Is It Permissible to Seek Blessings from the Hair of the Prophet (Allah Bless Him and Give Him Peace)?
Answered By Shaykh Dr. Muhammad Fayez Awad
Question
Is it permissible to seek blessings (tabarruk) from the hair of the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace)?
Answer
All praise is due to Allah, Lord of all worlds. Peace and blessings be upon the Messenger sent as a mercy to the worlds, our Master and Prophet, Muhammad, and his Family and Companions.
Seeking Blessings from the Relics of the Prophet
Seeking blessings from the relics of the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace), including his hair, is well-known and widely reported among many of the Companions (Allah be pleased with them).
For example, Umm ‘Atiyya al-Ansariyya (Allah be pleased with her) said:
“The Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) entered upon us when his daughter passed away and said: ‘Wash her three times, or five, or more if you think necessary, with water and lote leaves, and make the last washing with camphor or something similar. When you finish, inform me.’ When we finished, we informed him, and he gave us his waist wrapper and said, ‘Shroud her in it.’” [Bukhari; Muslim]
Imam Nawawi commented: “The wisdom in this was to seek blessings (tabarruk) from the garment of the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace), indicating that seeking blessings from the belongings of righteous people is permissible.” [Nawawi, Sharh Muslim]
There is also the hadith about Abu Ayyub al-Ansari (Allah be pleased with him), who would prepare food for the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) and would then follow the traces of the Prophet’s fingers on the food, seeking blessings from where the Prophet touched. [Muslim]
Similarly, Asma Bint Abi Bakr (Allah be pleased with her) said: “This is the cloak of the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace). It was with Aisha until she passed away, then I took it. The Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) used to wear it, and we would wash it for the sick to seek healing from it.” [Ibid.]
Seeking Blessings from the Hair of the Prophet
As for specifically seeking blessings from the hair of the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace), this practice is clearly evidenced. The Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) would distribute his hair to the Companions when he shaved his head. The Companions would eagerly take it for blessings.
Anas Ibn Malik (Allah be pleased with him) reported: “The Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) came to Mina, threw the stones at the Jamrah, then went to his residence in Mina and offered a sacrifice. Then he said to the barber:
‘Take (from my hair),’ and pointed to his right side, then his left. He then began to distribute the hair among the people.” [Muslim; Ibn Khuzayma; Ibn Hibban; Tirmidhi]
In another narration, after performing the stoning and sacrifice, the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) called Abu Talha al-Ansari (Allah be pleased with him) and gave him his hair, asking him to distribute it among the people. He gave out the right side of his hair and then did the same with the left.
There is also the story of Khalid Ibn al-Walid (Allah be pleased with him) who lost his helmet during the Battle of Yarmouk. He said: “Search for it!” When they found it, they discovered it was an old, worn-out helmet. Khalid explained: “The Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) shaved his head during his ‘Umra, and I managed to collect some of his hair before others did. I placed it in this helmet, and I have never entered a battle while wearing it without being granted victory.” [Hakim; Abu Ya‘la; Tabarani]
Caution Regarding Claims of Possessing the Prophet’s Hair
It is important to note, however, that many claims of possessing the Prophet’s hair have surfaced in various countries. Those who are certain that the relic is authentic may seek blessings from it, as it is from the noble relics of the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace).
However, anyone unsure of the authenticity of such claims should be cautious, as baseless claims without evidence may be deceitful. The best way to express love, veneration, and respect for the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) is by following his Sunna through clear and lawful means.
May Allah bless us with the love of the beloved Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace), benefit us through it, and grant us the blessings of his legacy. All praise is due to Allah, Lord of all the worlds.
For further reading on this topic, see “Tabarruk al-Sahaba bi Asar al-Rasul Allah” by Muhammad Tahir al-Kurdi.
And Allah knows best.
[Shaykh] Dr. Muhammad Fayez Awad
Shaykh Dr. Muhammad Fayez Awad, born in Damascus, Syria, in 1965, pursued his Islamic studies in the mosques and institutes of Damascus. A graduate of the Islamic University of Medina in 1985, he holds a Ph.D. in Islamic Studies from Bahauddin Zakariya University in Pakistan.
He has extensive experience developing curricula and enhancing the teaching of various academic courses, including conducting intensive courses. Shaykh Awad has taught Fiqh, Usul al-Fiqh, Quranic sciences, the history of legislation, inheritance laws, and more at several institutes and universities such as Al-Furqan Institute for Islamic Sciences and Majma‘ al-Fath al-Islami in Damascus.
He is a lecturer at the Sultan Muhammad al-Fatih Waqf University in Istanbul, teaching various Arabic and Islamic subjects, and teaches at numerous Islamic institutes in Istanbul. Shaykh Awad is a member of the Association of Syrian Scholars, a founding member of the Zayd bin Thabit Foundation, a member of the Syrian Scholars Association, and a member of the Academic Council at the Iman Center for Teaching the Sunna and Quran.
Among his teachers from whom he received Ijazat are his father, Shaykh Muhammad Muhiyiddin Awad, Shaykh Muhiyiddin al-Kurdi, Shaykh Muhammad Karim Rajih, Shaykh Usama al-Rifai, Shaykh Ayman Suwaid, Shaykh Ahmad al-Qalash, Shaykh Muhammad Awwama, and Shaykh Mamduh Junayd.
