599. Is It Allowed For A Muslim Women To Cut Hair?

 By Asma Bint Shameem

1. First of all, 

It’s *allowed* for a Muslim woman to cut her hair if she wants and make herself beautiful for herself and her husband. 

Abu Salamah ibn ‘Abd al-Rahmaan said:

“The wives of the Prophet Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam 

used to cut their hair until it came just below their ears.” (Muslim)

So it’s *permissible* for a woman to cut her hair. 

But she shouldn’t be copying any hairstyle that’s “specifically” of *immoral* or non-Muslim women and should not resemble *men’s* haircuts. 

That’s because the Prophet sal Allaahu Alayhi wa sallam CURSED those women who imitate men. 

Ibn ‘Abbaas radhi Allaahu anhumaa said: 

“The Messenger of Allaah Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam cursed men who imitate women and women who imitate men.” 

(al-Bukhaari, 5435)

Shaikh Ibn Baaz said:

“We do not know anything (to disallow) cutting women’s hair. 

What is forbidden is *shaving* it. 

You should not shave your hair but you may cut it and reduce its length or volume; we know of nothing wrong with that. 

But that should be done in a proper manner which will please you and your husband. 

You should come to some agreement with him on a kind of haircut that does not resemble kaafir women, because if you leave it long, it will be a lot of trouble to wash it and comb it. So if the hair is very long or thick, and the woman cuts it to reduce its length or volume, that doesn’t matter. Cutting some of it will make it more beautiful, which will please both the woman and her husband. 

So we do not know of any reason to disallow that. 

But shaving it altogether is not permissible, except in the case of sickness.”

(Fataawa al-Mar’ah al-Muslimah, part 2, p. 515)

Shaikh Ibn Uthaymeen said:

“In the past, women were keen to have long hair and would be proud of it, and they would not cut it unless there was a shar‘i reason or health-related need to do so. 

Now things have changed, so the view that it is forbidden is weak and there is no proof for it. 

The view that it is disliked needs further reflection and examination. 

*The view that it is *permissible* is closer to the basic principles of Islam*. 

Muslim narrated in his Saheeh that the wives of the Prophet Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam used to cut their hair so that it came down no lower than their earlobes.

But if a woman cuts her hair too short, so that it looks like a man’s hair, then this is undoubtedly haraam, because the Prophet Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam cursed women who resemble men.

Similarly, if she cuts it in a style that resembles the hairstyles of disbelieving women and immoral women, then whoever imitates a people is one of them.”

(Fataawa Noor ‘ala ad-Darb)

2. It is NOT allowed for us to donate hair.That’s the basic principle.  

BUT if a person wants to donate hair for a VALID REASON then it’s allowed. 

For example if it’s for cancer patients or those who have lost their hair for a medical reason. 

But if it’s donated just to make wigs for beautification purposes then it’s not allowed. 

Also there should be NO monetary compensation. 

The International Islamic Fiqh Academy said:

"Sharee’ah permits the necessary and needed plastic surgery with the purpose of concealing the defects resulting from burns, accidents, diseases and the like. 

For example, dermatoplasty and hair transplant for women who suffer from hair loss.

In conclusion, it is permissible to donate hair to victims of cancer in order to conceal the defects resulting from chemotherapy. 

This provided that no material compensation is taken in return because Sharee’ah highly values man`s dignity; therefore, it doesn’t sanction making any part of his body a commodity in a commutative contract.” [Fatwa # (173)/2007]

And Allaah knows best.