Abdul Razzaq al-Badr said,
The author dedicated this chapter to listing the hadīths that describe the combing and the hair care of the Prophet (peace be upon him).
The Prophet (peace be upon him) was moderate and balanced about his hair; neither was he obsessed about his hair or negligent regarding it.
Al-Bajūrī said,
The hair care is part of the cleanliness and personal hygiene that the legislator encouraged and recommended. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “Cleanliness is from imān”[43] and, “Whoever has hair should honour it.”[44]
32. Aisha related: “I used to comb the hair of Allāh’s Messenger (peace be upon him) even whilst I was in the state of menstruation.” [45]
Abdul Razzaq al-Badr said,
This is evidence that it is permissible for the wife to comb the hair of her husband and touch him while she is menstruating, and that the body of a menstruating woman is not deemed ritually impure.
Ibn Hajar al-Haytamī said,
This is evidence that it is only the menstrual blood of the woman that is ritually impure while the rest of her body is pure. It also shows that the wife should look after her husband in all cases, and that she can still spend time with her husband during menses as avoiding the wife during her menses is the way of the Jews.
Al-Bajūrī said,
This hadīth shows that it is recommended to comb the hair, and to comb the beard as well, based on analogy.
33. Anas ibn Mālik narrated: “The Messenger of Allāh (peace be upon him) used to frequently oil his hair and comb his beard. He would often wear a cloth around his head, which would eventually appear to look like the cloth of an oilman.” [46]
Abdul Razzaq al-Badr said,
“Used to frequently oil his hair”: It means that he would often use oil whenever he combed his hair.
Al-Bajūrī said,
“Would wear a cloth”: This is a cloth that is put over the head to protect the turban from the stains of oil.
Alī al-Qārī said,
“And comb his beard”: This indicates that he used to oil his beard when combing it.
“Which would eventually appear to look like the cloth of an oilman”: This refers only to the hair-cover. This meaning is the most suitable and it befits the state of the Prophet (peace be upon him) whose clothes were evidently always clean, not to mention the many hadīths wherein he encouraged people to keep their clothes clean. This meaning is also proven from other hadīths that explicitly clarified that it refers to the hair-cover.
Al-Suyūtī said,
“He would often wear a cloth around his head”: He (peace be upon him) also used to cover his head during intercourse often and this was done due to his shyness.
34. Aisha narrated: “Allāh’s Messenger (peace be upon him) used to like to start with the right side when engaging in his ritual purification, combing his hair, and putting on his sandals.” [47]
Abdul Razzaq al-Badr said,
It is recommended to start with the right side in all that which is deemed good such as entering the masjid, eating, drinking, shaking the hands, exchanging money or items between people and wearing clothes etc. The opposite should be observed – that is to say – to start with the left side in opposite activities such as entering the toilet, leaving the masjid, [taking off shoes and socks] etc.
Al-Bajūrī said,
“Used to like to start with the right side”: Imām al-Bukhārī documented another version that has the addition, “as long as he was able to”, which indicates that one should observe this behaviour unless there is something that prevents us from that. The reason why the Prophet (peace be upon him) liked to start with the right side is because the dwellers of Paradise are the people of the right.
Ibn Hajar al-Haytamī said,
“Engaging in his ritual purification”: He liked to start with the right side in ablution when washing the hands and the feet, but did not follow the same manner when washing the cheeks and ears.
Alī al-Qārī said,
“Engaging in his ritual purification”: The purification mentioned in this hadīth includes wudū, ghusl and tayammum but it does not include purifying oneself from physical impurity (istinjah and istijmār).
Al-Nawawī said,
All scholars are in agreement that starting with the right side in ablution is a Sunnah and whoever opposes it misses its reward but their ablution is valid.
35. ‘Abdullāh ibn Mughaffal narrated: “Allāh’s Messenger (peace be upon him) prohibited the combing of hair unless it is done occasionally.” [48]
Abdul Razzaq al Badr said,
This means that one must not let his haircare occupy all of his time and so one should be neither negligent nor indulgent.
Al-Bajūrī said,
The reason behind this prohibition was because it gives the impression that one is indulging in luxury and adornment, which is the habit of women.
Abū Bakr ibn al-‘Arabī said,
Taking care of the hair constantly is showing off, neglecting it is foulness and looking after it occasionally is the Sunnah.
Ibn Hajar al-Haytamī said,
This prohibition applies to oiling the hair too.
Alī al-Qārī said,
‘Abdullāh ibn Mughaffal was one of the companions who witnessed the Pledge of the Tree.
36. Humayd ibn Abdul Rahman narrated from one of the companions that it was the habit of the Prophet (peace be upon him) to comb his hair occasionally. [49]