Gloss
al-limmah (with a short “i” after the l): In al-Ṣiḥāḥ it is defined as hair that grows past the earlobe; when it reaches the shoulders it is called a jummah. It is named limmah because it “touches” the two shoulders.

Lessons drawn from the two ḥadiths
1 – They show that wearing red is permissible, although other reports forbid it. The scholars offered various reconciliations, the best of which is that of Shams al-Dīn Ibn al-Qayyim: “The red garment the Prophet ﷺ wore was the ḥibrah, a cloth marked with red and white stripes; the prohibition concerns solid, pure red.”

2 – The narration recommends letting the hair grow until it reaches the shoulders, or slightly above or below, for this is graceful and in line with the Prophetic example. It certainly does not include what some young men do today—shaving parts of the head and leaving other parts, a disfigurement they call the “toilet” style. This is an ugly innovation and a censured form of the forbidden qazaʿ (patchy shaving). It is the practice of Europeans and their imitators, who take them—rather than the Prophet ﷺ—as their model in appearance and character. To Allah we belong and to Him we return.

3 – The ḥadith depicts the outward features of the Prophet ﷺ: his fine hair, broad chest, and balanced stature. Good appearance signals good character, and Allah perfected both for him. May abundant blessings and peace be upon him.

Hadith Five
Al-Barāʾ ibn ʿĀzib (Allah be pleased with him) said: “The Messenger of Allah ﷺ commanded us to observe seven duties and forbade us seven things.

He commanded us:

1. to visit the sick;
2. to follow the funeral procession;
3. to say ‘may Allah have mercy on you’ to the one who sneezes;
4. to honor the oath of a person who swears an oath;
5. to help the oppressed;
6. to accept an invitation;
7. and to spread the greeting of peace.

And he forbade us:

1. to wear gold rings (or any gold adornment);
2. to drink from silver vessels;
3. al-mayāthir (silk saddle-cloths);
4. al-qassī (a striped cloth woven with silk and linen);
5. wearing silk;
6. al-istabraq (thick silk brocade);
7. and al-dībāj (fine silk brocade).