallaahu Án) reports that Rasulullah (Sallallaahu Álayhi Wasallam) “Make a practice of tying Turbans since it is a hallmark of the angels.” Note: Here Rasulullah(SAW) is even advising others to wear the Imaama!
-Tabrani
Musa Ashari (Radhiallaahu Án) narrates that Jibraeel would come to Rasulullah (Sallallaahu Álayhi Wasallam) wearing a turban.
-At-Tabrani and Haakim reports this to be reliable Hassan
(Also quoted in Tabarani’s al-Mu`jam al-kabir (1:162), Bazzar’s Zawa’id, al-Hakim’s Mustadrak (4:193), al-Khatib al- Baghdadi’s Tarikh Baghdad (11:394), and Ibn `Asakir’s Tahdhib tarikh dimashq al-kabir (5:178). Also in the book Turban Thowb and kufi by Maulana FazlurRahman on pg#24)
Ibn Abbas (Radhiallaahu Án) reports that Rasulullah(SAW) said “Adopt the Turban as it will increase your Hilm ( good character, intelligence, patience).”
Scholarly Opinions:
-Maulana Fazlul Karim
(This is from his commentary of Mishkat vol#1 pg#630)
“The holy Prophet (Sallallaahu Álayhi Wasallam) used to wear a Turban and he said that the angels also wear it in the heavens and the turban protects the head and adorns the face.”
-Ibn Hajar Al-Asqalani (Rahimahullah) mentioned in FathulBaari pg#491 and 493
That Imaam Bukhari and Imaam Muslim both wore Turbans.
Note: that they were not arabs but took this practice as the Sunna of Rasulullah (Sallallaahu Álayhi Wasallam) .
-Malik Fiqh
(Quoted by Ibn Abi Zayd, al-Jami` fi al-sunan (1982 ed.) p. 228)
Imaam Malik said “The turban was worn from the beginning of Islam and it did not cease being worn until our time. I did not see anyone among the People of Excellence except they wore the turban, such as Yahya ibn Sa`id, Rabi`a, and Ibn Hurmuz. I would see in Rabi`a’s circle more than thirty men wearing turbans and I was one of them, and Rabi`a did not put it down until the Pleiades rose (i.e. until he slept) and he used to say: “I swear that I find it increases intelligence.”
Today’s Scholars opinions:
–Wearing a Turban by Shyakh Abdus Sattar on YouTube
-Q) Is the prayer valid if Imam of the mosque does not cover his head with cap or same cloth? What kind of requirement is it to cover one’s head in prayers. Is it wajib, Mustahab, or what? (Zubair A. Khan, Chicago)
A) Covering one’s head during salah is a sunnah and one should act upon it to the best possible extent, however, it is not a mandatory condition for the validity of salah therefore, the obligation is discharged without it, though devoid of the blessings of sunnah. We should try our best to make our salah as close to the sunnah as possible. Even a slight carelessness may deprive us from the barakah and reward which every sunnah of the Holy Prophet, Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam, may bring to his true follower. Therefore, we should not take this matter lightly.
Mufti Taqi Usmani
-Question: What is the ruling on a topi in shariah? sunat, mustahab ect? If it is possible can you please provide daleel?
Answer: In the Name of Allah, Most Compassionate, Most Merciful,
Wearing a hat (Qalansuwa in Arabic) is the Sunnah of our blessed Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him & give him peace), Sahaba (Allah be pleased with them all) and the great scholars and pious predecessors of this Ummah.
There are many evidences which support this. Just to mention a few:
1) Abdullah Ibn Umar (Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him & give him peace) used to wear a white hat (Recorded by Tabrani).
2) Hasan al-Basri (Allah be pleased with him) says: “The people (Sahaba-Allah be pleased with them all) used to perform Sajdah (prostration) upon their turbans and hats” (Sahih al-Bukhari, 1/151).
3) Rukanah (Allah be pleased with him) says, I heard the Messenger of Allah (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam) say:“The difference between us and the polytheists is, wearing the turban over the hat” (Sunan Abu Dawud, 4075 & Sunan Tirmizi, 3919).
4) In the ‘Musannaf’ of Ibn Abi Shaybah, the wearing of a hat is reported from Ali ibn al-Husain, Abdullah ibn Zubair, Dahhak and Abu Musa (Allah be pleased with them all).
It is clear from the above that wearing a hat is a Sunnah. It has been the practise of the Ummah throughout history, and has become one of the symbols of Islam.
The great Hanafi jurist, Mullah Ali al-Qari (Allah have mercy on him) states that the wearing of the hat has become one of the salient symbols of Islam. (Mirqat al-Masabih, vol.8 pg.246).
Due to the above, the scholars mention that even though, not wearing a hat can not be classed as unlawful (haram), as it is a Sunnah, but due to the fact that it has become one of the signs of Islam, it is generally undesirable to keep the head exposed. One should try to keep the head covered whenever reasonably possible.
And Allah knows best
Muhammad ibn Adam
Darul Iftaa
Leicester, UK
Turban vs Kufi:
There are definitely more hadith and scholarly approvals for Turban than for Kufi. There are even opinions which discourage Kufi such as this one:
-Tirmidhi
Roknah (Radhiallaahu Ánhu) reports that Rasulullah (Sallallaahu Álayhi Wasallam) said “The distinction between us and the poluthesists is the turbans over our caps.”
However there are a few hadith that speak about Kufi:
-Tabrani And Imaam Suyuti
Ibn Umar (Radhiallaahu Ánhu) narrates that Rasulullah (Sallallaahu Álayhi Wasallam) used to wear a white cap (kufi).Tabrani has reported this hadith to be Hasan (reliable) and Suyuti has classified this hadith as highly authentic(Sahih) in the book Sirajul Muneer vol #4 pg#112)
-Sahih Al-Bukhari Volume 2 pg #863
It is mentioned that Anas Bin Malik (Radhiallaahu Ánhu) used to wear a kufie (cap).
So whats the difference? It seems the emphases is on keeping the head covered while the Turban being prefereed over the kufi in covering the head:
-Fatwaa Thunaaiyya Vol #4 pg #291
“Rasulullah (Sallallaahu Álayhi Wasallam) always used to keep his head covered during salah.”
-Fatwaa Thunaaiyya Vol #1 pg #523
“to intentionally remove the headgear (kufi or Imaama) and performing Salah bare-headed is contrary to the sunna.”
-Maulana Fazlul Karim
(This is from his commentry of Mishkatvol#1 pg # 630 )
“There are a few hadith about the use of the cap (kufi) by Rasulullah (Sallallaahu Álayhi Wasallam). It should be generally round and even on top.”
Kufi Styles: I personally enjoy the Shukr Kufi styles: Shukr Kufis
Please feel free to send me more sources or information regarding this topic. I would love to learn more.
Glory be to Allah, we have no knowledge save that which you have gives us, you are all knowing, all wise.
Sources:
http://ibnfarooq.tripod.com/Sunnaclothes.htm#kufi
http://www.ilmgate.org/the-status-of-the-turban-in-light-of-the-sunnah/
http://seekersguidance.org/ans-blog/2014/02/21/is-it-a-sunna-to-wear-a-turban/
The turban tradition in Islam by Sh. G. F. Haddad http://www.livingislam.org/k/tti_e.html
Qalem 