Fatwa ID: 05232
Answered by: Mufti Eunus Ali
Question
What is the right method of combing hair? And what is the best way to do this? Can we comb the hair by sitting or it’s compulsory for this stand?
In the name of Allah; the most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
Answer
There are many Ahadith narrated regarding the combing and maintaining of one’s hair.
- Abu Qatada al-Ansari asked the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), “I have a lot of hair which comes down to my shoulders, shall I comb it?” The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, “Yes, and honour it.” Sometimes Abu Qatada oiled it twice in one day because the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said to him “Yes, and honour it.“[1]
- Yahya related to me from Malik from Zayd ibn Aslam that Ata ibn Yasar told him that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) was in the mosque when a man came in with dishevelled hair and beard. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) motioned with his hand that he should be sent out to groom his hair and beard. The man did so and then returned. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, “Isn’t this better than that one of you should come with his head dishevelled as if he were a shaytan?“[2]
- ‘Abdullah bin Mughaffal (may Allah be pleased with him) has stated: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) prohibited combing except every other day.[3]
This Hadith is demonstrating that one should not become extreme in straitening, combing and applying oil etc. to their hair; rather it should be done with moderation and every so often. The prohibition mentioned in the Hadith is referring to this action being disliked (makrooh tanzihi) as a daily practice.[4]
In regards to your question, we have been encouraged to look after our hair by combing it, oiling it etc. with moderation as it is understood from the Ahadith mentioned above.
Sharia’h has not stipulated any specific, correct or incorrect method of combing the hair. Likewise, there is no restriction in either sitting or standing whilst combing the hair.
Only Allah knows best
Written by Mufti Eunus Ali
Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah
Darul Ifta Birmingham
[1] Muattah of Imam Malik: 1738
[2] Muatta of Imam Malik: 1739
[3] Sunan At-Tirmizi: 1756
[4] Mirqatul Mafatih, Volume 8, Page 290, Maktabah Rashidiyyah & Tuhfatul Ahwazhi, Page 1534, Baytul Afkar Ad-Dawliyyah
