Assalamu alaikum, How are you? Been a long time since I saw you, where have you been?
ALI: Wa-alaikumussalam, I’m fine Alhamdulillah, not been anywhere, just been busy revising for my exams.
What you been up to? Still at the Islamic Institute?
ADAM: Yeah, I’m in my final year before I graduate in Islamic Theology.
ALI: That’s cool, now I know who to come to when there is a problem.
ADAM: Your welcome anytime, by the way may I ask you a question?
ALI: Of course you can.
ADAM: How come you’ve stopped wearing a topi? I can remember you use to wear a topi in Salah in our old
days.
ALI: O don’t you know, to read Salah without a topi is also accordance to Sunnah.
ADAM: WHAT!! Who’s been feeding you with this false information?
ALI: Take it easy, it’s what we’ve been learning in our university circle.
ADAM: Do you even know the definition of Sunnah?
ALI: Yes I do, Sunnah is an act which Prophet (SAW) did even if that action was done once, and it is proven
by Hadith that Prophet (SAW) did read his prayer without a topi once.
ADAM: Ok then, why don’t you start urinating standing up, as it comes in the famous Hadith book, Sahih
Bukhari (vol.1 pg.35) that Prophet (SAW) did once urinate standing up, will you class that as Sunnah?
ALI: Clearly not, then what is the definition of Sunnah?
ADAM: An act which the Prophet (SAW) adhered to so much that it was considered to be his habit and daily
ritual and something he would rarely leave out.
ALI: Never come across this definition.
ADAM: Obviously not, Look Ali, it seems like you’re hanging around with the wrong people. As a close friend
let me tell you a few things about the importance of the topi in Islam.
ALI: Please do so.
ADAM: A topi/turban holds a very high status in Islam; it serves to show that the wearer is a Muslim, thereby
distinguishing him from the followers of other religions. You must have heard of the Hadith books, Abu
Dawood and Tabrani?
ALI: Yes I have.
ADAM: In there is the narration of Roknah (RA) that Prophet (SAW) said “The distinction between us and the
polytheist is the turbans over our caps”. Furthermore, Islam lays great stress of the protection of our Islamic
identity and the topi goes a long way in ensuring this, Mullah Ali Qari (RA), a famous scholar has said in his
book Mirqaat (vol.8 pg.246) that wearing of the topi has become one of the salient symbols of Islam and most
importantly, the topi was the practice of our beloved Prophet (SAW). Hazrat Aisha (RA) the wife of the Prophet
(SAW) herself narrates that Prophet (SAW) would wear a topi which covered his ear while on a journey and
whilst at home he would wear a thin (i.e. Syrian style) topi.
ALI: Isn’t this Hadith weak?
ADAM: No it’s not. Imam Iraqi has written in Faidhul Qadeer (vol.5 pg.246) that of all the Ahaadith dealing with
the topi, this Hadith is the most authentic and reliable.
ALI: So is it Sunnah to wear a topi?
ADAM Yes, after gathering all the Ahaadith pertaining to the topi, the scholars have regarded wearing topi as
Sunnah.
ALI: So what’s the ruling of wearing topi in Salah?
ADAM: The reality of Salah is to present oneself in the court of the Almighty; this demands man presents
himself with respect and honour. A feature of respect and honour is to cover one’s head either with a topi or an
amamah.
ALI: But isn’t covering the satr (private parts) enough?
ADAM: Ali what you have to remember is attire of the human body is divided into two categories:1) Compulsory to cover 2) desirable to cover. The Quran in Surah A’araf (verse 26) confines the costume into
two categories. Allah (SWT) says "O children of Adam! We have bestowed upon you to cover, as well as
to be adornment to you. And in verse 31 Allah (SWT) says "O children of Adam! Wear your beautiful
apparel at every place of prayer." From these verses we can understand that there are some parts of the
body which are compulsory and necessary to cover and these are the private parts and those adjoining them,
and some which are required and desired.
ALI: Please can you elaborate further on this verse.
ADAM: Surely I can, Allâmah Abû Hayyân (RA) the renowned Mufassir (commentator of the Qur`ân), has
beautifully explained this point in the following manner: -
“The order to adopt ‘beauty’, in this ayah, is specific to Salâh. Therefore ‘beauty’ cannot refer to
covering the private parts since we are ordered to cover them at all times, not only during Salâh. ‘Beauty’ will
therefore, in this case, have to mean something else, that with which one beautifies himself.”
Thus we can say without any doubt that covering of the head is part of ‘beauty’ and this has always
been the custom from the early days of Islâm. It is for this reason historically also, Muslims have never formed
rows for Salâh bareheaded. Anyone who denies this has been misinformed. We hereby understand that there
exists no proof at all to show that ‘beauty’ does not include covering the head.
ALI: So is it Haraam to perform Salah without a topi?
ADAM: The theologist (fuqaha) have adjudged to pray Salah bare-head due to laziness or to regard it as of
non-importance as Makrooh-e-Tanzihy (consensually disliked). It is stated in Alfiqh-al-Islami under Makroohate-
Salah that: ‘To pray Salat bare-head due to laziness is (makrooh).
. The former Grand Mufti of Pakistan Hazrat Maulana Muhammad Shafee (RA) has written in Mareeful
Quran: -
"Not only is the covering of private parts in Salat demanded, but also the clothes and the costume of
beauty. Thus for men to pray Salat bare-head, bare-elbows, and bare-shoulders is Makrooh (disliked) whether
it is short sleeves or the sleeves have been rolled up above the elbow. It is also Makrooh (disliked) to pray
Salat in such clothes and costumes with which the person feels shame and disgrace either to meet or face
friends or even to go out. So then how can he present himself in the court of Almighty Allah in this manner?
ALI: So did the companions of the Prophet (SAW) also wear topi?
ADAM: Following the footsteps of the Prophet (SAW) the companions of the Prophet (SAW) too wore a topi or
an amamah to cover their heads. It is stated in Sahih Bukhari (vol.1 pg.56) that the Sahabah (RA) used to
make sajda (prostrate) upon their turbans and topis, In Mirqaat (vol.8 pg.246) Abu Kabsha (RA) narrates that
the caps of the companions of Prophet (SAW) use to be round and spacious. Wail ibn Hujr (RA) narrates that
he performed Salat with Nabi (SAW) and the Sahaba (R.A) who were wearing barnases (a type of topi or
garment with a hood) this narration could be found in Ibn Kuzhaimah on page 233.
ALI: That’s enough, I think I’m convinced. Does this mean I have to repeat all my prayers done without the
topi?
ADAM: No not at all. But just make sure next time you pray your Salah it’s with a topi on.
ALI: Don’t worry about that, you’ll never see me praying Salah without a topi from now on and that’s a
promise.
----------------------DEAR READERS: ARE YOU WEARING YOUR TOPI IN SALAT? ----------------------
ALI: Wa-alaikumussalam, I’m fine Alhamdulillah, not been anywhere, just been busy revising for my exams.
What you been up to? Still at the Islamic Institute?
ADAM: Yeah, I’m in my final year before I graduate in Islamic Theology.
ALI: That’s cool, now I know who to come to when there is a problem.
ADAM: Your welcome anytime, by the way may I ask you a question?
ALI: Of course you can.
ADAM: How come you’ve stopped wearing a topi? I can remember you use to wear a topi in Salah in our old
days.
ALI: O don’t you know, to read Salah without a topi is also accordance to Sunnah.
ADAM: WHAT!! Who’s been feeding you with this false information?
ALI: Take it easy, it’s what we’ve been learning in our university circle.
ADAM: Do you even know the definition of Sunnah?
ALI: Yes I do, Sunnah is an act which Prophet (SAW) did even if that action was done once, and it is proven
by Hadith that Prophet (SAW) did read his prayer without a topi once.
ADAM: Ok then, why don’t you start urinating standing up, as it comes in the famous Hadith book, Sahih
Bukhari (vol.1 pg.35) that Prophet (SAW) did once urinate standing up, will you class that as Sunnah?
ALI: Clearly not, then what is the definition of Sunnah?
ADAM: An act which the Prophet (SAW) adhered to so much that it was considered to be his habit and daily
ritual and something he would rarely leave out.
ALI: Never come across this definition.
ADAM: Obviously not, Look Ali, it seems like you’re hanging around with the wrong people. As a close friend
let me tell you a few things about the importance of the topi in Islam.
ALI: Please do so.
ADAM: A topi/turban holds a very high status in Islam; it serves to show that the wearer is a Muslim, thereby
distinguishing him from the followers of other religions. You must have heard of the Hadith books, Abu
Dawood and Tabrani?
ALI: Yes I have.
ADAM: In there is the narration of Roknah (RA) that Prophet (SAW) said “The distinction between us and the
polytheist is the turbans over our caps”. Furthermore, Islam lays great stress of the protection of our Islamic
identity and the topi goes a long way in ensuring this, Mullah Ali Qari (RA), a famous scholar has said in his
book Mirqaat (vol.8 pg.246) that wearing of the topi has become one of the salient symbols of Islam and most
importantly, the topi was the practice of our beloved Prophet (SAW). Hazrat Aisha (RA) the wife of the Prophet
(SAW) herself narrates that Prophet (SAW) would wear a topi which covered his ear while on a journey and
whilst at home he would wear a thin (i.e. Syrian style) topi.
ALI: Isn’t this Hadith weak?
ADAM: No it’s not. Imam Iraqi has written in Faidhul Qadeer (vol.5 pg.246) that of all the Ahaadith dealing with
the topi, this Hadith is the most authentic and reliable.
ALI: So is it Sunnah to wear a topi?
ADAM Yes, after gathering all the Ahaadith pertaining to the topi, the scholars have regarded wearing topi as
Sunnah.
ALI: So what’s the ruling of wearing topi in Salah?
ADAM: The reality of Salah is to present oneself in the court of the Almighty; this demands man presents
himself with respect and honour. A feature of respect and honour is to cover one’s head either with a topi or an
amamah.
ALI: But isn’t covering the satr (private parts) enough?
ADAM: Ali what you have to remember is attire of the human body is divided into two categories:1) Compulsory to cover 2) desirable to cover. The Quran in Surah A’araf (verse 26) confines the costume into
two categories. Allah (SWT) says "O children of Adam! We have bestowed upon you to cover, as well as
to be adornment to you. And in verse 31 Allah (SWT) says "O children of Adam! Wear your beautiful
apparel at every place of prayer." From these verses we can understand that there are some parts of the
body which are compulsory and necessary to cover and these are the private parts and those adjoining them,
and some which are required and desired.
ALI: Please can you elaborate further on this verse.
ADAM: Surely I can, Allâmah Abû Hayyân (RA) the renowned Mufassir (commentator of the Qur`ân), has
beautifully explained this point in the following manner: -
“The order to adopt ‘beauty’, in this ayah, is specific to Salâh. Therefore ‘beauty’ cannot refer to
covering the private parts since we are ordered to cover them at all times, not only during Salâh. ‘Beauty’ will
therefore, in this case, have to mean something else, that with which one beautifies himself.”
Thus we can say without any doubt that covering of the head is part of ‘beauty’ and this has always
been the custom from the early days of Islâm. It is for this reason historically also, Muslims have never formed
rows for Salâh bareheaded. Anyone who denies this has been misinformed. We hereby understand that there
exists no proof at all to show that ‘beauty’ does not include covering the head.
ALI: So is it Haraam to perform Salah without a topi?
ADAM: The theologist (fuqaha) have adjudged to pray Salah bare-head due to laziness or to regard it as of
non-importance as Makrooh-e-Tanzihy (consensually disliked). It is stated in Alfiqh-al-Islami under Makroohate-
Salah that: ‘To pray Salat bare-head due to laziness is (makrooh).
. The former Grand Mufti of Pakistan Hazrat Maulana Muhammad Shafee (RA) has written in Mareeful
Quran: -
"Not only is the covering of private parts in Salat demanded, but also the clothes and the costume of
beauty. Thus for men to pray Salat bare-head, bare-elbows, and bare-shoulders is Makrooh (disliked) whether
it is short sleeves or the sleeves have been rolled up above the elbow. It is also Makrooh (disliked) to pray
Salat in such clothes and costumes with which the person feels shame and disgrace either to meet or face
friends or even to go out. So then how can he present himself in the court of Almighty Allah in this manner?
ALI: So did the companions of the Prophet (SAW) also wear topi?
ADAM: Following the footsteps of the Prophet (SAW) the companions of the Prophet (SAW) too wore a topi or
an amamah to cover their heads. It is stated in Sahih Bukhari (vol.1 pg.56) that the Sahabah (RA) used to
make sajda (prostrate) upon their turbans and topis, In Mirqaat (vol.8 pg.246) Abu Kabsha (RA) narrates that
the caps of the companions of Prophet (SAW) use to be round and spacious. Wail ibn Hujr (RA) narrates that
he performed Salat with Nabi (SAW) and the Sahaba (R.A) who were wearing barnases (a type of topi or
garment with a hood) this narration could be found in Ibn Kuzhaimah on page 233.
ALI: That’s enough, I think I’m convinced. Does this mean I have to repeat all my prayers done without the
topi?
ADAM: No not at all. But just make sure next time you pray your Salah it’s with a topi on.
ALI: Don’t worry about that, you’ll never see me praying Salah without a topi from now on and that’s a
promise.
----------------------DEAR READERS: ARE YOU WEARING YOUR TOPI IN SALAT? ----------------------
