Mishkat al-Masabih

God’s messenger came to us once in Mecca and he had four plaits of hair. Ahmad, Abu Dawud, Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah transmitted it.

‘A'isha said that when she parted God’s messenger’s hair she made a parting from the crown of his head and let his forelock hang between his eyes. Abu Dawud transmitted it.

‘Abdallah b. Mughaffal said God’s messenger forbade combing the hair except every second day. Tirmidhi, Abu Dawud and Nasa'i transmitted it.

‘Abdallah b. Buraida told that a man asked Fadala b. ‘Ubaid why it was he saw him dishevelled and he replied that God's messenger had forbidden them to indulge much in luxury. He asked why it was he saw him unshod and he replied that God's messenger used to command them to go barefoot at times. Abu Dawud transmitted it.

Abu Huraira reported God’s messenger as saying, “He who has hair should honour it.” Abu Dawud trrnsmitted it.

Abu Dharr reported God’s messenger as saying, “The best things with which grey hairs are changed are henna and katam (leaves of the salam tree (mimosa flava). This dye applied with henna to the hair is said to preserve its original colour. Katam is also said to lighten the colour of the hair). Tirmidhi, Abu Dawud and Nasa’i transmitted it.

Ibn ‘Abbas reported the Prophet as saying, “At the end of time there will be people who will use this black dye like the crops of doves who will not experience the fragrance of paradise.” Abu Dawud and Nasa’i transmitted it.

Ibn ‘Umar said the Prophet used to wear tanned leather sandals and dye his beard yellow with wars (a plant of yellow colour in the Yemen, like sesame) and saffron. And Ibn ‘Umar used to do that. Nasa’i transmitted it.

Ibn ‘Abbas told that when a man who had dyed himself with henna passed the Prophet he said, “How fine this is! ” When another who had dyed himself with henna and katam passed by he said, “This is better than that.” Then when another who had dyed himself with yellow dye passed by he said, “This is better than all that.” Abu Dawud transmitted it.

Abu Huraira reported God’s messenger as saying, “Change grey hairs and do not copy the Jews.” Tirmidhi transmitted it, and Nasa’i transmitted it on the authority of Ibn ‘Umar and az-Zubair.

‘Amr b. Shu'aib, on his father’s authority, told that his grandfather reported God’s messenger as saying. “Do not pluck out grey hairs, for they are the Muslim’s light. If anyone grows a grey hair in Islam God will record on his behalf a good deed for it, will blot out a sin for it, and raise him a degree for it.” Abu Dawud transmitted it.

Ka'b b. Murra reported God’s messenger as saying, “If anyone grows a grey hair in Islam it will be a light for him on the day of resurrection.” Tirmidhi and Nasa’i transmitted it.

God’s messenger and I used to wash from one vessel; and he had hair which did not reach the shoulder but which came lower than the ear. Tirmidhi transmitted it.

Ibn al-Hanzaliya, one of the Prophet’s Companions, reported the Prophet as saying, “Khuraim al-Asadi would be a fine man were it not for the length of his hair which reaches the shoulders and the way he lets his lower garment hang down.” When Khuraim heard that he took a knife and cut his hair in line with his ears, and he raised his lower garment halfway up his legs. Abu Dawud transmitted it.

Anas said he had a hanging lock of hair and his mother told him not to cut it, for God’s messenger used to stretch it out and hold it. Abu Dawud transmitted it.

The Prophet waited three days before visiting the family of Ja'far (Ja'far b. Abu Talib was killed at Mu'ta in the year 7 A.H). He said, “Do not weep for my brother after today,” and then said, “Call my brother’s children to me.” When we had been brought like a number of chickens he said, “Call me a barber,” and then ordered him to shave our heads. Abu Dawud and Nasa’i transmitted it.

Umm 'Atiya al-Ansariya told that the Prophet said to a woman who used to perform circumcision (on girls) in Medina, “Do not cut severely, as that is better for a woman and more desirable to a husband.” Abu Dawud transmitted it, saying this is a weak tradition one of whose transmitters is an unknown man.

Karima daughter of Hammam told that a woman asked ‘A’isha about dyeing with henna and she replied, “There is no harm, but I do not like it. My beloved disliked its odour." Abu Dawud and Nasa’i transmitted it.

‘A’isha told that when Hind daughter of ‘Utba said, “Prophet of God, accept my allegiance," he replied, “Not till you make a difference to the palms of your hands ; for they look like the paws of a beast of prey." (A strong way of saying that a woman's hands with no henna on them are ugly) Abu Dawud transmitted it.

She told that a woman made a sign from behind a curtain to indicate that she had a letter for God's messenger. The Prophet closed his hand saying, “I do not know whether this is a man’s or a woman’s hand," and when she declared that it was a woman’s he said, “If you were a woman you would make a difference to your nails," meaning with henna. Abu Dawud and Nasa'i transmitted it.