Uncovering The Head
assalamu alaikum
wa `alaykum al-salam
barakullah feekum for your efforts.
I had a question regarding the statement that Ibn
Rajab considered baring the head an innovation. Under Hadith#5 of
al-Jami', he (rahimahullah ta'ala) mentions shortly after mentioning the
ayah of surah Shura #21, "... and this is like the one who seeks to
become close to Allah ta'ala by listening to instruments, by dancing, by
uncovering the head in other than ihram etc from the innovations that
Allah and His Messenger have not legislated at all as a means of getting
closer by it."
from what i understood, if one uncovers not
intending this to be a worship then this is not an innovation but if it
is being done as a worship (similar to ihram) then this is an innovation.
Is this understanding correct?
I don't see that mafhum al-mulkhalifah (when the opposite of the case
mentioned is given the opposite ruling) applies here.
This text has to do with things done to draw closer to Allah. The case in
question is the idea that some people had that the self-imposed humiliation
of baring the head would bring them closer to Allah. This is something more
specific than whether covering the head itself is part of the sunnah;
removing it without the intention of it being worship is an issue outside
of the scope of what Ibn Rajab is giving examples for.
If you have Al-Subki's Jam` Al-Jawami`a, one of its commentaries,
or Sheikh Al-Isam Zakariyah Al-Ansari's mukhtasr with his own commentary
Ghayat Al-Wusul, at the beginning of the section on "Al-Mantuq wa
Al-Mafhum" there are several instances where mafhum al-mukhalifah does not
apply. But these are not easy books, and this issue is not mentioned in the
easier books.
You should note that the phrasing indicates that covering the head is a
norm. It is generally accepted that the Prophet (Allah bless him and give
him peace), the Companions (Allah be well pleased with them), and the
following generations of Muslims all covered their head. If uncovering the
head is not a bid`a, then what pray tell is?
I had hoped to find the place where Ibn Rajab (Allah have mercy with him)
specifically states that uncovering the head was a modern innovation in his
time, but could not find it in the time I had to answer this question.
You should keep in mind that the fuqaha do not consider the clothes of the
Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) to necessarily fall under that
which is included in the legislation.
And Allah knows best.
wa al-salamu `alaykum
--musa