سنن ابي داود
Abu Dawud
كتاب الترجلCombing the Hair (Kitab Al-Tarajjul)
باب فِي الْخِضَابِ لِلنِّسَاءِChapter: Dye For Women.
Hadith 4165
اُردوEn
حَدَّثَنَا مُسْلِمُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ ، حَدَّثَتْنِي غِبْطَةُ بِنْتُ عَمْرٍو الْمُجَاشِعِيَّةُ ، قَالَتْ : حَدَّثَتْنِي عَمَّتِي أُمُّ الْحَسَنِ ، عَنْ جَدَّتِهَا ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهَا ، أَنَّ هَنْدَ بِنْتَ عُتْبَةَ قَالَتْ : يَا نَبِيَّ اللَّهِ بَايِعْنِي ، قَالَ : " لَا أُبَايِعُكِ حَتَّى تُغَيِّرِي كَفَّيْكِ كَأَنَّهُمَا كَفَّا سَبُعٍ " .
Narrated Aishah, Ummul Muminin: When Hind, daughter of Utbah, said: Prophet of Allah, accept my allegiance, he replied; I shall not accept your allegiance till you make a difference to the palms of your hands; for they look like the paws of a beast of prey.
Explanation & Benefits
Shaykh Umar Farooq Saeedi
Benefits and Issues:
This narration is weak, therefore it is not necessary—meaning neither obligatory nor compulsory—for women to dye their hands with henna, as might be inferred from this narration. However, the application of henna by women for distinction from men is established from other evidences, so there is no doubt regarding its recommendation (being a preferred act). Yet, its use in the manner prevalent today—such as making decorative patterns on the hands, wrists, and feet, so that even those who do not intend to look are compelled to see—is not permissible.
This situation is clearly haram, as a woman thereby becomes a source of unnecessary attraction for non-mahram men.
This narration is weak, therefore it is not necessary—meaning neither obligatory nor compulsory—for women to dye their hands with henna, as might be inferred from this narration. However, the application of henna by women for distinction from men is established from other evidences, so there is no doubt regarding its recommendation (being a preferred act). Yet, its use in the manner prevalent today—such as making decorative patterns on the hands, wrists, and feet, so that even those who do not intend to look are compelled to see—is not permissible.
This situation is clearly haram, as a woman thereby becomes a source of unnecessary attraction for non-mahram men.
Source: Sunan Abu Dawood – Commentary by Shaykh Umar Farooq Saeedi, Page: 4165
