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:

I have long hair and my dad and mom says I look like a girl. Can you tell me whats Islam`s point of view about men`s long hair? 

(There may be some grammatical and spelling errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in confidentiality.)

Answer:

Man with Long 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.

Abu Hurairah reported the Prophet (saws) as saying, "Whoever has hair should honor it." Related by Abu Dawud.

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.”

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.

Sahih Muslim Hadith 5773 Narrated by Anas ibn Malik

Qatadah reported: I asked Anas ibn Malik: ‘How was the hair of Allah's Messenger (saws)?’ Thereupon he said: ‘His (saws) hair was neither very curly nor very straight, and they hung over his shoulders and ear-lobes.’

The Messenger of Allah (saws) used to sport long hair which hung over his shoulders and ear-lobes, but he (saws) neither encouraged the believers to have long hair, nor did he restrict them to cut them short. Thus it is permissible in Islam to keep any style or length of hair one wishes to keep provided the below listed principles are followed:

• The hair or appearance of the believers should be neat and tidy.
• The believer’s style or appearance must not be an imitation of a style which is specific to the pagans or disbelievers.
• The believer’s style or appearance must not be an imitation of a style which is specific to that of a women.

Your Question: I have long hair and my dad and mom says I look like a girl. Can you tell me whats Islam`s point of view about men`s long hair? 

Dear and Beloved brother, the issue here would not be whether the keeping of long hair is permissible or impermissible in Islam; but rather the obedience of one’s parents. After the rights due to Allah and His Messenger (saws), the biggest rights in Islam are due to one’s parents!

Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 4.248 Narrated by Abdullah bin Amr

A man came to the Prophet (saws) asking his permission to take part in Jihad. The Prophet (saws) asked him, "Are your parents alive?" He replied in the affirmative. The Prophet (saws) said to him, "Then (go) exert yourself in their service."

As meritorious and encouraged is the participation in Jihad for the Cause of Allah, the Messenger of Allah (saws) excused the man and commanded him to go and exert himself in the service of his parents!

Beloved brother, although the sporting of long hair for men is permissible in Islam, the obedience of one’s parents is absolutely obligatory upon the believers; and if for any reason whatsoever your parents are not happy with the length, shape or cut of your hair it is your obligatory duty to obey and honor their preference. Allah is our witness, their obedience will earn you the Pleasure and Good Will and huge and unimaginable rewards from Allah Subhanah on the Day of Judgment.

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

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

Burhan