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Explanation of Umdat-ul-Akm and Umdat-ul-Fiqh

As stated in the last lesson Shaikh-ul-Islm Ibn Qudmah stated:

"


"

Wiping Over the Turban 2

And it is permissible to wipe over the Turban if it has a tail (a

fringe that hangs ) and it covers the entire head except what is
customarily apparent. And from the conditions of wiping on all that
is wiped over is that it was worn while in a state of purity.
In the prior lesson the issue of the permissibility of wiping over the turban was
discussed with its proofs. The clear and authentic evidences established that it is
permissible to wipe over the turban. In this lesson we will discuss the conditions
for being able to wipe over the turban. The first condition Imm Ibn Qudmah
stipulated to be able to wipe over a turban during wu is that it must
have a . This is a term that refers to the tail of the turban, that which hangs
behind the turban.
Imm Bah-ud-Dn al-Maqdas explains this issue in his Shar of alUmdah:

From the conditions is that it (the turban) must have ( meaning that
the turban must have a lose tail that hangs in the back) or ( meaning
that it is tied under the chin from one side to the other). Since (the
turban) that does not have a lose tail nor does it have a lose tail that is
tied under the chin from one side to the other, than it resembles the
disbelievers. And certainly we have been forbidden to imitate them. If
someone imitates the disbelievers then they may not benefit from this
( allowance). [ 1 ]

Al-Uddah Shar al-Umdah Volume # 1 Page # 23

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Lesson # 32

This is a very important and often forgotten ruling. A part of the turban should be
secured under the chin, coming from one side of the turban to the other. If not,
then it should have a tail-like part handing from the back. If neither of these
qualities are present then this is imitation of the disbelievers and to wear such a
turban is forbidden. This is based upon the a adth reported by Abdullh
bin Umar that an-Nab said:

whoever resembles a people is from them [ 2 ]

There are numerous adth on this subject but this one adth is enough to
prove that we have been clearly and unambiguously forbiden from imitating
the disbelievers. This adth was graded as a by Imm al-Irq
and Shaikh-ul-Islm Taq-ud-Dn Ibn Taymiyyah who said
about it:

" "
(It is a) strong adth. [ 3 ]

Shaikh li al-Fawzn explains this issue in his book al-Mulakhkhas alFiqhiyy with the following explanation:

:
. :
:

It is permissible to wipe over the turban with two conditions.
1. The first is that the turban must be covering the entire head
except that which is uncovered in accordance with local custom.
2. The second condition is that the turban must be and that is
when there is a part of it (the turban) is wrapped around the
lower jaw up to the head, one or more turn. Or it is and that
is when a part of it (the turban) has a lose end that hangs in the
back. [ 4 ]
2

Sunan Abi Dwd adth # 4031 graded as a

Majm al-Fatawa Volume # 25 Page # 331
4
Al-Mulakhkhas al-Fiqhiyy Volume # 1 Page # 56
3

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Lesson # 32

Explanation of Umdat-ul-Akm and Umdat-ul-Fiqh

Here are some examples of a turban tied with a

Here are some examples of a turban tied with a

There are in fact many points of benefit and wisdom in this ruling. One of the
points of benefit that was pointed out by my teacher Shaikh Sdiq al-Mannah
was that it encourages the Muslim to distinguish himself from the disbelievers.
Hence the method that Raslullh and the abah used to tie their
turbans became the adopted practice and distinguishing characteristic of the
Muslims. While tying the turban without a loose end hanging in the back or a tied
end beneath the chin became the distinguishing characteristic of the disbelievers.
This ruling is found to be true today since we find the major difference between
the method used by Sikhs in tying their turbans and the method utilized by the
Muslims in tying their turbans is the tail hanging from the back or under the chin.
Here is an example of how the Sikhs tie the turban and how the Muslims tie the
turban:

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Lesson # 32


Sikh Turban

Muslim Turban

The fact that the only types of turbans that Raslullh and the abah

were narrated to have worn were with a or is proof in of itself but

there is another very important piece of evidence that must be considered. It is
the reliable adth recorded by Imm al-kim who graded it a:

..

" :

..

AbdurRamn (bin Awf) was wearing a black cotton turban,

he presented himself ready for the impending mission. AnNab motioned him closer to himself and removed his
turban and tied a white turban on his head. This turban was tied
in such a manner that a loose end of approximately four
fingers' length was allowed to hang down from the back. Then
an-Nab said: "Ibn Auf , tie your turban in a like fashion as
it is more appropriate and apparent. [ 5 ]
This adth shows that the turban was not just a cultural practice but
there was a style of tying the turban preferred by Raslullh and a
style discouraged by Raslullh . It is a proof that the abah


were instructed by Raslullh to tie the turban with a

loose end. When the abah wore the turban without a
loose end, Raslullh disapproved of it and re-tied the turban in a
manner with a loose end. Imm al-kim said about this
adth:

Mustadrak al-kim Volime # 4 Page # 582 graded as a

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Lesson # 32

Explanation of Umdat-ul-Akm and Umdat-ul-Fiqh

"
"

This is a a adth. [ 6 ]

Imm adh-Dhahab in his checking of this adth also graded

it a. This is further supported by numerous a adth which
record the practice of Raslullh and the abah only
wearing turbans that are or .
Examples of turbans that are not allowed by Raslullh are the following:

Shaikh-ul-Islm Ibn Qudmah further elaborated in al-Mughn:

And if part of the head is uncovered and it is normally so, then it is
preferable to wipe over that along with the turban. This is what is recorded
from Imm Amad : as an-Nab wiped over his turban and
forelock - as occurs in the adth of al-Mughrah bin Shubah

An-Nab performed the wu and He wiped his forelock

and his turban. [ 7 ]
As for caps, it is not permissible to wipe over them as Imm Ahmad
elaborated for the following reasons:
1. First and foremost it has not been narrated that an-Nab wiped over
them.
2. Secondly they do not cover all of the head normally, nor are they tied
around it. Hence they would not qualify as a turban.
3. There is no difficulty in their removal.
6
7

Mustadrak al-kim Volime # 4 Page # 582

a Muslim adth # 247

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Lesson # 32

As for the woman's head cover, what is usually referred to as the Hijb or
Khimr, it is permissible to wipe over it. This is based on the following evidence.
First of all it was authentically reported by Imm Ibn Ab Shaybah that
Umm Salamah used to wipe over her Khimr. [ 8 ]
Secondly allowances in religion are not unique to men. Allah blesses both
men and women with allowances, such as shorting the prayer for the traveler or
performing the prayer while sitting for the one who is unable to stand. Hence if
the man is blessed with the allowance to wipe over his turban, a woman should
not be deprived of this allowance. This indicates the fairness of the law of Islm
in dealing with men and women.
Imm Ibn Ab Shaybah relates this opinion from al-asan al-Basr
. It is also the relied upon opinion of Imm Ahmad bin Hanbal
and the anbal madh-hab as well as the opinion of Imm Ibn Hazm .
The conditions for wiping over the turban can be summarized as the following:
1.
2.
3.
4.

The turban should be pure from impurities.

The turban should be made of a pure substance.
The turban should be put on while a person is in a state of ritual purity.
Part of the turban should be secured under the neck, coming from one side
of the turban to the other. If not, then it should have a tail-like part
hanging from the back.
5. The turban should cover the area of the head customarily covered by a
turban. Hence the part of the head that would regularly be wiped in Wudu
would be covered.

Ibn Ab Shaybah Volume # 7 Page # 23

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Lesson # 32