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:

Your Hadith received for artificial hair was enlightening, can you can give us some information on Hair grooming for women, is it accepted for the women of Islam to cut or trim , color their hair.

Also for nails for men and women , is it acceptable to keep them long?

(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:

Hair cutting color nail long

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 none worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

Your Question: can you can give us some information on Hair grooming for women, is it accepted for the women of Islam to cut or trim , color their hair.

There is nothing in the Quran or the Sunnah which prohibits the believing woman from cutting her hair as short as she wishes to, or to color, shape or style it in any way she pleases, provided certain stipulated conditions of Shariah are not violated:

1. 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.

2. 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.’

3. They do not shape their hair by making a hump on the top of their heads.

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).”

Your Question: Also for nails for men and women , is it acceptable to keep them long?

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.

To allow one’s nails to grow unabated is against the natural ‘fitrah’ or Sunnah and thus not encouraged in Islam. The Prophet of Allah (saws) gave injunctions and guided the believers (men and women) to periodically clip 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