Women Cutting Hair in Islam: Allowed?

Islamic Ruling on Women Cutting Hair: Hadith and Scholarly Opinions

Question: Can women cut the hair of their head? I have heard that a woman’s hair will be a cause of covering (veil) for her on the Day of Judgment, and the one who cuts her hair will be raised uncovered?

Answer:

Alhamdulillah:

I do not understand why some scholars become very strict regarding a matter on which the Shariah is silent. Cutting hair is included in general habits, and because the basic rule regarding habits is that until evidence of prohibition comes regarding a habit, its ruling is of permissibility. And there is no such evidence in the Shariah wherein a woman is forbidden from cutting hair; rather, evidence of its permissibility exists in the Shariah.

عَنْ أَبِي سَلَمَةَ بْنِ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ ،

قَالَ : وَكَانَ أَزْوَاجُ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَأْخُذْنَ مِنْ رُءُوسِهِنَّ حَتَّى تَكُونَ كَالْوَفْرَةِ

Translation:

It is narrated by Abu Salamah bin Abd al-Rahman (may Allah have mercy on him), he says that:

“The wives of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) used to take from (cut) the hair of their heads until it reached the Wafrah (earlobes/shoulders).”

(Sahih Muslim | Book: Menstruation | Chapter: The recommended amount of water in Ghusl for Janabah: Hadith Number _320)

In the Arabic words of the Hadith: “Al-Wafrah” refers to hair that is slightly longer than the shoulders. There is also an opinion regarding its meaning that hair reaching the earlobes is called Wafrah; meaning the Mothers of the Believers used to cut their hair up to their earlobes or shoulders.

Imam Nawawi (may Allah have mercy on him), who wrote the commentary of Sahih Muslim, writes in the explanation of this Hadith:

“There is proof in this Hadith that a woman can cut her hair.”

(Sharh Muslim) (4/5)

Some scholars have made this Hadith specific to the Mothers of the Believers, [saying] that this was only permissible for them because they did so to abandon adornment after the death of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him). But this statement of theirs will be rejected as being without evidence; rather, we say that even if this Hadith did not exist, women cutting hair would still be permissible because no command regarding its prohibition has been revealed.

Grand Mufti Sheikh Ibn Baz (may Allah have mercy on him) says:

We do not know anything regarding a woman cutting her hair. Shaving hair is forbidden; you have no right to shave the hair of the head. But according to our knowledge, there is no harm in cutting from the length or thickness of the hair.

However, this should be done in a good and beautiful manner that pleases you and your husband. That is, in such a way that you agree with the husband, but there should be no resemblance to disbelieving women in cutting hair. And also because there is hardship in washing and combing long hair.

Thus, if the hair is abundant and the woman cuts some of its length or abundance, there is no harm. Or also because there is beauty in cutting hair, which she herself and her husband want and he likes it, then in our view, there is no harm in it.

However, cutting the hair completely and shaving it is not permissible, but if there is an excuse or illness, then even that can be done.

(See book: Fatawa Al-Marah Al-Muslimah_ 2 Vol/ 515)

Sheikh Ibn Uthaymeen (may Allah have mercy on him) says:

“Regarding a woman cutting the hair of her head, the matter is such that some people of knowledge have declared it Makruh (disliked), and some have declared it Haram (forbidden), and some have called it permissible.

Since this issue is disputed among the people of knowledge, we should return to the Book and Sunnah. Therefore, I am not yet aware of any such evidence in which cutting the hair of the head is forbidden for a woman; hence, cutting the hair of the head will be permissible in principle. And custom will be considered valid in this. Thus, in earlier times, women liked keeping long hair and would take pride in long hair, and women would only cut their hair based on Shariah or physical necessity. But at this time, women’s thinking has changed. Therefore, the stance of prohibition is weak; there is no evidence for it either. While the stance of it being Makruh also requires contemplation. Whereas the stance of the permissibility of cutting hair is in accordance with rules and principles. Furthermore, the narration exists in Sahih Muslim that: The wives of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) used to cut the hair of their heads after his death until they became like a Wafrah.

However, if a woman cuts her hair so much that it starts looking like men, then there is no doubt in it being Haram; because the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) has cursed those women who adopt the appearance of men.

Similarly, if a woman cuts hair in such a style that there is a resemblance to disbelieving and shameless women, then regarding this, it is [said] that whoever imitates a people is from among them.

But if a woman cuts hair slightly, such that the hair does not look like men’s hair, nor does the hair appear like disbelieving and shameless women, then there is no harm in it.” Finished.

(“Fatawa Nur Ala Al-Darb”

(Fatawa Al-Zinah wa Al-Marah / Qass Al-Sha’r) (Cassette Number: 336, B Side))

According to the Hadith mentioned above and the correct opinions of scholars, if the woman’s purpose for cutting hair is to please the husband, or the intention is to reduce the hardship involved in taking care of extremely long hair, or she cuts it for beauty or there is any other reasonable and permissible reason besides this, then there is no harm in cutting hair.

Yes, however, in these scenarios, it is Haram for women to cut hair:

1. If a woman keeps her cut hair exposed before non-Mahram people, as this is included in unveiling (immodesty).
2. If a woman wants to adopt a resemblance to disbelieving women or transgressing (Fasiq) women by cutting her hair.
   Because the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) has forbidden the imitation of non-Muslims and said that whoever imitates a people will be from among them.
   (Sunan Abu Dawood Hadith Number_4031)
3. If a woman cuts her hair in such a style that a resemblance to men’s hair occurs.
   Because the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) has cursed women who imitate men.
   (Sahih Bukhari Hadith Number-5885)
4. A strange man cuts the woman’s hair, and usually, strange men cut hair at salons.
   Because it is Haram for any man to touch a non-Mahram woman.
   (Al-Silsila Al-Sahihah, Hadith Number-226)
5. If a woman cuts her hair without the husband’s permission.

In the above-mentioned five scenarios, there is no ambiguity that cutting hair is Haram for women, and the prohibition of cutting hair in these circumstances is also proven by clear Ahadith.

Similarly, it is also Haram for women to completely shave off the hair (get a bald shave).

It is narrated from Hazrat Ali (may Allah be pleased with him):

نَهَی رَسُوْلُ اللهِ أنْ تَحْلِقَ الْمَرْأةُ رَأسَهَا

Translation:

The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) has forbidden a woman from shaving her head.

(Sunan An-Nasa’i Hadith Number-5052)

This narration is weak in terms of its chain of narration.

And regarding this which is said, that a woman’s long hair will be a cause of covering on the Day of Judgment, nothing has been found regarding this in Ahadith and traditions (Athar), etc., nor has any such discussion by the people of knowledge come to light. Therefore, before confirming such a thing and before finding proof of it in the Shariah, one should abstain from stating it or holding any such belief.

(And Allah Ta’ala knows best what is correct)

Reference: https://alfurqan.info/problems/899