HEAD Arabic ra’s, ras راس
The author of the Raddu ‘l Muhtar, vol. i, p. 670 says:- “It is abominable (makruh) to say the prayers with the head uncovered, it it be done from laziness, but it is of no consequence if a Muslim say his prayers with his head uncovered from a sense of humility and unworthiness. But still it is better not to uncover the head, for humility is a matter connected with the heart.”
Amongst Muslims it is considered a sign of disrespect to receive a visitor with the head uncovered; consequently on the approach of a visitor the turban or cap is immediately placed on the head.
There is no general custom as to shaving the head or otherwise. In Afghanistan, Muslims generally shave the head, but the Baluchis and many other Muslim tribes wear long hair.
The Egyptians shave all the rest of the hair, or leave only a small tuft (called shushah) upon the crown of the head. Mr. Lane says: This last custom (which is almost universal among them) is said to have originated in the fear that if the Muslim should fall into the hands of an infidel, and be slain, the latter might cut off the head of his victim, and finding no hair by which to hold it, put his impure hand into the mouth, in order to carry it, for the beard might not be sufficiently long; but was probably adopted from the Turks, for it is generally neglected by the Badawis, and the custom of shaving the head is of late origin among the Arabs in general, and practiced for the sake of cleanliness.
The author of the Raddu ‘l Muhtar, vol. i, p. 670 says:- “It is abominable (makruh) to say the prayers with the head uncovered, it it be done from laziness, but it is of no consequence if a Muslim say his prayers with his head uncovered from a sense of humility and unworthiness. But still it is better not to uncover the head, for humility is a matter connected with the heart.”
Amongst Muslims it is considered a sign of disrespect to receive a visitor with the head uncovered; consequently on the approach of a visitor the turban or cap is immediately placed on the head.
There is no general custom as to shaving the head or otherwise. In Afghanistan, Muslims generally shave the head, but the Baluchis and many other Muslim tribes wear long hair.
The Egyptians shave all the rest of the hair, or leave only a small tuft (called shushah) upon the crown of the head. Mr. Lane says: This last custom (which is almost universal among them) is said to have originated in the fear that if the Muslim should fall into the hands of an infidel, and be slain, the latter might cut off the head of his victim, and finding no hair by which to hold it, put his impure hand into the mouth, in order to carry it, for the beard might not be sufficiently long; but was probably adopted from the Turks, for it is generally neglected by the Badawis, and the custom of shaving the head is of late origin among the Arabs in general, and practiced for the sake of cleanliness.
Based on Hughes, Dictionary of Islam
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