❖ 7 Sharʿi Rulings Regarding Women Parting the Hair — Backed by Authentic Evidence ❖
Source: Fatāwā al-Dīn al-Khāliṣ, Vol. 1, Page 402
✦ Question:
What is the ruling for a woman parting her hair to one side?
✔ Response:
الحمد لله، والصلاة والسلام علىٰ رسول الله، أما بعد!
◈ The Sunnah Method of Parting the Hair
According to the Sharīʿah, the Sunnah method of parting the hair is:
① The part should be in the middle of the head.
② It should extend from the forehead (nāṣiyah) to the top of the head.
③ Though it is physically possible to part the hair to the right, left, front, or back,
the only legislated and preferred form is the central parting.
◈ Sharʿi Status of Side-Parting
Parting the hair to one side is not legislated (mashrūʿ) in Sharīʿah.
At times, this style resembles non-Muslims (e.g., Christians),
which is something a Muslim should avoid.
This prohibition is supported by a ḥadīth of the Prophet ﷺ:
*“There are two types of the people of Hell whom I have not yet seen:
① People who will have whips like the tails of cattle with which they will beat others,
② and women who will be clothed yet naked,
inclined and inclining others,
their heads resembling the humps of Bactrian camels,
*they will not enter Paradise nor even smell its fragrance.”
(al-Mishkāt: 383, 205/2; 306/2)
◈ Explanation by the Scholars
Some scholars have interpreted the words “مائلات و ممیلات“ (inclined and inclining) as follows:
① “مائلات“ – Women who comb their hair slanted or leaning to one side.
② “ممیلات“ – Women who encourage other women to style their hair in the same way.
However, the stronger and more correct interpretation is:
③ “مائلات“ – Women who deviate from modesty and the path of religion.
④ “ممیلات“ – Women who mislead and influence others to deviate from religion.
◈ Additional Evidence from Scholars
In Majmūʿ al-Fatāwā of Ibn ʿUthaymīn (Vol. 4, Pg. 136, Fatwa No. 66), it is stated that:
The meaning of “māʾilāt” goes beyond external combing and includes moral deviation as well.
◈ Hadith Words Explained
The phrase:
“رُؤوسُهُنَّ كَأَسْنِمَةِ الْبُخْتِ“
“…their heads resemble the humps of Bactrian camels…”
➤ Indicates that their hairstyles are tilted, bulging to one side – resembling a camel’s hump.
◈ Commentary from Sharḥ Muslim by Imām Nawawī
According to Sharḥ Muslim by Nawawī (Vol. 2, Pages 205–383):
⑤ “Māʾilāt” – Women who comb their hair in a crooked or tilted manner.
⑥ This was a common practice among adulterous women.
⑦ “Mumīlāt” – Those who influence other women to adopt such styles.
Qāḍī ʿIyāḍ also upheld this interpretation in his explanation of the ḥadīth.
◈ Practice of the Prophet ﷺ
Imām Ibn Taymiyyah wrote in al-Iqtiḍāʾ:
➤ In the early days, the Prophet ﷺ, in conformity with the Jews, used to let his hair hang without parting.
➤ Later, when he ﷺ distanced himself from them, he began to part his hair.
This narration is also recorded by Abū Dāwūd: (Abū Dāwūd: 224/2)
◈ Conclusion
➤ For both men and women, the Sunnah is to part the hair.
➤ However, it should be in the middle of the head, not to one side.
➤ Side-parting is not legislated, and in some cases, it may involve
imitating non-Muslims and opposing the commands of the Prophet ﷺ.
ھذا ما عندي، واللہ أعلم بالصواب
❀ Summary of the 7 Sharʿi Rulings:
① The Sunnah is a middle parting, not side-parting.
② Side-parting is not Sharʿi approved.
③ It may involve resemblance to non-Muslims, which is prohibited.
④ Hadith warns against women whose hair resembles camel humps.
⑤ Scholars interpret “māʾilāt” as deviation in both style and character.
⑥ The Prophet ﷺ later adopted middle parting to oppose non-Muslims.
⑦ Men and women are both encouraged to follow the Sunnah parting style.
