Bismillah
Revive a Sunnah: Oiling hair
The Prophet of Allah Sallallahu Alayhi Wassalam has said:
“Whoever has hair should look after it.” (Sunan Abu Dawud p.220 v.2)
I heard Jabir bin Samurah being asked about the grey hairs of the Prophet Sallallahu Alayhi Wassalam. He said, “If he put oil on his head they could not be seen, but if he did not put oil on his head, they could be seen.’” [An-Nasa’i 5114]
The act of oiling is something many of us do not recognise to be a part of the sunnah. This hadith suggests the idea of using oil to prevent any visible grey hairs, emphasizing that the sunnahs of our beloved Prophet Sallallahu Alayhi Wassalam covers every aspect of our lives. Not only does Oiling hair cover up grey hairs, but doing it on a regular basis helps prevents hair loss and contributes to strong and shiny hair by strengthening the hair protein. It also revives and relaxes the mind by calming down the brain’s nerves and capillaries.
Another Hadith narrated by Aisha that the Prophet Sallallahu Alayhi Wassalam used to like starting from the right in performing ablution, combing his hair and putting on his shoes. (Al Bukhari)
In addition, it’s part of the Sunnah on Fridays to apply oil to the hair
The Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi Wassalam) said, “Whoever takes a bath on Friday, purifies himself as much as he can, then uses his (hair) oil or perfumes himself with the scent of his house, then proceeds (for the Jumua prayer) and does not separate two persons sitting together (in the mosque), then prays as much as (Allah has) written for him and then remains silent while the Imam is delivering the Khutba, his sins in-between the present and the last Friday would be forgiven.”
Many of us spend a great deal of money at the beauty salons, hairdressers and spas. Yet, this beautiful and simple sunnah can save us a great amount of money, time and effort whilst we continue to follow the footsteps of our beloved Prophet Sallallahu Alayhi Wassalam. And Allah knows best.
Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
The Messenger of Allah Sallallahu Alayhi Wassalam used to say: “Allahumm-aslih li diniyalladhi huwa ‘ismatu amri, wa aslih li dunyaya-llati fiha ma’ashi, wa aslih li akhirati-llati fiha ma’adi, waj’alil-hayata ziyadatan li fi kulli khair, waj’alil-mauta rahatan li min kulli sharrin (O Allah, make my religion easy for me by virtue of which my affairs are protected, set right for me my world where my life exists, make good for me my Hereafter which is my resort to which I have to return, and make my life prone to perform all types of good, and make death a comfort for me from every evil).” [Muslim]. Aameen Ya Rabbal Alameen
وعنه قال: كان رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم، يقول: “اللهم أصلح لي ديني الذي هو عصمة أمري، وأصلح لي دنياي التي فيها معاشي، وأصلح لي آخرتي التي فيها معادي، واجعل الحياة زيادة لي في كل خير، واجعل الموت راحة لي من كل شر” ((رواه مسلم)).
