Trimming the hair of little girls
Question:-
I have 2 daughters, aged 7 and 8, and their hair has reached just above their buttox. They fuss to wash and brush their hair and it is always a fight, which is understandable because of their age. I was wondering if it would be permissible to cut their hair shoulder-length just once, in order for them to learn to take care of their hair. They are getting older and a bit more responsible to care for their hair. This will allow me to help them take care of it.
Answer:-
It is natural that young girls will fuss when brushing and combing their hair. However, we, as the parents, shouldn’t become lax and trim their hair, as this will most certainly be an approval for them to cut their hair in the future. You should therefore not trim their hair without a valid reason, particularly that they are now close to the age of Buloogh (which is estimated to be nine years of age).
Fataawa Bayyinaat states that, it is not permissible to trim the hair of girls that are Baaligh, or close to becoming Baaligh. Yes, if they are very small girls, then trimming their hair for a permissible objective (such as removing spilt ends and enhancing further growth) is permitted, but then too, it should not be in emulation of the sinners. [Re:- Fataawa Bayyinaat Pg. 406 Vol.4]
Mufti Wali Hassan Saheb Rahimahullah states that the objective of trimming the hair of young girls is to enhance growth. If the hair is cut in emulation of fashion, then it will not be permissible. [Re:- Fataawa Darul Uloom Zakariyya Pg. 345 Vol.7]
Mufti Abdur Rahim Saheb Laajpuri Rahimahullah has stated that to trim the hair of young girls following the fashion and trend of the time is not permitted. [Re:- Majmoo’aa Fataawa Pg.531 Vol.2]
Yes, if the hair is hanging below the posterior, then you may trim the hair that is hanging below the posterior, or, if there is a need to trim the hair due to split ends, then too there is concession to trim the hair, with the proviso that the intention of trimming is to enhance growth in the future. [Re:- Fataawa Rahimiyyah Pg.120 Vol.10]
In conclusion, you shouldn’t trim their hair since there isn’t a genuine need to do so at this stage such as removing split ends and enhancing growth.
ALLAH TA’ALA KNOWS BEST!
ANSWERED BY:
Mufti Mohammed Desai
Date: 11 Rabi-ul-Awwal 1444 / 08 October 2022