بِسْمِ اللّهِ
الرَّحْمـَنِ الرَّحِيمِ
The
Hat(Kufi/Cap/Toppiee) and
the Turban
The
Hat(Kufi/Cap/Toppiee) :
There
is not to be found even a single hadith from the prophet stating that one
should wear the hat(Kufi/Toppiee) both while in prayer (Salah) or outside
prayer(salah).
If wearing hat(Kufi/Toppiee) were an
islamic symbol, Prophet would have never failed to inform us about its
importance.
If it is questioned, if there is any evidence saying prophet has ever worn a
hat(Kufi/Toppiee) in his lifetime?The answer is No to this as well!.
There is only one weak (da’eef) hadith stating that the Prophet(PBUH) wore a
hat.Even in that single hadith,the wordings are in a state of incertitude.The
hadith is as follows..
It is reported that : On the day of judgement people will raise their heads, seeing how much Allah raises the status of those who died in HIS cause (Shaheed).While the Prophet (PBUH) was describing this, he raised his head above.His hat fell down.I do not know if ‚“ His hat fell down“ refers to the Prophet (PBUH) or Umar(r).This is how the reporter of this hadith expresses his incertitude.
It is reported that : On the day of judgement people will raise their heads, seeing how much Allah raises the status of those who died in HIS cause (Shaheed).While the Prophet (PBUH) was describing this, he raised his head above.His hat fell down.I do not know if ‚“ His hat fell down“ refers to the Prophet (PBUH) or Umar(r).This is how the reporter of this hadith expresses his incertitude.
The
above hadith is found in both Tirmidhi 1568, and Ahmad 145.
In the chain of transmission (sanad) of this hadith, Abu syed al kawlaani
is one of its reporter and he is an unknown person(majhul).Another narrator of
this hadith,Ibn lahya‘aa is classed as weak (da’ef).
This hadith does not confirm that the Prophet (PBUH) wore hat.Moreover two of its narrators are weak.
We are obliged to ponder the fact that there is not to be found even a single
hadith from the prophet(PBUH) stating that one should wear the hat(Kufi/Toppiee)
both while on prayer (Salah) or outside prayer(salah).
The
muhrim(a person who is in ihram for hajj) should not wear a shirt, a turban,
trousers, a headcloak or leather socks except if he can find no slippers.
The companions of the Prophet (PBUH)
were so keen observers that they even reported the total number of white hairs
on his head.But they have not reported anything about prophet (PBUH) wearing
any hat(Kufi/Toppiee.This is sufficient proof that prophet (PBUH) never wore
any hat(Kufi/Toppiee) even for once in his lifetime.
Its true that at those days, few people had the habit of wearing the hat.From this we can only consider wearing hat(Kufi/Toppiee) was made permissible by the Prophet(PBUH) and there is no evidence to make it obligatory(Fardh) or to call it a sunnah.
( Book: Bukhari 134, 366, 1838, 1842, 5794, 5803, 5805, 5806)
If its said that the pilgrim should not wear hat(Kufi/Toppiee) while on ihraam, it means that at other times it is permissible.
Even though few of the companions of the prophet(sahaba) wore it, they did not wear specifically for the prayer, instead they have been wearing it considering it as a part of their dressing and there are proofs for it.
Its true that at those days, few people had the habit of wearing the hat.From this we can only consider wearing hat(Kufi/Toppiee) was made permissible by the Prophet(PBUH) and there is no evidence to make it obligatory(Fardh) or to call it a sunnah.
( Book: Bukhari 134, 366, 1838, 1842, 5794, 5803, 5805, 5806)
If its said that the pilgrim should not wear hat(Kufi/Toppiee) while on ihraam, it means that at other times it is permissible.
Even though few of the companions of the prophet(sahaba) wore it, they did not wear specifically for the prayer, instead they have been wearing it considering it as a part of their dressing and there are proofs for it.
Linguist Abu
hilal asghari explains Qalansuwa ( قلنسوة) (Hat/Kufi/Toppiee) as a dress which protects a
person from heat and rain.He further says that a turban can be worn around it.
The arabic word for hat(Kufi/Toppiee) is Qalansuwa and it means a thick heaavy armour-like dress which protects a person from heat and rain.There is no connection for it whatsoever with prayer.
The arabic word for hat(Kufi/Toppiee) is Qalansuwa and it means a thick heaavy armour-like dress which protects a person from heat and rain.There is no connection for it whatsoever with prayer.
When Shareek was leading in one of the janasa prayer, he removed his hat (Qalansuwa) and placed it in front of him and then lead the prayer. (Abu dawud 592).
He was wearing the hat outside prayer to protect himself from heat but when he commenced the prayer , he removed it. From this the purpose of wearing a hat(Kufi/Toppiee) gets so clear.
While Umar(r) was leading the prayer, a man stabbed him with a knife and then started running. When one of the Muslims saw that, he threw his hat on him. Realizing that he had been captured, he killed himself.This hadith is recorded in Bukhari , hadith number 3700.
If its
said that a person attacks by throwing his hat thereby capturing him,we are
able to know the type of hat (Kufi/Toppiee) that was being used in those days.From this we can
understand that the hat (Kufi/Toppiee) in those days was a head-dress made of
iron armour or any other such hard material.
But the hat (Kufi/Toppiee), as its
called today ,with its 1000 eyes cannot protect a person from heat or rain.With
it even a housefly cannot be attacked.
In short, to summarise:
In short, to summarise:
- There is no
hadith recommending people to wear it.
-
Prophet(PBUH) in his lifetime never wore hat(Kufi/Toppiee) even once.
- Few of the
companions of the prophet(Sahabas) have worn it.
- They have used
it only as a means to protect themselves from heat and rain.
- There is no
link between the hat used in those days and the hat(Kufi/Toppiee) being
used today.
- In those days
hat has also been used as a weapon to attack a person thereby capturing
him.
As
this is the case, no one has any right to portray wearing a hat (Kufi/Toppiee)
as if an islamic symbol.
There is no evidence(daleeel) to say that a person should wear a hat (Kufi/Toppiee) while performing prayer(salah) .
No one has the authority to say that a person who does not wear a hat (cap/toppie) cannot pray in the mosque.
Even when the companions of the prophet had extra dresses to cover their head, they have prayed with bare heads deliberately.
It is related that Muhammad ibn al-Munkadir said, "Jabir prayed in his wrapper which he tied round his neck, while his clothes were hanging on a peg beside him. Someone asked him, 'Do you pray in a single wrapper?' He said, 'I did that so that a fool like you might see me. Which of us had two garments in the time of the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace?'" Bukhari 352
There is no evidence(daleeel) to say that a person should wear a hat (Kufi/Toppiee) while performing prayer(salah) .
No one has the authority to say that a person who does not wear a hat (cap/toppie) cannot pray in the mosque.
Even when the companions of the prophet had extra dresses to cover their head, they have prayed with bare heads deliberately.
It is related that Muhammad ibn al-Munkadir said, "Jabir prayed in his wrapper which he tied round his neck, while his clothes were hanging on a peg beside him. Someone asked him, 'Do you pray in a single wrapper?' He said, 'I did that so that a fool like you might see me. Which of us had two garments in the time of the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace?'" Bukhari 352
From the above evidence we know
that several people during the prophet’s time period did not have any extra
dresses like hats.Head-dress or head covering is not esseential is a surplus
note found in the above hadith.
It is related that Muhammad ibn al-Munkadir
said, "I saw Jabir ibn 'Abdullah praying in a single garment and he said,
'I saw the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, praying wearing a
single cloth.'" Bukhari 353
The Prophet(PBUH) did not wear two pieces of dress i.e., as a garment below the hip and garment above the hip during the prayer.Instead he prayed with a single garment. This is sufficient proof that the Prophet has prayed with his head uncovered.
There is no wrong if a person wears hat (Kufi/Toppiee) as part of his habitual practice or tradition.If a person wears hat (Kufi/Toppiee) in prayer or outside prayer on this basis, no one can ban him from wearing so.
Similarly if a person does not wear hat (Kufi/Toppiee) while he is on prayer or outside prayer, No one can force him to wear or say wearing hat (Kufi/Toppiee) is recommended(Musthahab).
The Prophet(PBUH) did not wear two pieces of dress i.e., as a garment below the hip and garment above the hip during the prayer.Instead he prayed with a single garment. This is sufficient proof that the Prophet has prayed with his head uncovered.
There is no wrong if a person wears hat (Kufi/Toppiee) as part of his habitual practice or tradition.If a person wears hat (Kufi/Toppiee) in prayer or outside prayer on this basis, no one can ban him from wearing so.
Similarly if a person does not wear hat (Kufi/Toppiee) while he is on prayer or outside prayer, No one can force him to wear or say wearing hat (Kufi/Toppiee) is recommended(Musthahab).
Turban:
As for as wearing turban is concerned, there is no authentic report from the Prophet(PBUH) commanding us to wear it.There is also no authentic report from the Prophet (PBUH) where he says wearing turban is noteworthy.
All the hadiths which speak of the essentiality of wearing turban is either fabricated (Mawdu’ hadith) or weak reports (Da’eef hadith).
Eventhough
there is no evidence from Prophet (PBUH) mentioning the essentiality of wearing
a turban, there are authentic reports which speak about Prophet himself wearing
it.
Amr bin Umayya (r) reports : I saw the Prophet (PBUH) doing Masah over his turban and socks.Book: Bukhari 205
Amr bin Umayya (r) reports : I saw the Prophet (PBUH) doing Masah over his turban and socks.Book: Bukhari 205
`Amr b. Hurayth (r) said: “I saw the Prophet (peace be
upon him) on the pulpit and he was wearing a black turban. Muslim 2421
Jabir (r) reports: "The Prophet entered Mecca on the Day of victory wearing a black
turban. Muslim 2418
From this we know that Prophet has wore the turban only
on very rare occassions as mentioned above.
In the hundreds of hadiths which talk about his performing wudu‘ or giving a sermon or during any other battle-field victories, its not mentioned that the Prophet(PBUH) wore any turban.
There are countlesss hadiths regarding the Prophet’s (PBUH) beautiful hair patterns (style).If the Prophet(PBUH) were to wear turban at all times, sure there would have not been so much reports on the hair patterns of the Prophet(PBUH).
Therefore the Prophet (PBUH) has worn the turban on very few occassions and has not worn it regularly.
Yet another point should be understood now:
Lets
say for instance that the Prophet wore turban at all times,even then wearing
turban would not become a sunnah!
We do not say his ride on camel as a means of transport or his eating of wheat food or his praying with a single cloth as sunnah! But as for all the issues which are NOT concerned with acts of worship,not only should the Prophet should have done it but he should have commanded it to do as well.Only then it becomes Islam.Just like there are no commands regarding the above mentioned matters, there is no command about wearing the turban.
Therefore it is within a person’s interest to wear or not to wear a turban both while on prayer and outside the prayer!