Ruling on a Woman Cutting Her Hair According to Islamic Law
Source:
This text is adapted from the book 500 Questions and Answers for Women, based on the fatwas of the scholars of the Haramain, translated by Hafiz Abdullah Saleem.
❖ Question:
What is the Islamic ruling on a woman cutting her hair?
❖ Answer:
According to the Hanbali school of thought, it is disliked (makruh) for a woman to cut her hair. However, if the haircut resembles that of men, then it becomes haram (prohibited).
This is because the Prophet ﷺ said:
لعن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم المتشبهين من الرجال بالنساء والمتشبهات من النساء بالرجال
[Narrated by al-Bukhari, Book of Clothing, Chapter 61]
“The Messenger of Allah ﷺ cursed those men who imitate women and those women who imitate men.”
Similarly, if a woman adopts the hairstyle of disbelieving women, this too is haram, because imitating disbelieving and immoral women is prohibited.
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
من تشبه بقوم فهو منهم
[Narrated by Abu Dawood, Book of Clothing, Hadith 4]
“Whoever imitates a people is one of them.”
Thus, if the haircut does not resemble that of men or disbelieving women, then according to Hanbali scholars, the ruling falls under dislike (karahah).
[Shaykh Muhammad ibn Salih al-Uthaymeen رحمه الله]
✿ Key Points Summary:
① Cutting hair in a way that resembles men → Haram
② Cutting hair resembling disbelieving or immoral women → Haram
③ Cutting hair without resembling the above → Makruh (disliked)
