PURIFICATION SECTION · 57 – WIPING OVER THE TURBAN
146 – Thawbān (may Allah be pleased with him) said: The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) sent out a detachment (to a place). They were struck by cold. When they returned, the Messenger of God (peace and blessings be upon him) commanded them to wipe over their bandages and leather socks (khuff).
EXPLANATION
Asāʾib: This is the plural of isāba. It means a bandage or cloth wrapped around the head. Here, it is used in the sense of a turban. This noble hadith is evidence for those who say that it is permissible to wipe over the turban. According to the scholars of the Shāfiʿī, Mālikī, and Sufyān al-Thawrī schools, if the hand touches part of the head along with the turban while wiping, it is permissible. Wiping only over the turban is not permissible. The reason why the Messenger of God (peace and blessings be upon him) commanded those who returned from the detachment, having been struck by cold, to wipe over their turbans was so that they would not be discomforted. There is also a narration that the Messenger of God (peace and blessings be upon him) wiped over the turban. However, it is explained that in that narration, while wiping over the turban, he would touch the front part of his head with his hand. Imām Ahmad ibn Hanbal (may Allah have mercy on him) says that wiping over the turban is permissible. Unless there is a necessity such as a wound covering the entire head, wiping over the turban alone is not sufficient. (Menhel, vol. 2, p. 99)
147 – It is narrated from Anas ibn Mālik (may Allah be pleased with him): I saw the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) performing ablution. On his head was a turban made in Qatar (or one that had embroidery on it). He put his hand under the turban and wiped the front part of his head, and he did not remove the turban.
EXPLANATION
Qatar: This is the name of a place in Bahrain. It also refers to a fabric with red spots or embroidery on it. This noble hadith is evidence that it is permissible to insert the hand under the turban and wipe the head without removing the turban.