Did Prophet Muhammad Have Braids?
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Text of the Hadith and Its Sources
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The Principal Defect: A Broken Chain
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Isolation and Lack of Supporting Routes
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How Scholars Graded the Hadith
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Root of the Methodological Dispute
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Does the Report Prove a Sunnah of Braided Hair?
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The Hair of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ – Description, Care, and Islamic Guidelines
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Practical Take-aways
In recent years, the question “Did Prophet Muhammad Have Braids?” has resurfaced on social media. Many people cite the report of Umm Hani bint Abi Talib رضي الله عنها, worded: “The Messenger of Allah ﷺ entered Mecca and he had four braids (غدائر)”.
This article offers an accessible overview: the text and sources of the hadith, the defects in its chain that led most critics to deem it weak, the minority who graded it sound, and finally, the practical conclusions a reader might draw.
Text of the Hadith and Its Sources
The report comes from Umm Hani bint Abi Talib. It is found in:
- Abu Dawud, al-Sunan #4191
- al-Tirmidhi #1781
- Ibn Majah #3631
- Ahmad, Musnad
All copies trace back to a single chain (isnad): Sufyan ibn Uyaynah → Abd Allah ibn Abi Najih → Mujahid ibn Jabr → Umm Hani.
The Principal Defect: A Broken Chain
The main problem lies with Mujahid ibn Jabr (d. 104 AH). While he is a trustworthy tabi'i, Imam al-Bukhari explicitly stated, “I do not know of Mujahid hearing from Umm Hani”. Because direct hearing is unproven, the chain is classified as munqati' (secretly broken) and therefore weak according to the majority of hadith critics.
Isolation and Lack of Supporting Routes
No alternative chains link Mujahid to Umm Hani, nor does any independent route narrate the same wording. As a result, the single defective chain has no corroboration to “boost” it from weakness to acceptability.
How Scholars Graded the Hadith
| Judgment | Leading Voices | Reasoning in Brief |
|---|---|---|
| Weak (da'if) | Abu Hatim, Abu Dawud, al-Bayhaqi, many modern verifiers | Chain is broken; no other supports. |
| Fair (hasan) | al-Tirmidhi (“hasan gharib”) | He accepts “possible meeting” if the narrator is upright and not known for deception. |
| Sound (sahih) | Later scholars such as Ibn Hajar (in some works), al-Albani | Considered the possibility of meeting adequate, combined with the good reputation of the narrators and general parallels about the Prophet gathering his hair on journeys. |
Root of the Methodological Dispute
The difference stems from the rule: Is mere possibility of personal meeting enough to treat a chain as connected when explicit proof of hearing is absent?
- Stricter camp: Requires explicit proof (e.g., “I heard”) or external evidence. Lack of it means the chain is broken and the report is weak.
- More lenient camp: Accepts a connected chain if meeting was historically possible and the narrator is not a known mudallis (obfuscator).
Does the Report Prove a Sunnah of Braided Hair?
Even were the chain sounds, the report is descriptive—it depicts a one-time circumstance (entering Mecca on the day of conquest) rather than prescribing a devotional hairstyle. Solidly authentic hadiths do show the Prophet tying (aqs) or wrapping his hair to keep off dust while traveling or during prayer, but not regularly wearing braids. Thus, claiming a perpetual sunnah of braiding based solely on this narration is unwarranted.
The Hair of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ – Description, Care, and Islamic Guidelines
Hair is an important aspect of personal appearance, and Islam gives special attention to outward cleanliness and dignity. The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ is the ideal example for Muslims in both character and appearance, including the way he cared for and styled his hair.
The Hairstyle of Prophet Muhammad was described by his companions in detail. It had a moderate texture, neither very curly nor completely straight. Depending on the time, his hair varied in length: it sometimes reached his earlobes, other times extended to his shoulders, or somewhere in between. Occasionally, he would part his hair in the middle or let it fall forward. During travel or pilgrimage, he would apply a substance to hold it together (known as talbid). There is also a reported narration that he entered Mecca with four braids, though this hadith is considered weak by most scholars.
Islam also sets boundaries for hairstyles to preserve modesty and prevent imitation of disbelievers or immoral trends. One forbidden practice is qaza, shaving parts of the head while leaving others, which the Prophet ﷺ explicitly forbade. Additionally, Muslims are discouraged from adopting hairstyles associated with non-Muslim cultures or rebellious behavior, as they go against Islamic values of humility and self-respect.
Practical Take-aways
- The chain is deemed weak by the majority. While some late scholars accepted it, most earlier critics did not.
- Braiding is permissible in itself, but one should not present it as a firmly established sunnah without clear evidence.
- Caution in citation: When quoting the hadith, mention its disputed grading so readers are not misled.
- Safe example-following: Rely on practices confirmed by many sound reports, such as allowing the hair to hang naturally (jummah) or tying it temporarily, rather than a single questionable narration.
In sum, the famous “four braids” report rests on a solitary chain with a hidden break. While a minority considered that defect tolerable, most hadith specialists judged it insufficient for legal inference or for establishing a distinct prophetic practice.
