23. The Prophet’s Guidance in Grooming, Dress, Appearance and Adornment219
* The Prophet (Peace be upon him) used scent often and liked perfume. He never refused it if given to him. His favourite scent was musk.

* He (Peace be upon him) liked the siwaak (toothstick), and used it whether fasting or not. He also used it upon waking up, before wudhu', at the time of praying and upon entering his home.

* He (Peace be upon him) used kohl and said, “Your best kohl is antimony; it clears the eye and helps hair grow.”220

* He (Peace be upon him) used to comb his hair and beard himself at times, and other times Aisha (May Allah be pleased with him) did it for him. His guidance in shaving the head was either to keep his hair or shave off all of it. He prohibited shaving a part of the head and leaving the rest.
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219 Zadul-Ma`ad (1/167)
220 Abu Dawud and Ibn Majah.
165
* It was never reported that he shaved his head except as part of the Hajj and Umrah rites. His hair was neither short nor long, but reached his ear lobes.

* He (Peace be upon him) said: "Be different from the polytheists by letting your beards grow and trimming the moustache.221

* He (Peace be upon him) used to wear whatever clothing was available whether wool, cotton or flax. He preferred the long shirt.

* He (Peace be upon him) wore striped Yemeni gowns and a green gown, long garments open in the front or in the back, trousers, a waist wrapper and cloak. He also wore leather footwear, sandals and a turban.

* He (Peace be upon him) used to wrap the end of his turban under his chin. Sometimes he let the end of it down behind him and sometimes he left it in place.
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221 Al-Bukhari and Muslim.
166
* He (Peace be upon him) wore black garments and he wore a red waist wrapper and cloak.

* He (Peace be upon him) wore a silver ring and would turn its stone toward the palm of his hand.

* If he (Peace be upon him) wore a new garment he would name it and say: "O Allah, it is You who have given me this shirt or cloak or turban. I ask of You its good and the good for which it was made, and I seek refuge in You from its evil and the evil for which it was made."222

* When he (Peace be upon him) put on his shirt, he always began with the right side.

* He (Peace be upon him) would favour the right when putting on his shoes, combing his hair, in his wudhu' and in taking and giving something.

* When he (Peace be upon him) sneezed, he would put his hand or his garment over his mouth to muffle the sound.
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222 Abu Dawud and at-Tirmidhi.
167
* He (Peace be upon him) was more shy than a maiden in her private quarters.

* He (Peace be upon him) laughed when something was funny, but his laugh was usually no more than a smile. When it was most extreme his molars could be seen. His weeping was similar to his laugh; just as he did not laugh aloud, he neither sobbed nor raised his voice. But his eyes shed tears and the murmur of his chest could be heard.
168