❖ Women Cutting Their Hair – A Complete Explanation in Light of Shariah
Source: Fatāwā ʿIlmiyyah, Volume 3 – Miscellaneous Issues, Page 286
❖ Question
What is the ruling regarding women cutting or not cutting their hair? Please explain in the light of the Qur’an and Hadith.
(Question by: Muhammad Riaz Damanwi, Bradford, England)
❖ Answer
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu was-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh, ammā baʿd:
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
"لَيْسَ عَلَى النِّسَاءِ حَلْقٌ، إِنَّمَا عَلَى النِّسَاءِ التَّقْصِيرُ"
"There is no shaving of the head for women; rather, trimming is prescribed for them."
(Sunan Abī Dāwūd: 1085, Sunan Dārimī: 1911 – Chain is Ḥasan, declared Ḥasan by al-Ḥāfiẓ in Talkhīṣ al-Ḥabīr 2/261)
❖ Key Ruling from This Hadith
It is established that even during Ḥajj and ʿUmrah, women are not to shave their heads, and this matter is one of consensus (ijmāʿ).
(See: Kitāb al-Ijmāʿ by Ibn al-Mundhir: 199/65, Ḥājī ke Shab-o-Roz, p. 89)
Even when trimming (taqṣīr), only a fingertip’s length or close to that amount is to be cut.
❖ Prohibition of Resemblance to Men
Women are not allowed to cut their hair like men, because this results in resemblance to men, which is ḥarām (forbidden).
The Prophet ﷺ said:
"لَعَنَ اللَّهُ الْمُتَشَبِّهَاتِ مِنَ النِّسَاءِ بِالرِّجَالِ"
"Allah has cursed those women who imitate men."
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 5885, al-Ḥadīth Ḥazro: 27, p. 153)
❖ Conclusion
It is clearly evident from the Qur’an and authentic Hadith that:
✔ Women are not permitted to shave their heads, even during pilgrimage.
✔ Trimming is allowed, but only slightly, and not in a way that imitates men.
✔ Imitating men in hairstyle is strictly prohibited and brings the curse of Allah.
هٰذَا مَا عِندِي، وَاللّٰهُ أَعْلَمُ بِالصَّوَابِ
