Is wearing a Topi Sunnah, or wearing a turban?

Question:-

What is the ruling with regard to wearing an Amaamah?
What about those that put on an Imaamah with a short tail, or no tail at all?
Nowadays, there are many Mashaaikh of some Khanqahs who have big followings and Allah has given them stature in the eyes of people, many of whom follow them in everything. We see these people wearing a specific type of a Topi. Is this Sunnah? Shouldn’t they be wearing the Amaamah thereby encouraging a large number of people to come onto the Sunnah?
I am confused about these issues which have been on my mind for some time. Request Mufti Saheb for some closure.

Answer:-

1. Fataawa Mahmoodiyyah states that, it is Sunnah to wear a turban. However, by persisting upon a Mustahab act (such as regarding it necessary to always wear an Amaamah), the act becomes Makrooh.

قال صاحب السعاية الإصرار علي المندوب يبلغه الي حد الكراهة (السعاية ص265 ج2)

Furthermore, it is recorded in Fataawa Mahmoodiyyah:

1. To wear a Turban is Sunnah.
2. The turban was worn as a habit of Rasulullah Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam, and not as an act of Ibaadah.
3. It is Mustahab and better to perform Salaah whilst wearing a turban.
4. To perform Salaah without an Amaamah is not Makrooh.
5. It is also proven from the Hadith that Rasulullah Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam performed Salaah without a turban.
6. It is not permissible to join a Mustahab act to the rank of a Waajib act.
7. At times, one should act upon that which is Mubah and permitted in Shariah and omit the Mustahab, particularly where people persist on the Mustahab, as this will lead to an act that is Makrooh. [Re:- Fataawa Mahmoodiyyah Pg.456 Vol.27]

It was the habit of Rasulullah Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam and the Sahaabah to wear a turban with a tail most of the time. However, it is also proven that they would sometimes wear a turban without a tail, hence, both ways are correct, but it is better and virtuous to wear a turban with a tail.

قال الشيخ الملا علي قاري في المقالة العذبة : عن ثوبان رضي الله عنه ان رسول الله صلي الله عليه وسلم عمم عبد الرحمن ابن عوف فارسل من خلفه اربع أصابع ونحوها ثم قال : فاعتم فانه اعرب واحسن رواه الطبراني في الأوسط واسناده حسن — وفيه اشعار بان العمامة مع العذبة احسن فيدل علي حسن العمامة بدون العذبة فيكون فيه رد علي من قال بالكراهة (جمع الوسائل في شرح الشمائل ص168 ج1 ومرقاة المفاتيح)  

2. It is recorded in the Kitaabs of Hadith that, the Topi of Rasulullah Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam was round and attached to the head. It is also mentioned that the Sahaabah would wear long Topis, to the extent that the Topi was used as a Sutrah at times. The Kitaabs of Fiqh such as Al-Bahrur Raa’iq state that the length of the Sutrah is one Dhirah, which is approximately 45cm long. [Re:- Fataawa Mahmoodiyyah Pg.450 Vol.27] This proves that wearing a Topi is also a Sunnah. [Re:- Aap Ke Masaa’il Aur Unka Hal Pg.355 Vol.8]

In conclusion, it is Sunnah to wear both the Topi and the turban. Since it is better to perform Salaah with a turban, one should opt for that which is more virtuous. However, this in no way means that it is necessary to wear the Turban. The Sunnah of wearing a turban is in its place, but should not be over-emphasized as it will lead to an act of Karaahat (a Makrooh act). One is, therefore, left with the choice of either wearing a Topi, or the Topi together with the turban. Wearing a turban is Sunnah, while looking down upon the one that doesn’t wear a turban and regarding him as inferior, is Haraam. May Allah Ta’ala guide us all. Ameen!

حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ المُثَنَّى، وَعَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ، قَالَا: حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ حَمَّادٍ قَالَ: حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ، عَنْ أَبَانَ بْنِ تَغْلِبَ، عَنْ فُضَيْلِ بْنِ عَمْرٍو، عَنْ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، عَنْ عَلْقَمَةَ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ: «لَا يَدْخُلُ الجَنَّةَ مَنْ كَانَ فِي قَلْبِهِ مِثْقَالُ ذَرَّةٍ مِنْ كِبْرٍ، وَلَا يَدْخُلُ النَّارَ ـ يَعْنِي ـ مَنْ كَانَ فِي قَلْبِهِ مِثْقَالُ ذَرَّةٍ مِنْ إِيمَانٍ»، قَالَ: فَقَالَ لَهُ رَجُلٌ: إِنَّهُ يُعْجِبُنِي أَنْ يَكُونَ ثَوْبِي حَسَنًا وَنَعْلِي حَسَنَةً، قَالَ: «إِنَّ اللَّهَ يُحِبُّ الجَمَالَ، وَلَكِنَّ الكِبْرَ مَنْ بَطَرَ الحَقَّ وَغَمَصَ النَّاسَ (سنن الترمذي)

ALLAH TA’ALA KNOWS BEST!

ANSWERED BY:

Mufti Mohammed Desai

Date: 23 Jumadal Ukhra 1444 / 16 January 2023