Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.  (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

assalamoalaikum wa rehmatullah respected brother in islam burhan!

my ? today is regarding the issue of muslim women cutting their hair! i have read cuntless content on the internet regarding the islamic viewpoint of this issue but i haven`t attained clear cut answers, i have read on mufti ibrahim desai`s site that muslim women aren`t allowed to cut their hair and they gave shami as the source for their reply but certain islamic sites say it`s ok fo a women to cut her hair short as long as her hair doesn`t imitate a man`s hair cut! so if this is the case then, how short can a womnen cut her hair before she`ll be imitating a man`s hair cut.

plz support ur repy with proof from quran and/or hadith to answer my ? jazak allah kheir 

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Answer:

Can women cut hair?

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is no one (no idol, no person, no grave, no prophet, no imam, no dai, nobody!) worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

There is nothing in the Quran or the Sunnah which prohibits the believing woman from cutting her hair as short as she wishes to, provided certain stipulated conditions are not violoated.

There is no harm if a believing women wishes to cut her hair short, or shape her hair in any way, provided:

They do not copy the hair-styles of men

Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 8.820 Narrated by Ibn Abbas

The Messenger of Allah (saws) invoked the curse of Allah on men who imitate women, and those women who assume the similitude of men.

They do not copy the hair-style of any pagan people or culture

Al-Tirmidhi Hadith 4649 Narrated by Abdullah ibn Amr ibn al-'As

Allah's Messenger (saws) said, "He does not belong to us who imitates other people.”

Sunan of Abu-Dawood Hadith 4020 Narrated byA bdullah ibn Umar

The Prophet (saws) said: ‘He who copies any people is one of them.’

They do not shape their hair by making a hump on the top of their heads (like the Sardarjis).

Sahih Muslim Hadith 6840 Narrated by Abu Hurayrah

Allah's Messenger (saws) said: “There are two types, amongst the denizens of Hell, I have yet not seen them. One possessing whips like the tail of an ox and they flog people with them. (The second one) the women who would be naked, in spite of their being dressed, who are seduced (to wrong paths) and seduce others with their hair high like humps. These women would not get into Paradise, and they would not perceive the odour of Paradise, although its fragrance can be perceived from such and such distance (from great distance).”

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your Brother in Islam,

Burhan