Source: Shaykh Mubashir Ahmad Rabbani – Ahkām wa Masā’il: In the Light of the Qur’an and Sunnah
Sayyidah ʿĀ’ishah رضي الله عنها narrated:
"When the Prophet ﷺ performed ghusl after janābah, he would begin by washing his hands, then perform wudūʾ like the wudūʾ for prayer. Then he would insert his fingers into the water and run them through the roots of his hair. Then he would pour water over his head three times using both hands, and finally wash his entire body."
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 248; Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 316)
Also, the Prophet ﷺ said:
"Whoever leaves even a hair's portion of his body without washing it during ghusl from janābah, it will be treated in the Fire in such and such a way."
(Abū Dāwūd: 249; Musnad Aḥmad: 727, 794, 1121 – ḥasan chain).
❖ Conclusion: For obligatory ghusl, the entire body must be washed thoroughly. Washing only the head or hair is not sufficient.
Sayyidah ʿĀ’ishah رضي الله عنها said:
"When I used to part the hair of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, I would begin from the middle of his head and bring down the forelocks between his eyes."
(Abū Dāwūd: 4189; Musnad Aḥmad: 25101, 26887)
Also, when ʿUmar ibn al-Khaṭṭāb رضي الله عنه made treaties with the Christians of Shām, one of the terms was that they would not imitate Muslims in dress, caps, shoes, or hair parting.
(Tafsīr Ibn Kathīr 2/383, under Surah al-Tawbah: 29)
❖ Conclusion: A Muslim should distinguish themselves from non-Muslims in appearance, and a straight hair parting is from the Sunnah.
Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim narrates:
"The wives of the Prophet ﷺ used to trim their hair until it would resemble a wafrah (i.e., shoulder-length or up to the earlobes)."
(Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 320)
❖ Conclusion: Trimming for non-fashion reasons is allowed, but should be done modestly.
(Surah al-Mā’idah: 90)
The Prophet ﷺ said:
"Every intoxicant is khamr (wine), and every khamr is ḥarām."
(Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 2003)
"Whatever intoxicates in large amounts, a small amount of it is also ḥarām."
(Tirmidhī: 1865; Abū Dāwūd: 3681)
When someone said he made alcohol "for medical use," the Prophet ﷺ replied:
"It is not a cure. Rather, it is a disease."
(Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 1984)
❖ Conclusion: Alcohol is not a remedy, but a disease. Muslims must avoid medicines that contain intoxicating alcohol and consult reliable doctors for halāl alternatives.
Sayyidah Ḥafṣah رضي الله عنها narrated:
"Whoever visits a fortune-teller and asks him about anything, his prayer will not be accepted for forty nights."
(Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 2230)
Abū Hurayrah رضي الله عنه narrated:
"Whoever visits a soothsayer and believes what he says, has disbelieved in what was revealed to Muḥammad ﷺ."
(Musnad Aḥmad: 10170; Abū Dāwūd: 3904)
❖ Conclusion: Consulting astrologers, palm readers, or fortune-tellers is ḥarām and an act of disbelief if one affirms their claims. Such practices must be abandoned, regardless of the outward religiosity of those involved.
❖ Compilation of Answers to Multiple Questions:
① Is it sufficient to only wash the hair without performing a full-body ritual bath (ghusl)?
No, washing only the hair is not sufficient in place of a complete ghusl when it is obligatory (e.g., due to janābah or menstruation).Sayyidah ʿĀ’ishah رضي الله عنها narrated:
"When the Prophet ﷺ performed ghusl after janābah, he would begin by washing his hands, then perform wudūʾ like the wudūʾ for prayer. Then he would insert his fingers into the water and run them through the roots of his hair. Then he would pour water over his head three times using both hands, and finally wash his entire body."
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 248; Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 316)
Also, the Prophet ﷺ said:
"Whoever leaves even a hair's portion of his body without washing it during ghusl from janābah, it will be treated in the Fire in such and such a way."
(Abū Dāwūd: 249; Musnad Aḥmad: 727, 794, 1121 – ḥasan chain).
❖ Conclusion: For obligatory ghusl, the entire body must be washed thoroughly. Washing only the head or hair is not sufficient.
② Is it necessary to part the hair in the middle (make a central hair parting)?
Yes, making a straight parting (from the middle of the head) is a Sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ.Sayyidah ʿĀ’ishah رضي الله عنها said:
"When I used to part the hair of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, I would begin from the middle of his head and bring down the forelocks between his eyes."
(Abū Dāwūd: 4189; Musnad Aḥmad: 25101, 26887)
Also, when ʿUmar ibn al-Khaṭṭāb رضي الله عنه made treaties with the Christians of Shām, one of the terms was that they would not imitate Muslims in dress, caps, shoes, or hair parting.
(Tafsīr Ibn Kathīr 2/383, under Surah al-Tawbah: 29)
❖ Conclusion: A Muslim should distinguish themselves from non-Muslims in appearance, and a straight hair parting is from the Sunnah.
③ Is it permissible for a woman to trim her hair from the edges for medical reasons (without intending fashion)?
Yes, it is permissible for women to shorten their hair for practical or medical reasons, as long as it’s not for fashion, and not displayed before non-mahram men.Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim narrates:
"The wives of the Prophet ﷺ used to trim their hair until it would resemble a wafrah (i.e., shoulder-length or up to the earlobes)."
(Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 320)
❖ Conclusion: Trimming for non-fashion reasons is allowed, but should be done modestly.
④ Many modern medicines contain alcohol. Is their use permissible in Islam?
- Not all medicines contain alcohol.
- Halāl alternatives exist in allopathy, homeopathy, and herbal (Unani) treatments.
- Using alcohol-containing medicines is not permissible, especially if intoxicating in nature.
(Surah al-Mā’idah: 90)
The Prophet ﷺ said:
"Every intoxicant is khamr (wine), and every khamr is ḥarām."
(Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 2003)
"Whatever intoxicates in large amounts, a small amount of it is also ḥarām."
(Tirmidhī: 1865; Abū Dāwūd: 3681)
When someone said he made alcohol "for medical use," the Prophet ﷺ replied:
"It is not a cure. Rather, it is a disease."
(Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 1984)
❖ Conclusion: Alcohol is not a remedy, but a disease. Muslims must avoid medicines that contain intoxicating alcohol and consult reliable doctors for halāl alternatives.
⑤ What is the Islamic ruling on palm reading and fortune-telling? Some religious people consider it harmless.
Visiting soothsayers, astrologers, or palm readers is strictly prohibited in Islam.Sayyidah Ḥafṣah رضي الله عنها narrated:
"Whoever visits a fortune-teller and asks him about anything, his prayer will not be accepted for forty nights."
(Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 2230)
Abū Hurayrah رضي الله عنه narrated:
"Whoever visits a soothsayer and believes what he says, has disbelieved in what was revealed to Muḥammad ﷺ."
(Musnad Aḥmad: 10170; Abū Dāwūd: 3904)
❖ Conclusion: Consulting astrologers, palm readers, or fortune-tellers is ḥarām and an act of disbelief if one affirms their claims. Such practices must be abandoned, regardless of the outward religiosity of those involved.
Summary of Rulings:
| Question | Ruling |
|---|---|
| ① Only washing hair instead of full ghusl |  Not sufficient in obligatory ghusl |
| ② Straight hair parting | ✔ Sunnah |
| ③ Hair trimming for women (non-fashion) | ✔ Permissible |
| ④ Medicines with alcohol | Not permissible if intoxicating |
| ⑤ Palm reading & astrology | Ḥarām and leads to disbelief |
