Excerpted from the book “Aḥkām wa Masā’il – In the Light of Qur’ān and Sunnah” authored by Shaykh Mubashar Ahmad Rabbānī
Can a man apply henna to his hands or feet? What is its ruling in Islamic law?
Applying henna (ḥinnā') on the hands or feet is permissible for men only in cases of medical treatment or necessity, such as:
✔ In the case of boils, blisters, wounds, or injuries
✔ Due to burning sensation from excessive heat
But in ordinary circumstances, it is not permissible.
Narrated by Salmā رضي الله عنها, the servant of the Prophet ﷺ:
ما كان أحد يشتكي إلى رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم وجعا فى رأسه إلا قال احتجم ولا وجعا فى رجليه إلا قال اختضبهما
“Whenever someone complained to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ about a headache, he would advise cupping; and if someone complained of pain in his feet, he would say: ‘Apply (henna) to them.’”
[Abū Dāwūd: Book of Medicine, Ḥadīth 3858; Tirmidhī: 2054]
Imām al-Albānī رحمه الله graded its chain as ḥasan li-ghayrihi and cited it in Silsilat al-Aḥādīth aṣ-Ṣaḥīḥah (2059).
Imām al-Ḥākim رحمه الله said:
“This ḥadīth is ṣaḥīḥ according to the conditions of authenticity.”
[al-Mustadrak: 3/307, Ḥadīth 8236]
Imām al-Bukhārī and al-Ḥākim both mentioned the use of henna for coloring in their works.
[Tārīkh al-Kabīr: 1/411 (new ed. 1/382), entry #1310 under Ayyūb ibn Ḥasan]
A narration states:
ما كان برسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم قرحة ولا نكبة إلا أمرني رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم أن أضع عليها الحناء
“Whenever the Messenger of Allah ﷺ had a wound from a sword, or an injury from a stone, he would command me to apply henna on it.”
[Silsilat al-Aḥādīth aṣ-Ṣaḥīḥah: 5/94]
“Qarḥah” refers to a wound from a sword or arrow,
“Nakbah” refers to an injury from a stone or thorn.
These narrations clearly prove that the use of henna for men is allowed only for treatment.
❖ Coloring hands and feet with henna without medical reason is considered a feminine act, and imitating women is impermissible for men in Islam.
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
لعن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم المتشبهات بالرجال من النساء والمتشبهين بالنساء من الرجال
“The Messenger of Allah ﷺ cursed women who imitate men and men who imitate women.”
[Tirmidhī: Book of Manners, Ḥadīth 2784; Bukhārī: Book of Clothing, Ḥadīth 5885; Abū Dāwūd: 4997]
① Men may apply henna to hands or feet only for medicinal reasons, such as boils, wounds, or heat irritation.
② In normal, non-medical circumstances, doing so is impermissible as it is an imitation of women.
③ Imitating the opposite gender is explicitly cursed in authentic aḥādīth.
Let every man and woman remain distinct in their Islamic roles and appearance as prescribed by the Sharīʿah.
وَاللهُ أَعلَمُ
✦ Question:
Can a man apply henna to his hands or feet? What is its ruling in Islamic law?
✦ Answer:
Applying henna (ḥinnā') on the hands or feet is permissible for men only in cases of medical treatment or necessity, such as:
✔ In the case of boils, blisters, wounds, or injuries
✔ Due to burning sensation from excessive heat
But in ordinary circumstances, it is not permissible.
❖ Prophetic Guidance on Medicinal Use of Henna
Narrated by Salmā رضي الله عنها, the servant of the Prophet ﷺ:
ما كان أحد يشتكي إلى رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم وجعا فى رأسه إلا قال احتجم ولا وجعا فى رجليه إلا قال اختضبهما
“Whenever someone complained to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ about a headache, he would advise cupping; and if someone complained of pain in his feet, he would say: ‘Apply (henna) to them.’”
[Abū Dāwūd: Book of Medicine, Ḥadīth 3858; Tirmidhī: 2054]Imām al-Albānī رحمه الله graded its chain as ḥasan li-ghayrihi and cited it in Silsilat al-Aḥādīth aṣ-Ṣaḥīḥah (2059).
Imām al-Ḥākim رحمه الله said:
“This ḥadīth is ṣaḥīḥ according to the conditions of authenticity.”
[al-Mustadrak: 3/307, Ḥadīth 8236]Imām al-Bukhārī and al-Ḥākim both mentioned the use of henna for coloring in their works.
[Tārīkh al-Kabīr: 1/411 (new ed. 1/382), entry #1310 under Ayyūb ibn Ḥasan]❖ Another Report from the Prophet’s ﷺ Practice
A narration states:
ما كان برسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم قرحة ولا نكبة إلا أمرني رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم أن أضع عليها الحناء
“Whenever the Messenger of Allah ﷺ had a wound from a sword, or an injury from a stone, he would command me to apply henna on it.”
[Silsilat al-Aḥādīth aṣ-Ṣaḥīḥah: 5/94]“Qarḥah” refers to a wound from a sword or arrow,
“Nakbah” refers to an injury from a stone or thorn.
These narrations clearly prove that the use of henna for men is allowed only for treatment.
✖ Prohibition of Imitating Women in Appearance
❖ Coloring hands and feet with henna without medical reason is considered a feminine act, and imitating women is impermissible for men in Islam.
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
لعن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم المتشبهات بالرجال من النساء والمتشبهين بالنساء من الرجال
“The Messenger of Allah ﷺ cursed women who imitate men and men who imitate women.”
[Tirmidhī: Book of Manners, Ḥadīth 2784; Bukhārī: Book of Clothing, Ḥadīth 5885; Abū Dāwūd: 4997]✔ Conclusion:
① Men may apply henna to hands or feet only for medicinal reasons, such as boils, wounds, or heat irritation.
② In normal, non-medical circumstances, doing so is impermissible as it is an imitation of women.
③ Imitating the opposite gender is explicitly cursed in authentic aḥādīth.
Let every man and woman remain distinct in their Islamic roles and appearance as prescribed by the Sharīʿah.
وَاللهُ أَعلَمُ
