Status of Wearing of a Topi (head covering)

The topi is great Sunnah of Rasulullah (sallAllahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) and an outstanding feature of Islam. Consider the following Hadeeth:

Translation: Rasulullah (sallAllahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) would wear a white topi. (Tabrani #13920)

Imam Bukhari (rahimahullah) mentions the statement of Hasan Basri (rahimahullah):

كان القوم يسجدون علي العمامة والقلنسوة

Translation: The Sahaba (radhiyAllahu ‘anhum) would perform sajdah (prostrate) on turbans and topis. (Bukhari vol.1 pg.673)

Mullah Ali Qari (Rahmatulah Alayhi) states that the wearing of the topi has become one of the salient symbols of Islam. (Mirqaat vol.8 pg.246)

When we see a person wearing a topi, regardless of which part of the world we are in, we identify him as a Muslim. It is thus important for us to hold fast to our Muslim identity and strive to distinguish ourselves from others.

And Allah Ta’ala Knows Best