Continuation: Plaited or Braided Hair

*Assalamu 'alaykum wa rahmat-ul-lahi wa barakātuh* 

```Continuation: Plaited or Braided Hair```

There is no harm in a man praying with his hair braided, but it is disliked for him to tie it, like women who tie it around the head, or to gather the hair and tie it at the back of the head. 

*This is based on the report of Ibn ʿAbbās (may Allah be pleased with them) that he saw ʿAbdullāh ibn al-Hārith praying while his hair was tied at the back. He stood and untied it.* When he finished, he approached Ibn ʿAbbās and said, *“What is the matter with my head?!”* Ibn ʿAbbās said: “I heard the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) say: *‘The example of this is like the one who prays while his hands are tied.’”* (Muslim no. 492). 

Al-Manāwī stated it is like the one who prays with his hands tied to his shoulders—i.e., that it is disliked just as that is disliked. So, when long hair is tied back, it does not touch the floor, and that is makrooh (disliked). Abu Shāmah said: This applies to gathering the hair [for men] after braiding it, as women do.

*Dreadlocks, ‘Natural’ Locks and Microlocks*

Dreadlocks are not allowed for our sisters and daughters of African and Caribbean descent, or any other ethnicity.

*Dreadlocks (“locs” or “natural locks”) are a significant religious and spiritual symbol for several cultures and religions. While famously associated with the Rastafari movement, dreadlocks have been used for thousands of years to signify spiritual devotion, connection to the divine, or the renunciation of vanity.*

Microlocs, if they carry the same significance in style and imitation of the Kuffar in their religion, spiritual beliefs, and renunciation of vanity, then they are prohibited, for sure.

In any case, I would advise my sisters and daughters from African and Caribbean [and all ethnic] backgrounds to avoid locs and instead, plate or braid their hair neatly, keeping it neat, oiled and clean. This hair arrangement is shared between all cultures and all women, and is not distinct to the kuffār. So it is not considered a resemblance to the unbelievers for the Muslim women.

```“Plait” and “braid” refer to the same core technique of interlacing strands of hair, but differ primarily by regional dialect: “plait” is common in British English, while “braid” is the standard American term.```

*May Allaah accept our ibaadat and forgive our shortcomings.*

_❞Keep Reminding, for Indeed the ʀᴇᴍɪɴᴅᴇʀ ʙᴇɴᴇꜰɪᴛs ᴛʜᴇ ʙᴇʟɪᴇᴠᴇʀ ❝_

*Allaahu l-Musta'aan*