Abu Rafi’ (the freed slave of the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him) said: The Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, saw me prostrating while my hair was tied in a knot, so he untied it.

Kuraib, the freed slave of Ibn Abbas, said that Sayyiduna Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) saw Abdullah bin Harith praying with a knot of hair tied at the back. So Sayyiduna Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) stood behind him and began to untie that knot. Another person also supported him. Then, when (Abdullah bin Harith) finished the prayer, he came to Sayyiduna Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) and asked: What is the matter, why did you do this to my head? Sayyiduna Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) said: I heard the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) say:“(Whoever prays with a knot tied) his example is like that of a person whose hands are tied behind his back and he prays.”