The Story of Sayyidunā Khālid ibn al-Walīd’s Cap and the Prophet’s Hair – Chain and Authenticity Analysis
(Excerpt: Fatāwā ʿIlmiyyah – Tawḍīḥ al-Aḥkām, Vol. 2, p. 479)
Some preachers narrate the incident that during the Battle of Yarmūk, Sayyidunā Khālid ibn al-Walīd رضي الله عنه lost his blessed cap and became extremely worried. He urged his companions to search for it until it was found. When the companions saw that it was an old cap, they were surprised and asked why he was so concerned about it. Khālid رضي الله عنه replied:
"The Messenger of Allah ﷺ performed ʿUmrah, then had his head shaved. People rushed to obtain his hair for blessing, and I was able to get some hair from the front of his head. I sewed them into this cap, and I never attended a battle wearing it except that I was granted victory."
Is this narration authentic and established with a sound chain?
Alḥamdulillāh, and may peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah.
This incident is narrated through the chain ʿAbd al-Ḥamīd ibn Jaʿfar ibn ʿAbd Allāh ibn al-Ḥakam ibn Rāfiʿ → from his father, and appears in:
“Narrated by al-Ṭabarānī and Abū Yaʿlā with similar wording; their narrators are the narrators of the Ṣaḥīḥ. Jaʿfar heard from a number of Companions, but I do not know whether he heard from Khālid or not.”
“I do not know whether he heard from Khālid or not.”
The reality is that not only is hearing unproven, but it is not even established that Jaʿfar was born during Khālid’s lifetime. See: Al-Iṣābah (new edition, p. 288, entry 2002).
This story is not established with a sound, connected chain.
The fact that Jaʿfar narrated from some Companions (such as Anas ibn Mālik رضي الله عنه) does not prove he also met Khālid ibn al-Walīd رضي الله عنه, who died early in the era of ʿUmar ibn al-Khaṭṭāb رضي الله عنه.
Allah knows best.
(Excerpt: Fatāwā ʿIlmiyyah – Tawḍīḥ al-Aḥkām, Vol. 2, p. 479)
Question:
Some preachers narrate the incident that during the Battle of Yarmūk, Sayyidunā Khālid ibn al-Walīd رضي الله عنه lost his blessed cap and became extremely worried. He urged his companions to search for it until it was found. When the companions saw that it was an old cap, they were surprised and asked why he was so concerned about it. Khālid رضي الله عنه replied:
"The Messenger of Allah ﷺ performed ʿUmrah, then had his head shaved. People rushed to obtain his hair for blessing, and I was able to get some hair from the front of his head. I sewed them into this cap, and I never attended a battle wearing it except that I was granted victory."
Is this narration authentic and established with a sound chain?
Answer:
Alḥamdulillāh, and may peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah.
Sources of the Report:
This incident is narrated through the chain ʿAbd al-Ḥamīd ibn Jaʿfar ibn ʿAbd Allāh ibn al-Ḥakam ibn Rāfiʿ → from his father, and appears in:
- Al-Muʿjam al-Kabīr by al-Ṭabarānī (Vol. 4, pp. 104–105, ḥadīth no. 3804)
- Musnad Abī Yaʿlā al-Mawṣilī (Vol. 13, p. 139, ḥadīth no. 7183)
- Al-Mustadrak by al-Ḥākim (Vol. 3, p. 299, ḥadīth no. 5299) – al-Dhahabī declared it munqaṭiʿ (disconnected)
- Dalāʾil al-Nubuwwah (Vol. 6, p. 249)
- Usd al-Ghābah (Vol. 2, p. 95, via Abī Yaʿlā)
- Siyar Aʿlām al-Nubalāʾ (Vol. 1, pp. 374–375)
- Al-Maṭālib al-ʿĀliyah – Musnad (Vol. 8, p. 421, ḥadīth no. 4011), Ghayr Musnad (Vol. 4, p. 90, ḥadīth no. 4044, via Abī Yaʿlā)
- Ittiḥāf al-Mahrah (Vol. 4, pp. 406–407, ḥadīth no. 4451)
- Ittiḥāf al-Khiyrah al-Mahrah by al-Būṣayrī (Vol. 7, p. 67, ḥadīth no. 8669; Vol. 7, p. 312, ḥadīth no. 9141) – al-Būṣayrī considered its chain sound
- Al-Maqṣad al-ʿAlī (Vol. 3, p. 233, ḥadīth no. 1432)
Critical Comments in the Sources:
In Majmaʿ al-Zawāʾid (Vol. 9, p. 349):
“Narrated by al-Ṭabarānī and Abū Yaʿlā with similar wording; their narrators are the narrators of the Ṣaḥīḥ. Jaʿfar heard from a number of Companions, but I do not know whether he heard from Khālid or not.”
In Al-Iṣābah (Vol. 1, p. 414, entry 2201):
- The main narrator here is Jaʿfar ibn ʿAbd Allāh ibn al-Ḥakam, who is thiqah (reliable) – Taqrīb al-Tahdhīb, no. 944.
Chain Analysis:
- Research shows that there is no proof of meeting (liqāʾ) between Jaʿfar ibn ʿAbd Allāh ibn al-Ḥakam and Khālid ibn al-Walīd رضي الله عنه (d. 22 AH).
- Al-Dhahabī graded the narration as munqaṭiʿ (disconnected).
- Al-Haythamī also pointed out the disconnection, saying:
“I do not know whether he heard from Khālid or not.”
The reality is that not only is hearing unproven, but it is not even established that Jaʿfar was born during Khālid’s lifetime. See: Al-Iṣābah (new edition, p. 288, entry 2002).
Conclusion of the Research:
This story is not established with a sound, connected chain.
The fact that Jaʿfar narrated from some Companions (such as Anas ibn Mālik رضي الله عنه) does not prove he also met Khālid ibn al-Walīd رضي الله عنه, who died early in the era of ʿUmar ibn al-Khaṭṭāb رضي الله عنه.
Allah knows best.
