Search In Fatwa

It is no Sunnah to cover face with turban

Question

Assalaamu alaykum respected Shaykh. There are many brothers in Western countries who cover their faces with their turban or a scarf. Did the Prophet, sallallaahu ʻalayhi wa sallam, cover his face with a turban?

Answer

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ʻalayhi wa sallam, is His slave and Messenger.

As far as we know, it has not been reported that the Prophet, sallallaahu ʻalayhi wa sallam, used to cover his face with the turban. It has been narrated that he, sallallaahu ʻalayhi wa sallam, used to let the ends of his turban hang loose on his back. Ibn ʻUmar  may  Allaah  be  pleased  with  him said, “When the Prophet, sallallaahu ʻalayhi wa sallam, wore a turban, he would let it hang between his shoulders.” [At-Tirmithi]

ʻAmr ibn Hurayth  may  Allaah  be  pleased  with  him said, “It is as if I can see the Messenger of Allaah, sallallaahu ʻalayhi wa sallam, on the pulpit, wearing a black turban, with its two ends hanging between his shoulders.

He, sallallaahu ʻalayhi wa sallam, sometimes used to bring one end of the turban under his chin; which is known to scholars as ‘tallahhi’ (from the term "lihyah" which means beard in Arabic). Nayl Al-Awtaar reads, “Tallahhi is to turn the turban under the chin...” Al-Hadi (Zaad al M'aad fi Hadi Khayr al 'Ibaad) reads, “He (sallallaahu ʻalayhi wa sallam) used to wrap his turban from under his chin.” For more benefit, please refer to fatwa 308035.

As for covering the face, we do not know of any report stating that the Prophet, sallallaahu ʻalayhi wa sallam, used to cover his face with his turban. Perhaps those people in reference who cover their faces are doing so for a reason, such as in order to protect themselves from cold or dust or the like.

Allaah knows best.

Related Fatwa