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.
What is the Islamic ruling on a woman cutting her hair?
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]
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)
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)
