He likewise transmitted with his chain of narrators from al-Haytham ibn Ḥumayd, who said, “Shaving the nape is a Magian custom.”
It is also related from al-Muʿtamir ibn Sulaymān al-Taymī that he said, “Whenever my father had his hair trimmed, he would not shave the back of his neck.” He was asked, “Why not?” He replied, “He disliked resembling the non-Arabs.”
The early generations sometimes attributed their disapproval to imitation of the People of the Book, and at other times to imitation of the non-Arabs; both rationales are explicitly stated in the Sunnah. Moreover, the Truthful one—peace and blessings be upon him—has informed us that such imitation of both groups would in fact occur, as we have already explained.
It is narrated from Shaddād ibn Aws (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “Oppose….”
(1) That is al-Haytham b. Humayd al-Ghassani, their client, Abu Ahmad—some say Abu al-Harith. Ibn Maʿin said, “There is no harm in him”; Ahmad b. Hanbal remarked, “I know only good of him”; Abu Dawud called him “a Qadari yet reliable,” while Abu Mushir declared him weak and he was accused of holding Qadari views. Even so, Ibn Hibban listed him among the trustworthy narrators. See: Ibn Hajar, Tahdhib al-Tahdhib 11:92–93, no. (154 H).
(2) That is Muʿtamir b. Sulayman b. Tarhan al-Taymi, Abu Muhammad, of Basra, nicknamed al-Tufayl. He was rated trustworthy by Ibn Hibban, Ibn Maʿin, and Ibn Saʿd. Ibn Kharrash said: “Truthful, though he errs when narrating from memory; when he relates from his written notes he is reliable.” Born in 100 AH, he died in 187 AH. See: Tahdhib al-Tahdhib 10:227, no. (415 M).
(3) MS C reads lamma, which is unlikely in this context.
(4) The point is that certain non-Arab peoples who did not follow Islamic guidance used to shave the backs of their heads.
(5) MSS A, B, and Ṭ read yaʿalliluna taratan (“they sometimes offer a justification”).
(6) The printed edition has: mansus (“explicitly stated”).
(7) In MSS A and Ṭ the reading is: kama qad qaddamna (“as we have already mentioned”).
(8) The eminent Companion is Shaddad b. Aws b. Thabit al-Khazraji al-Ansari, nephew of the poet Hassan b. Thabit. The Prophet said to him, “You and your offspring after you will, God willing, be leaders among them,” and ʿUbadah b. al-Samit remarked, “Shaddad b. Aws is one of those who were endowed with knowledge and forbearance.” After the conquests he settled in Hims, though some say in Jerusalem. He died in 58 AH. See: Ibn Hajar, al-Isaba fi Tamyiz al-Sahaba 2:139–40, no. 3847.