Ibn Ishaq محمد بن إسحاق بن يسار‎ · Combing the Hair (Kitab Al-Tarajjul)

A man from the companions of the Prophet (ﷺ) travelled to Fudalah ibn Ubayd when he was in Egypt. He came to him and said: I have not come to you to visit you. But you and I heard a tradition from the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ). I hope you may have some knowledge of it. He asked: What is it? He replied: So and so. He said: Why do I see you dishevelled when you are the ruler of…

The people of the Book used to let their hair hand down, and the polytheists used to part their hair. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) like to confirm with the People of the Book in the matters about which he had received no command. Hence he Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) let his forelock hang down but afterwards he parted it.