❖ 7 Sharʿi Rulings Regarding Women Parting the Hair — Backed by Authentic Evidence ❖
Source: Fatāwā al-Dīn al-Khāliṣ, Vol. 1, Page 402
What is the ruling for a woman parting her hair to one side?
الحمد لله، والصلاة والسلام علىٰ رسول الله، أما بعد!
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.
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)
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.
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.
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.
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.
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)
➤ 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
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.
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.
