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 alaekum

Please, I want to know if it is true that it is not permissible for women to have their hair cut low. The reason is because I dont feel too comfortable plaiting my hair so I cut my hair low. Besides I am a widow and does not have anybody to admire the hair even if I go through the stress of plaiting. Allihamdulillah, I dress like a Muslimah, that is, I cover myself properly so nobody knows what type of hair I wear, except members of my family. Recently a friend of mine came visiting and saw my hair cut and exclaimed that it`s haram and that I have to fast for three days for having a low cut. i want clarification please. 

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Answer:

Women hair cut

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.

Respected sister in Islam, we absolutely assure you that there is nothing in the Quran or the authentic and established 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 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).”

4. They do not shave their heads.

Al-Tirmidhi Hadith 4485 Narrated by Ali ibn AbuTalib

Allah's Messenger (saws) forbade that a woman should shave her head.

Your Statement: …..Recently a friend of mine came visiting and saw my hair cut and exclaimed that it`s haram and that I have to fast for three days for having a low cut.

Respected sister, if the chosen style of your hair does not violate any of the above listed conditions, rest absolutely assured that you are at absolute liberty in Islam to adorn any hair style you wish and please.

Only Allah and His Messenger (saws) alone have the right to declare a thing ‘halaal’ (lawful) or ‘haraam’ (forbidden) for the believers….

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 16 Surah Nahl verse 116:

But say not for any false thing that your tongues may put forth "This is halaal and this is haraam!", so as to ascribe false things to Allah. For those who ascribe false things to Allah will never prosper.

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 7 Surah Aaraaf verse 157:

(So, now mercy has been assigned to those) who follow this Messenger, the Gentile Prophet, whose mention they shall find in the Torah and the Gospel with them. He enjoins them to do good and forbids them from evil; he makes pure things halaal for them, and impure things haraam; he relieves them of their burdens and frees them from the shackles (of rites and rituals) that bound them. For this reason, those alone who believe in him, support him, succour him, and follow the Light that has been sent down with him shall attain true ‘success’.

Just as it is a huge sin to declare ‘halaal’ what Allah and His Messenger (saws) have declared haraam (eg. Swine, wine, intoxicants, etc.); similarly it is a grave to sin to declare forbidden, what Allah and His Messenger have declared halaal for the believers. One should fear Allah Subhanah, and abstain from declaring something ‘haraam’, when Allah and His Messenger have not explicitly forbidden that thing for the believers…..for that then would be to intentionally ascribe a lie to Allah Subhanah and His Messenger (saws)!

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 61 Surah Saff verse 7:

7 Who doth greater wrong than one who invents falsehood against Allah even as he is being invited to Islam? And Allah guides not those who do wrong.

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 7 Surah Aaraaf verse 37:

37 Who is more unjust than one who invents a lie against Allah or rejects his Signs?

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 29 Surah Ankabut verse 68:

68 And who does more wrong than he who invents a lie against Allah or rejects the Truth when it reaches Him? Is there not a home in Hell for those who reject faith?

Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 4.667 Narrated by Abdullah bin Amr

The Prophet (saws) said ‘Whoever tells a lie on me intentionally, will surely take his place in the (Hell) Fire."

Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 1.109 Narrated by Salama

I heard the Prophet (saws) saying, "Whoever (intentionally) ascribes to me what I have not said then (surely) let him occupy his seat in Hell-fire."

Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 8.217 Narrated by Abu Huraira

The Prophet (saws) said, "Whoever intentionally ascribes something to me falsely, he will surely take his place in the (Hell) Fire.”

The ‘friend’ who declared that your hair style is ‘haraam’ or prohibited should be asked to provide her evidence and her proof for her prohibition from the Glorious Quran or the authentic and established Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah (saws).

If your ‘friend’ is unable to provide you the proof, and we assure you that other than the above listed conditions there are none, know with absolute conviction that the prohibition declared by your friend is a mere figment of her self-invented imagination and has absolutely nothing to do with the Truth of Islam or Guidance.

If one trusts, obeys, and follows the guidance and commands of Allah and His Messenger (saws), one can be assured of never ever being misled; but if one believes, obeys and follows any other guidance, other than that of Allah and His Messenger (saws), one can be assured of being led astray.

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