Source: Fatāwā Muḥammadiyyah, Vol. 1, p. 554❖ Question:
If a person cuts his nails or has a haircut (shaving or trimming) after sunrise but before the Eid al-Aḍḥā prayer, is it permissible or not?
❖ Answer:
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu wa-s-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh, ammā baʿd:
Sunnah Practice:
◈ It is Sunnah to cut one’s hair or nails after performing the Qurbānī (sacrifice).
This practice is based upon both Qur’ānic and Prophetic evidences.
❖ Evidence from the Qur’an:
﴿وَلَا تَحْلِقُوا رُءُوسَكُمْ حَتَّىٰ يَبْلُغَ الْهَدْيُ مَحِلَّهُ ۚ﴾
(Surah al-Baqarah, 2:196)
Translation:
“And do not shave your heads until the sacrificial animal has reached its place of slaughter.”
This indicates that the shaving of the head (ḥalq) — and by analogy, trimming of hair or cutting of nails — should only take place after the sacrifice has been completed.
In another verse, Allah says regarding those performing sacrifice:
﴿ثُمَّ لِيَقْضُوا تَفَثَهُمْ﴾
(Surah al-Ḥajj, 22:29)
Translation:
“Then let them remove their dirt (i.e., cleanse themselves after the sacrifice).”
This also indicates that personal grooming — such as cutting hair or nails — should be done after the sacrifice.
❖ Evidence from the Ḥadīth:
In Mishkāt al-Maṣābīḥ, Bāb fī al-Uḍḥiyyah, it is narrated that:
When the Messenger of Allah ﷺ completed the Eid prayer, he noticed that some people had slaughtered their animals before the prayer.
He ﷺ said:
“Whoever has offered his sacrifice before the prayer should repeat the sacrifice.”
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī & Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim)
Meaning:
This shows that acts associated with sacrifice — such as shaving or trimming — should occur only after the valid time of sacrifice, that is, after the Eid prayer.
❖ Ruling for Non-Pilgrims (Non-Ḥujjāj):
◈ For those not performing Ḥajj, it is not permissible to cut hair or nails before the sacrifice on Eid al-Aḍḥā.
◈ If someone does so by mistake or without knowledge, then it is excusable according to the verse:
﴿لَا يُكَلِّفُ اللَّهُ نَفْسًا إِلَّا وُسْعَهَا﴾
“Allah does not burden any soul beyond its capacity.”
(Surah al-Baqarah, 2:286)
However, intentionally doing so is contrary to the Sunnah.
Summary:
① It is Sunnah to shave or trim one’s hair and cut nails after performing the Qurbānī (sacrifice).
② Doing so before the Eid prayer or before the sacrifice is not correct.
③ Therefore, the haircut or nail trimming should be done after offering the Eid prayer and completing the sacrifice.
ھٰذا ما عندي، والله أعلم بالصواب
This is what I hold to be correct, and Allah knows best what is right.
