Sharʿi Ruling on the Number and Length of the Turban Tail (Shimlah)
Source: Ahkam wa Masail, Vol. 01, in the light of Qur’an and Hadith, p. 505
❖ Question
- Is it established from the Prophet ﷺ that he left one shimlah (end piece of the turban) hanging, or two?
- It is said that the shimlah should be the length of one hand. Is this true? If so, does “hand” mean up to the elbow, or is it equal to today’s standard yard length?
Questioner: Muhammad Shahbār Ḥameed, Lahore
❖ Answer
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu wa-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh, ʿAmma Baʿd!
- Both are established: The Prophet ﷺ is reported to have left one shimlah and in another narration, two shimlahs while wearing the turban.
- As for the length of the shimlah, there is no definitive knowledge regarding how long it should be.
هذا ما عندي والله أعلم بالصواب
