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:

assalam alykum,

i had a doubt regarding growing nails. People say dat if v grow nails our prayers wont b accepted, is dat true? but if i cut it completely, den it pains n i wont b able 2 hold anything till it grows, so wot can i do? n if v can grow, den for many days?

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Answer:

Time Limit for nails

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.

Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 7.779 Narrated by Abu Huraira

I heard the Prophet (saws) saying. "Five practices are characteristics of the ‘Fitrah’ (nature): shaving the pubic hair, clipping the nails, depilating the hair of the armpits (for males and females alike), and cutting the moustaches short and circumcision (for males only)."

The periodic clipping of one’s nails is a clean, hygienic and a natural act, and something which is known as Sunnat-al-fitrah or the way of nature.

Although the length of one’s nails does not have any direct relation or bearing to the validity or acceptance of one’s salah, to grow nails is against the natural Sunnah and thus not something which is encouraged in Islam. The Prophet of Allah (saws) gave injunctions and guided the believers (men and women) to periodically cut their nails, not to grow them.

Sahih Muslim Hadith 497 Narrated by Anas ibn Malik

A time limit has been prescribed for us for clipping the moustache, cutting the nails, plucking hair under the armpits, shaving the pubic hair: that it should not be neglected for more than forty nights.

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