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Did the Prophet ﷺ ever braid his hair? Answer: Yes he did. It was narrated that Umm Haani’ radhiyallahu 'anha said: ((قَدِمَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ إِلَى مَكَّةَ وَلَهُ أَرْبَعُ غَدَائِرَ)) “The Prophet ﷺ came to Makkah with four braids.” [Reported by Abu Dawud (4191); graded 'Sahih' by Sheikh Albani in "Saheeh Abi Dawud"] Is it Sunnah to braid the hair? Answer: We already mentioned previously that growing & braiding the hair is a Sunnah 'Aadah; it is regulated by the customs of the people; if a person lives in a time or place where this practise is viewed negatively within the customs, or is a practice associated with the foolish and lowly, as is the case with male braids here in the West, then we must shun and refrain from engaging in that. If a person lives in a society where male braids are common practice, is there any chance they will be rewarded for growing & braiding their hair? Answer: If it is done اقْتِدَاءً/تَأَسِّيًا in emulation/imitation of the Prophet ﷺ, then yes, a person is rewarded for this. Sheikh Muqbil rahimahullah said: ”العمامة تعتبر من عادات العرب التي أقرها الإسلام ، أما أنها تصل إلى حد السنية فلا تصل إلى حد السنية ،لكن تعتبر العمامة عادة، لكن إذا نويت الاقتداء برسول الله - صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم تثاب على الاقتداء برسول الله - صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم.“ “(Wearing) the 'Imaamah is considered to be from the customs of the 'Arabs which was endorsed by Islam. But as far as it being a Sunnah, then it doesn't reach the point of being a Sunnah (i.e. Sunnah Ibaadah). (Wearing) the 'Imaamah is a customary matter. However, if you intend to imitate Allah's Messenger ﷺ, then you will be rewarded for imitating him ﷺ.” [Tuhfatul Mujeeb P. 138] If someone seeks to imitate the Prophet ﷺ by braiding their hair, they must factor in the following points: POINT 1: The Prophet ﷺ did not braid his hair regularly. In fact, the ONLY incident I came across - although my search is very limited - was the hadeeth of Umm Haani' quoted above. Therefore, braiding the hair once in a blue moon is closer to emulating the Prophet ﷺ than doing so on a regular basis. POINT 2: It is mentioned in "Tuhfatul Ahwadhi", explanation of Sunan At-Tirmidhi, that: ”...وبعض الروايات تدل على أن هذا المقدم يوم فتح مكة لأنه حينئذ اغتسل وصلى الضحى في بيتها... قال في إنجاح الحاجة حاشية ابن ماجه : قوله : وله أربع غدائر لعله فعل ذلك لدفع الغبار انتهى . قلت : وهو الظاهر لأنه ﷺ كان في السفر.“ “...Some wordings (of Umm Haani's narration) indicate that this arrival/advent was actually on the Day of the conquest of Makkah, because on this day he bathed and offered Dhuha prayer inside her house...“He had four braids,” He (Muhammad Abdulghani Ad-Dahlawi) said in "Injaahul Haajah Haashiyati ibn Maajah", 'perhaps he did that to keep away the dust.' End Quote. I (Al-Mubarakfuri) Say: that is what is apparent, because he ﷺ was travelling at the time...” This quote from Abdurrahman Al-Mubarakfuri rahimahullah shows that the Prophet ﷺ braided his hair when he travelled to partake in Jihad (the conquest of Makkah); an occasion where a person is least likely to look after his hair. Therefore, braiding hair when travelling, partaking in Jihad, or whenever the need arises, FOR SOMEONE WHO ALREADY HAS LONG HAIR, is closer to emulating the Prophet ﷺ than to grow one's hair for the sole purpose of having them braided, which is unfortunately what many of the youth are doing. POINT 3: The Prophet ﷺ didn't go all out on his braids. They were four effortlessly simple braids. So whoever seeks to emulate the Prophet ﷺ should avoid wasting time & money to get their braids done. POINT 4: The Prophet ﷺ said: ((أُمِرْتُ أَنْ أَسْجُدَ عَلَى سَبْعَةِ أَعْظُمٍ؛ عَلَى الْجَبْهَةِ وَالْيَدَيْنِ وَالرُّكْبَتَيْنِ وَأَطْرَافِ الْقَدَمَيْنِ وَلَا نَكْفِتَ الثِّيَاب وَلَا الشّعْر)) “I have been commanded to prostrate on seven bones: the forehead, the hands, the knees, and the tips of the feet, and not to fold back the clothing or the hair.” [Hadeeth of Ibn Abbas, reported by Bukhaari and Muslim]