Oil & Coming
CHAPTER THIRT-NINE
SUNNAH OF OILING AND COMBING
O Allah (The Exalted) bless our master Muhammad (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) Your Prophet, and our master Abraham, your Friend, and all the Prophets and pure ones from the folk of Your earth and Your heaven, in all of Your creation and as it pleases Yourself, in the decoration of Your Throne, in the ink of Your words, to the extent of Your Knowledge and Adornment of Your created beings with blessings repeated eternally as much as Your knowledge and to the depth of Your Knowledge and then double this with blessings, abundant and excellent and gracious, blessings equal to all the requests for blessings ever uttered by all of creation just as in like measure the whole of creation enjoy favour.
The Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) would take care of his personal appearance. He would apply oil to his hair and beard and comb it too.
Look after your hair
Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) states that, ‘The Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) said that, “Whosoever has hair, look after it.” i Meaning to wash the hair, to oil and comb it.
‘Ata bin Yasaar (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that, “The Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) came to the Mosque. A person came whose hair and beard was unkempt. The Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) pointed at him in a manner which made it clear that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) was advising him to comb his hair. The person combed his hair and came back. The Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) said, “Is this not better than that person whose hair is unkempt, it is as if he is Shaytan.”” ii
When to comb
‘Abd-Allah bin Mughaffal (may Allah be pleased with him) states that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) forbade us from coming the hair everyday. iii
The scholars looking at all the hadith on combing have come to the conclusion that one should look after their hair and not leave it unkempt and not to comb it when there is not a necessity. Many when ever there is a mirror or they can see their reflection start to comb their hair when there is no need.
Grooming of the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace
The Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) used oil on his blessed hair and blessed beard, he also used water on his blessed beard, and then combed it. He combed his blessed hair on the head and sometimes parted them in the middle. He also combed his blessed beard with an ivory comb.
Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) states that, “The Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) would apply plenty of oil in his blessed hair and beard and at times comb the beard and tie a cloth on his blessed head, the cloth would get covered in oil just like his blessed hair.” iv
The Messenger of Allah (may Allah less him and grant him peace) would apply a lot of oil and to save his blessed Amama, hat and other clothing from getting stained with oil, he would wear a cloth on his blessed head. How unique is it that his cloth would never get any dirt nor lice, Subhanallah!
Oil & water
Anas bin Malik (may Allah be pleased with him) has related, “The Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) would apply oil to his head frequently and washed his beard with water.”
Non-Muslim & A Muslim’s Devil
Abu Hurayrah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) narrates that, “Once a Muslim’s devil and a non Muslim’s devil met together. The non-Muslim’s devil was very healthy, big and warmly wrapped up wearing nice clothes and had oil on his head whilst the Muslim’s devil was in a very bad state as he was skinny and weak with no clothes. 2 www.GardensOfSunnah.co.uk
The non-Muslim’s devil asked ‘Brother! Why are you in this state?’ He replied: “I am with such a person who, when he eats he remembers Allah (The Exalted) by reciting ‘Bismillah…’ that is why I have to stay hungry and do not get any share out of his food. When he drinks water, he recites ‘Bismillah…’ so I have to stay thirsty. When putting oil on his head he recites ‘Bismillah…’, my hair is in this situation, and when wearing his clothes he recites ‘Bismillah…’ too.”
The non Muslim’s devil said: “I am with such a person that whatever he does, he never recites ‘Bismillah…’, this is why I am healthy and I get to eat with him, drink with him and take part in all activities.” v
We learn from this that if we want the blessing then every thing we do, always say Bismillah. Regardless of whether you start an assignment, some coursework, writing a letter, or even putting a key into the door. Make a habit of this Sunnah and there will be blessings in everything you do, Insha-Allah!, or else the Shaytan will takes part in what you do.
Comb of ivory
The Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) had a comb made from elephant’s teeth, he also used water on his blessed beard and then combed it. vi
‘Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) said, “Keep on combing the hair, as poverty will be taken away. He who combs the hair in the morning will stay in peace till the evening.” vii
Save from calamities
Ubay bin Ka’ab (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that, ‘The Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) stated that, “Whosoever combs their hair and beard at night will be saved from all calamities and will live longer.”’ viii Subhanallah!
Look after your hair
Abu Qatadah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that I asked to the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) that, “I have hair should I continue to comb it?” The Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) said, “Yes, and look after it.” ix
As the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) told him this, he would at times oil his hair twice a day.x Subhanallah!
Shaykh ‘Abd Al-Haq Muhaddith-e-Dehelwi (may Allah’s mercy be upon him) writes that, “To comb the beard after ablution will rid one of poverty.” xi
In another place the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) also said, “He who combs the eyebrows will be saved from difficulties.” xii
‘Abd Al-Rahman Safoori (may Allah be pleased with him) states that, “Whosoever combs the hair on Sunday, Allah (The Exalted) will grant many benefits, one who combs the hair on Monday will have his requirements fulfilled. One who combs it on Tuesday is granted easiness. On Wednesday he will be given gifts by Allah (The Exalted), On Thursday he will be given blessings in his reward. On Friday he will be granted happiness and Saturday Allah (The Exalted) keeps his heart clean from evil.” xiii Subhanallah!
Imam Ghazali (may Allah’s mercy be upon him) writes in Ihya ul-Uloom that, “The Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) would comb his blessed beard twice a day.” xiv
The Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) would always start from the right side, even whilst combing his blessed hair. xv
Supplication for looking in the Mirror
When combing his hair he would look in the mirror and when he saw his blessed face, he prayed the following supplication:
‘Allahumma Anta Hassanta Khalqi Fahassin Khuluqi’.
O Allah! You have beautified my nature, beautify my character too. xvi 3 www.GardensOfSunnah.co.uk
i Abu Dawood
ii Imam Malik
iii Tirmidhi & Abu Dawud
iv Tirmidhi
v Mawahib Ladunya & Faizan-e-Sunnat, p. 43-4
vi Faizan-e-Sunnat, p. 602
vii Nuzhatul Majalis & Faizane Sunnat, p. 601
viii Nuzhatul Majalis
ix Imam Malik & Faizane Sunnat, p. 599
x Imam Malik
xi Ashi ‘Atul Lam ‘Aat & Faizane Sunnat, p. 599
xii Nuzhatul Majalis & Faizane Sunnat, p. 601
xiii ibid
xiv Ihya by Al-Ghazali & Faizane Sunnat, p.599
xv Tirmidhi & Faizane Sunnat, p. 601
xvi Sahih ibn Hibban in Supplication & Shamail-e-Rasool
xvii Faizan-e-Sunnat, p. 599
xviii Uswae Hasana, Shamaile Tirmidhi & Faizan-e-Sunnat, p. 600
xix Shamail-e-Tirmidhi & Faizan-e-Sunnat, p. 600
xx Faizane Sunnat, p. 600
The supplication is of course to teach his followers to ask Almighty Allah to give us a good character, as the character of the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) was unique and a shining example for his followers to follow.
Manners of oil
1. When applying oil always pray ‘Bismillah…’ otherwise seventy devils will assist in applying oil in your hair. xvii
2. Whenever he wanted to grease his blessed hair, the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) would take some oil in the palm of his left hand.
3. Apply a little on the right eyebrow then the left. Then apply some to the eyelashes first the right then left. Then pray ‘Bismillah…’ again and apply to the rest of the head from the front right then front left working your way back. xviii In the same manner when applying oil to the beard, pray ‘Bismillah…’ again and then apply it.
4. When the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) applied oil in his hair he started from the front right side then front left and when applying oil to his beard he would apply it from the hair closest to the neck and work his way up. xix
5. The Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) would keep seven items besides his bed, bottle of oil; a comb; bottle of Surma; pair of scissors; miswak; mirror; and a stick for itching. xx
O Allah (The Exalted)! Give us all the ability to look after our hair and to oil and comb it following the Sunnah of Your beloved Messenger (may Allah bless him and grant him peace), Ameen.