119 – Some scholars supposed that the Prophet only wiped over the turban together with the forelock, but authentic reports have established that he wiped the turban alone, without touching the forelock.
120 – Others—among them Imām Aḥmad—held that the license applies to the turbans worn in accordance with the Sunnah, namely those that are passed beneath the chin, for that is the Sunnah and because taking them off is difficult. (1)
121 – With regard to a turban that has a tail but is worn without talḥī (fastening under the chin), scholars disagreed. (2)
122 – Yet another group, including Isḥāq ibn Rāhwayh, maintained that the ruling applies to every type of turban without restriction.
From the Sunnah: letting the turban’s tail hang between the shoulders
123 – Allowing the turban’s tail to hang between one’s shoulders is a well-attested Sunnah practice. (3)
(1) See: Ibn Taymiyya, Sharh al-Umdah, vol. 1, pp. 267–272; al-Mardawi, al-Insaf, vol. 1, pp. 185–186.
(2) Ibn Qudama (may Allah have mercy on him) said: “If the turban has a hanging tail (dhuaba) and is not muhannaka (i.e. wrapped under the chin), there are two opinions regarding wiping over it during ablution. The first allows it, because it does not resemble the turbans of the People of the Book, for they are not accustomed to a dhuaba. The second forbids it, because it is covered by the general prohibition and removing it is not difficult.” Al-Mughni, vol. 1, p. 381.
(3) Note: The scholar Ibn al-Qayyim (may Allah have mercy on him) said:
“Our shaykh Abu al-Abbas Ibn Taymiyya—may Allah sanctify his soul in Paradise—used to mention a remarkable explanation for the Prophet’s adoption of the dhuaba. He said that the Prophet adopted it on the morning after the dream he saw in Madinah, in which he beheld the Lord of Might and Majesty. The Lord said: ‘O Muhammad, about what are the exalted assembly disputing?’ I replied: ‘I do not know.’ He then placed His hand between my shoulders, and I came to know all that is between heaven and earth … (the rest of) the hadith, which is recorded by al-Tirmidhi. Al-Bukhari was asked about it and said: It is authentic. From that moment the Prophet let the dhuaba hang between his shoulders. This is a piece of knowledge rejected by the tongues and hearts of the ignorant, and I have never seen this point cited in support of the dhuaba by anyone other than him.” Zad al-Maad, vol. 1, pp. 136–137.