Females trimming their hair

Question:-

I am a revert who reverted to Islam many years ago, Alhamdulillah. Could you kindly provide clarification on the length of a female’s hair.

I understand that we should not cut our hair in modern or western styles, but I have heard so many different opinions with regard to the length of a female’s hair.

Some say it must cover your private parts so that you can shield yourself on the day of Qiyaamah, whilst others state it should not be long enough that we sit upon it.

Another opinion is that women AREN’T even allowed to trim off a few centimeters to prevent split ends. Can you please advise as to the correct perspective according to the Shariah?

Answer:-

It is not permissible for a woman to cut her hair in Islam. There are many narrations that prove this which we will quote below:

عن قتادة عن خلاس بن عمرو عن علي قال : نهى رسول الله صلى الله عليه و سلم أن تحلق المرأة رأسها (سنن الترمذي)

Rasulullah Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam prohibited that a woman trims her hair. (Tirmidhi)

حَدَّثَنَا رَوْحُ بْنُ عَطَاءِ بْنِ أَبِي مَيْمُونَةَ ، قَالَ : حَدَّثَنِي أَبِي ، عَنْ وَهْبِ بْنِ عُمَيْرٍ ، قَالَ : سَمِعْتُ عُثْمَانَ ، يَقُولُ : نَهَى رَسُولُ اللهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَنْ تَحْلِقَ الْمَرْأَةُ رَأْسَهَا. (مسند بزار)

Rasulullah Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam prohibited that a woman trims her hair. (Musnad-e-Bazzaar)

قلت : والحلق عام للقص ايضا كما ذكر فشمله الحديث والله اعلم (امداد الفتاوي ص229 ج4)

Imdaadul Fataawa states that word ‘Halq’, which literally means, to shave, or removing the hair (as stated in the above-mentioned narrations), include trimming of the hair as well, meaning it is prohibited for ladies to trim their hair.

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ولا يجوز للمراة قطع شعرها ولو باذن الزوج  (الاشباخ والنظائر ص14 ج2)

Cutting the hair is not permitted for women, even though the husband permits her to do so.

In conclusion, trimming of the hair due to western fashion, or to please the husband, is not permitted. However, if the hair reaches the buttock or posterior and seems defective, then the hair hanging below the posterior may be trimmed. [Re:- Fataawa Rahimiyyah Pg.120 Vol.10] Also, in the case of split ends, one is permitted to trim the ends only to enhance growth only. However, this should not be used as an excuse to continuously trim the hair and thereby keep it short. We may deceive others by making various excuses but Allah Ta’ala is fully aware of our intentions.

ALLAH TA’ALA KNOWS BEST!

ANSWERED BY:

Mufti Mohammed Desai

Date: 10 Safar 1444 / 07 September 2022