Question:
Salamualaykum
I was wondering whether wearing the rida‘ like the habaibs are Sunnah. Also, is the ghutrah/shamagh etc. items which the Prophet S.A.W wore? If so, in what fashion did the Prophet wear the Rida? Was it draped over the shoulders? Or was it places on the shoulder like the Habaibs? Or was it placed on the neck like the Kiyais in Indonesia? At the same time, what is the difference between a Burdah and a Rida‘? Syukran Jaziilan.
Answer:
`Alaykum Salam,
The burda is a blanket used as a shawl which, when rolled or folded up, is thick enough to serve as a pillow as mentioned of the Prophet’s (upon him blessings and peace) usage of it thus in Sahih al-Bukhari. In Ibn Sayyid al-Nas’s Sira entitled `Uyun al-Athar, “He wore it on Fridays.” How? On top of the head, the two shoulders, the back and the chest as can be seen of Sayyid Muhammad b. Alawi in many of his pictures. Al-Mas`udi in Muruj al-Dhahab describes the caliph al-Muqtadir wearing the Prophet’s own burda in that exact same fashion.
Rida‘ is just an overcoat with sleeves. It can be ample enough to also cover oneself completely with it and is thus synonymous with habwa, with which one does ihtiba‘ (top to bottom cover as protection from cold or dust). In example, the words of Abu Muslim al-Khawlani when he entered the great mosque of Hims (may Allah protect Sham and its people, and return it and them to peace and safety):
There Mu`adh b. Jabal was, praying opposite a pillar. I prayed then sat down and wrapped myself in my cloak (ihtabayt bi-rida’i). I kept quiet and did not address him, and he kept quiet and did not address me. Then I said, “I swear by Allah that I do love you!” He said, “For what reason do you love me?” I said, “For Allah.” He seized me by the cloak (habwati), pulled me gently to himself and said, “Be happy if you speak the truth…”
Ghutra has no place nor mention in the Prophetic sunna that I know of and I don’t know the shamagh.
Hajj Gibril Haddad
