Narrations (Ahadith)
In one narration, it is mentioned that when they were at Abwah, a disagreement arose between Hazrat Abdullah (ra) bin Abbas and Hazrat Miswar (ra) bin Makhramah regarding the ghusal [washing or bathing]. Hazrat Abdullah (ra) bin Abbas stated that a muhrim [one who is in a state of ihram] can wash their head, whereas Hazrat Miswar (ra) stated that a muhrim cannot wash their head. The narrator states:
“Hazrat Abdullah (ra) bin Abbas sent me to Hazrat Abu Ayub Ansari (ra). At the time, he was bathing between two wooden poles which had a covering around it. I went to him and offered the greetings of peace. He enquired as to who it was, and I replied, ‘I am Abdullah bin Hunain. Hazrat Abdullah (ra) bin Abbas has sent me to you to enquire as to how the Holy Prophet (sa) used to wash his head when he was in a state of Ihram’”, as Hazrat Miswar (ra) claimed that one should not wash their head in a state of Ihram.
“Hazrat Abu Ayub (ra) placed his hand on the cloth covering and lowered it enough so that I was able to see his head (i.e. he lowered the screen that was used as a covering) and showed me his head and instructed the one who was pouring water over him to pour the water. He poured water over Hazrat Abu Ayub’s (ra) head and he passed both his hands over his head from back to front and from front to back and then stated, ‘I have seen the Holy Prophet (sa) do this’”, i.e. to wash the head in a way that he would pass his hands over his head and then back.
(Sahih al-Bukhari, Kitab al-Said, Bab al-Ightisal li al-Muhrim, Hadith 1840)