Chapter 37: Etiquettes Of Cutting the
Hair And Clipping The Nails Etc
Hadith 1: It is
reported in Sahih Bukhari and Muslim from Abu Hurairah رضی
اللہ تعالٰی عنہ that Rasoolullah صلَّی
اللہ تعالٰی علیہ واٰلہٖ وسلَّم said, ‘Five things are part of the fitrah[1],
(1) circumcision, (2) removing the pubic hair, (3)
trimming the moustache, (4) trimming the nails and
(5) plucking the hair of the armpit’.
Hadith 2: It is in
Sahih Muslim from Abu Hurairah رضی اللہ
تعالٰی عنہ that Rasoolullah صلَّی اللہ تعالٰی علیہ واٰلہٖ وسلَّم said, ‘trim your moustaches and lengthen your
beards. Act contrary to the fire-worshippers (pagans)’.
Hadith 3: It is in
Sahih Bukhari and Muslim on the authority of Ibn Umar رضی
اللہ تعالٰی عنہما
that Rasoolullah صلَّی اللہ تعالٰی علیہ واٰلہٖ وسلَّم said, ‘Act
contrary to the mushrikeen. Lengthen your beards and trim your moustaches
short’.
Hadith 4: Tirmizi
reported from Ibn Ab’bas رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہما who says that
Rasoolullah صلَّی اللہ
تعالٰی علیہ واٰلہٖ وسلَّم used to trim his moustache and Hazrat
Ibraheem Khaleelur Rahmaan علیہ الصلاۃ و السلام used to
also do the same.
Hadith 5: Imam
Ahmed, Tirmizi and Nasa’i have reported from Zaid bin Arqam رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ that Rasoolullah صلَّی
اللہ تعالٰی علیہ واٰلہٖ وسلَّم said, ‘The one who does not shorten his
moustache is not from us’. In other words he is acting contrary to our way.
Hadith 6: In Sahih
Muslim it is reported from Abu Hurairah رضی اللہ
تعالٰی عنہ that Rasoolullah صلَّی اللہ تعالٰی علیہ واٰلہٖ وسلَّم said, ‘One who does not shave off the pubic
hair, trim his nails and shorten his moustache is not from amongst us’.
Hadith 7: Tirmizi
has reported on from Amr bin Shuáib, from his father, from his grandfather that
‘Rasoolullah صلَّی اللہ تعالٰی علیہ واٰلہٖ وسلَّم used
to slightly trim the length and the breadth of the beard.’
Hadith 8: It is
reported in Sahih Muslim from Anas رضی اللہ
تعالٰی عنہ who says, ‘The fixed time within which we should trim our
moustaches and nails, and pluck the hair from our armpits, and shave off the
pubic hair is forty days.’ In other words, these things should be done within a
period of forty days (i.e. this stipulation should not be exceeded).
Hadith 9: Abu Dawud reported
from Amr bin Shua’ib who reported from his father, from his grandfather that
Rasool صلَّی اللہ تعالٰی علیہ واٰلہٖ وسلَّم said,
‘Do not pluck white (grey) hair as this is the Noor of the Muslims. That person
who reaches old-age in Islam, Allah will record for him good deeds, remove his
wrongs and exalt him in stature’.
Hadith 10: Tirmizi
and Nasa’i reported from Ka’ab bin Mur’rah رضی اللہ
تعالٰی عنہ that Rasoolullah صلَّی اللہ تعالٰی علیہ واٰلہٖ وسلَّم said, ‘That person who reached old-age (becomes
grey) in Islam, this old-age will be a light for him on the Day of Qiyaamat’.
Hadith 11: Imam
Maalik reported on the authority of Sa’eed ibnil Musayyab رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ who used to say that Hazrat Ibraheem
Khaleelur Rahman علیہ الصلاۃ و السلام was the
first to prepare a feast for the Muslims (Believers), and he was the first to
have circumcision, and he was the first to trim his moustache and the first to
see white hair. He asked ‘O my Lord! What is this?’ Almighty Allah said, ‘O
Ibraheem! This is Prestige (Dignity)’. He said ‘O my Lord! Increase my
Prestige’.
Hadith 12: Dailmi
reported from Anas رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ that
Rasoolullah صلَّی اللہ تعالٰی علیہ واٰلہٖ وسلَّم said,
‘That person who intentional plucks out white hair, (then) on the day of
Qiyaamat it will become a spear, with which he will be pierced’.
Hadith 13: Tabrani
reported from Hazrat Umar رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ that Rasoolullah
صلَّی اللہ
تعالٰی علیہ واٰلہٖ وسلَّم forbade shaving off the hair from the neck
except when having a hair cut.
Hadith 14: It is in
Sahih Bukhari and Muslim on the authority of Ibn Umar رضی
اللہ تعالٰی عنہما
that Rasoolullah صلَّی اللہ تعالٰی علیہ واٰلہٖ وسلَّم forbade
Qaza’. Nafí was asked regarding what Qaza’ was and he said it meant to
partially shave off a child’s head and to leave tufts of hair in different
places.
Hadith 15: It is in
Sahih Muslim from Ibn Umar رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہما that Nabi صلَّی اللہ تعالٰی علیہ واٰلہٖ وسلَّم saw a
child whose head was partially shaved and some tufts were left unshaved. Huzoor
صلَّی اللہ
تعالٰی علیہ واٰلہٖ وسلَّم forbade the people from doing this and said
‘Either shave all off or leave all of it’.
Hadith 16: Abu Dawud
and Nasa’i have reported from Abdullah ibn Ja’far رضی
اللہ تعالٰی عنہما
that when Hazrat Ja’far رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ was martyred, for three days Huzoor صلَّی اللہ تعالٰی علیہ واٰلہٖ وسلَّم did not say anything to his family. Then, he proceeded
there and said, ‘As of today, you should not weep over my brother (Ja’far رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ) ’. He صلَّی اللہ تعالٰی علیہ واٰلہٖ وسلَّم then said, ‘Call the children of my brother’.
We were brought before Huzoor صلَّی اللہ تعالٰی علیہ واٰلہٖ
وسلَّم. He صلَّی اللہ تعالٰی علیہ واٰلہٖ وسلَّم said,
‘Summon the barber’ and then he had our heads shaved off’.
Hadith 17: Abu Dawud
reported from Ibn Hanzaliyah رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ that Rasoolullah
صلَّی اللہ
تعالٰی علیہ واٰلہٖ وسلَّم said, ‘Khuraym Asadi is a very fine person,
only had it not been for the length of his hair and the manner in which he allows
his lower garment to hang down’. When this message reached Khuraym رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ, he took a knife and cut his hair in line with
his ears and raised his lower garment halfway up his shin.
Hadith 18: Abu Dawud
reported from Anas رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ who says,
‘I had long hair (locks) and my mother said, ‘I shall not have them cut as Huzoor
صلَّی اللہ
تعالٰی علیہ واٰلہٖ وسلَّم would hold and tug at them’.’ In other words,
the blessed hands of Rasoolullah صلَّی اللہ تعالٰی علیہ واٰلہٖ وسلَّم touched them, so she let his hair grow without
having it cut, as she regarded it as being sacred (after being touched by the
sacred hand of Rasoolullahصلَّی اللہ تعالٰی علیہ واٰلہٖ
وسلَّم ).
Hadith 19: Nasa’i
reported on the authority of Hazrat Ali رضی اللہ تعالٰی
عنہ that Rasoolullah صلَّی اللہ تعالٰی علیہ واٰلہٖ
وسلَّم
forbade females from shaving their heads
(i.e. it is not allowed for women to have their heads shaved).
Hadith 20: It is
reported in Sahih Bukhari and Muslim on the authority of Ibn Ab’bas رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہما
that when Nabi صلَّی
اللہ تعالٰی علیہ واٰلہٖ وسلَّم would not be given any command regarding
something, he preferred that which was in conformity with the Ahl-e-Kitaab (as
it was possible that, these things which they did were from the Sunnah of the
other Ambia-e-Kiraam). The Ahl-e-Kitaab used to keep their hair straight and
the mushrikeen used to comb a path, so Nabi صلَّی اللہ تعالٰی علیہ واٰلہٖ وسلَّم kept the hair straight and did not comb a
path, but later Huzoor صلَّی اللہ تعالٰی
علیہ واٰلہٖ وسلَّم combed a path. (From this it is evident that
Huzoor صلَّی اللہ تعالٰی علیہ واٰلہٖ وسلَّم was
commanded to act contrary to the Ahl-e-Kitaab).
Laws of Jurisprudence
Law: It is Mustahab to trim
the nails on a Friday. However, if they have grown too long, then do not wait
for Friday, as it is not good for the nails to be too long, since keeping long
nails courses shortage in sustenance. It has been mentioned in one Da’eef
Hadith[2]
that Huzoorصلَّی اللہ تعالٰی علیہ وسلَّم used to trim his moustache and clip his nails
before going for Jummah. It has been mentioned in another Hadith that Allah
will protect the one who trims his nails on a Friday, from all calamities until
the following Friday and for three more days (i.e. for ten days). It has been
mentioned in one Hadith that a person who trims his nails on a Saturday will
have his illnesses removed and he shall be cured and one who trims his nails on
a Sunday will have poverty alleviated and he will receive riches. The one who
clips his nails on a Monday will be cured from insanity and he will recover
well, and one who trims on a Tuesday will have his illnesses go away and he will
be cured. The one who trims his nails on a Wednesday will have evil whispering
and fear removed and peace and cure will reach him, and one who trims his nails
on Thursday will be cured from leprosy and he will receive good health. The one
who trims them on a Friday will attain Mercy and his sins will be removed. Even
though these Ahadith are Da’eef, but in Fada’il[3],
they are regarded as credible. [Durr-e-Mukhtar,
Raddul Muhtar]
Law: It has reported from
Hazrat Ali رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ that the finger nails of the right hand
should be trimmed first, in the following manner: First the little finger, then
the middle finger, then the thumb, then the one in between and then the Kalima
(index) finger. On the left hand, first trim the thumb nail, followed by the
middle finger, then the small finger, then the Kalima finger and finally the
one in between. In other words, one will commence with the small (baby) finger
on the right hand, and from the thumb on the left hand, and some narrations say
that it should be done by leaving one finger, and in some narrations, it has
been mentioned that one should leave two fingers and then trim the next one. It
has been mentioned in one narration that by following this method one will not
suffer from eye infection. [Durr-e-Mukhtar,
Raddul Muhtar]
Law: The sequence that has
just been mentioned for above has some intricacy in it and it is especially
difficult for the laymen to care for this, so there is another method that is
very simple and that too is reported from Huzoor . This method is to start with the index finger of the right hand,
and to finish at the baby finger and then to continue onto the thumb of the
left hand, and to end by trimming the thumb nail of the right hand. In this
method, one will start with the right hand and finish with the right hand. [Durr-e-Mukhtar] This was
also the practice of A’la Hazrat قبلہ قدس سرہ and this
humble servant (Huzoor Sadrush Shariah رضی اللہ
تعالٰی عنہ) also practices likewise.
Law: No sequence has been
mentioned in regards to trimming the nails of the feet. It is better that when
trimming the toe nails one should follow the sequence that is reported for
Khilaal[4].
One should use the same sequence to trim the toe nails. In other words, one
should start with the little toe of the right foot and end at the big toe, and
then start at the big toe of the left foot and complete at the small toe. [Durr-e-Mukhtar]
Law: We should not use our
teeth to bite the nails as to do this is Makruh, and there is a fear that this
may lead to one being inflicted by leprosy. [Alamgiri]
Law: When a Mujaahid[5]
is in a Darul Harb, he should allow his nails and moustache to grow long, so
that the kufaar may be overwhelmed with awe by looking at his grim appearance. [Durr-e-Mukhtar]
Law: If one does not clip
the nails every Friday, then it should be clipped once every fifteen days and
the maximum time frame for this is forty days. To leave them unclipped for more
than the stipulated time, is disallowed. The same rule applies to trimming the moustache,
and removing the hair under the armpit and shaving the pubic hair. To leave
this unattended for more than forty days is disallowed. It is reported in Sahih
Muslim from Anas رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ who says, ‘The
stipulated time within which we should trim our moustaches and nails, and pluck
the hair from our armpits and shave off the pubic hair is forty days.’
Law: To remove the pubic
hair is Sunnat. To have a bath on a weekly basis and to keep the body clean and
pure, and to remove the pubic hair is Mustahab, and the best day to do this, is
on a Friday. It is also permissible to do this once every fifteen days and to
allow more than forty days to pass is disallowed and Makruh. The pubic hair
should be shaved off with a blade (i.e. razor etc.) and this should be done from
below the navel. Instead of using a blade, if one uses sulphurate, lime or any
hair removal soap etc. which has become commonly used in this time, then this
too is permissible. For females to pluck out (remove) this hair is Sunnat. [Durr-e-Mukhtar, Alamgiri]
Law: To pluck out the hair
from under the armpits is Sunnat and to shave it off is also permitted. [Raddul Muhtar]
Law: It is better not to
shave off the hair on the neck. It should rather be left. [Raddul Muhtar]
Law: The nose hairs (inside
the nostrils) should not be pulled out (plucked) as this leads to one being
afflicted by an illness called Aankla[6].
[Alamgiri]
Law: Neither should one
shave off the hair nor trim the nail whilst in the state of Janaabat, as to do
this is Makruh. [Alamgiri]
Law: If the eyebrows have
become too big, then you may trim them. To clean out the hair on the face
(cheeks) is also allowed. This is referred to as making a Khat[7].
It is not good to shave or trim the hair on the chest or on the back. One may
remove the hair from hands, legs and stomach. [Raddul
Muhtar]
Law: It is bid’at (This
refers to a bad innovation) to shave off or pull out the hair on either side of
the part of the beard under the lower lip (This part is known as the ‘Bachi’). [Alamgiri]
Law: It is Sunnat to trim
the moustache. It should be trimmed to the extent that it resembles the
shortness of the eyebrows. It should be so short that it does not fall over the
upper portion of the upper lip. In one narration there has been mention of
removing it. [Durr-e- Mukhtar, Raddul Muhtar]
Law: If the both ends of
the moustache are big, there is no objection to it. Some of the moustaches of
the pious predecessors were kept this way. [Alamgiri]
Law: To lengthen the beard
is from the Sunnat of the past Nabis. To shave off the beard or trim it less
than one fist length is Haraam. However, if it grows longer than one fist
length, then whatever exceeds this length can be trimmed. [Durr-e-Mukhtar]
Law: To fold up the beard
or knot or plait the beard, like the Sikhs etc. do, is impermissible. Nowadays,
lots of styling and cutting is done to the moustache and beard. Some people
completely remove the beard and moustache, whilst some shave off the ends of
the moustache only leaving a small piece in the middle which looks like two
flies are seated under the nose. Some french cut the beard and some are
fashioned in other ways. In doing all this, we are actually emulating the
Christians (westerners).
The sentiment in the Imaan of the Muslims has become so weak that they
are losing their prestige and their identity. They have no sense of what they
used to be and what they have become. Their senselessness has reached such
extreme levels, and their sense of honour and sense of modesty in Imaan has
reached such levels of weakness, that they are becoming absorbed in emulating
other nations. They are not subservient with boldness and fortitude on the teachings
and directives of Islam, so how can we ever expect that they will encourage the
respect of Islamic Directives, and protect and preserve the Rights of the
Muslims! Every Muslim individual should be a complete example of Islamic
Teachings. He should be an example of the character of the pious predecessors.
He should protect the Islamic Customs, so that it may create a (positive) impression
on other nations.
Law: Some of those who
shave off their beards are so fearless, that they make a mockery of the beard.
They hurl insulting remarks (towards those who) keep their beards in accordance
with the Shariat. To shave off the beard is Haraam! It is a sin, but think
about that which you are mocking! What is it that you are insulting and abusing?
Every single thing regarding Islam is firm and all its principles and laws are
strongly established. To say anything in it (in Islam) to be bad is to show a
defect in Islam. You should think about it for yourself. Whatever is the end
result of (this behaviour) you already know well. It will become clear to you
and there will be no need to enquire about it from anyone.
Law: Men have the option of
either lengthening or shaving the hair, and to take out a path in the hair. [Raddul Muhtar] Both are
proven from Huzoor-e-Aqdas
صلَّی اللہ تعالٰی علیہ وسلَّم even though it is proven that he صلَّی اللہ تعالٰی علیہ
وسلَّم only shaved off his blessed hair when coming out of Ehraam[8].
There is no evidence proving that he shaved off the sacred hair at other times.
However, there is evidence that certain Sahaba did shave off their hair. For
example, Hazrat Maula Ali رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ habitually
shaved off his hair. The Sacred Hair of the Beloved Rasool صلَّی اللہ تعالٰی علیہ
وسلَّم would sometimes be up to half the blessed ears, sometimes up to
the earlobe and when they would grow longer, then they would touch the Holy
Shoulders, and Huzoor-e-Akram صلَّی اللہ تعالٰی علیہ وسلَّم used to comb a middle path in his sacred
hair.
Law: It is not permissible
for men to grow (lengthen) their hair like that of the females. Some of those
who claim to be Sufis grow very long locks, which flutter on their chests like
a snake and some of them plait pony tails or they use extensions. All these
actions are impermissible and against the Shariat. Tasawwuf does not refer to growing
long hair and wearing colourful clothes, but it refers to being sincerely
obedient to Rasoolullah صلَّی اللہ تعالٰی علیہ وسلَّم and destroying the desires of the carnal
self.
Law: To pull out white hair
or to pick them out and snip them off with a scissor is Makruh. However, if a
Mujaahid does this so that hisappearance strikes awe into the kufaar, then it
is permissible. It is permissible to shave the middle of the head and to leave
the remainder of the hair, like in one time; this practice was referred to as
‘Paan Banwana’. The prohibition of Qaza’, which has been mentioned in the
Hadith, means to leave tufts of hair in numerous places, which is also known as
making shapes. [Alamgiri, Raddul Muhtar]
It is also evident from Bukhari Shareef that the method mentioned above
(Paan Banwana) cannot be regarded as Qaza’ and to say that it refers to this is
incorrect. However, it is better that if one is shaving off the hair of the head,
then he should shave the entire hair. He should avoid shaving off some and
leaving some.
Law: It has been noticed
that those who are from the villages shape the forehead, like the method that
is used for the beard and they cut two spikes (or tufts) on either side, or
they do this in other styles. This is contrary to the Sunnah and the manner of
the pious predecessors. Abstain from this.
Law: To shave off the hair
of the neck is Makruh. [Alamgiri]. In other words, to shave off the neck hair without shaving off the
head, like many people do when grooming the face. However, if one has shaved of
the entire head, then the hair of the neck should also be shaved off with it.
Law: Nowadays the style of
leaving a tuft of hair on the top of the head has become very common. In other
words, the hair is cut very short on all sides, and a huge tuft of hair is only
left at the top of the head. This too is to emulate the Christians and is
impermissible. Some people even make (or cut) a path either to the right or
left of this hair. This too is contrary to the Sunnah. The Sunnah method is that
if one keeps hair, then one should comb a middle path. Some do not comb a path
in the hair and just leave it straight. This is a Sunnat-e-Mansookha[9]
and the manner of the Jews and Christians, just as it has been mentioned in the
Ahadith.
Law: Another common style
is where they neither keep the hair nor shave it off completely, but they cut
the hair with a scissor or machine. This is not impermissible, but it is better
and more virtuous to either remove all the hair or keep all.
Law: For females to cut the
hair, as it is the manner of the Christian (western) women of today, is
impermissible and a sinful act, and such a woman has been cursed for this. Even
if the husband commands her to do this, the rule is still the same, (in other
words) the woman will still be regarded as sinful for doing this, because one is
not allowed to listen to anyone (who asks you) to be disobedient to the
Shariat. [Durr-e-Mukhtar] I have heard that this evil of cutting the hair of females has
even started in Muslim homes. Women with such haircuts tend to look like males,
and it has been mentioned in the Hadith that the curse of Allah befalls that
female whose appearance is like that of males. When cutting the hair for
females is impermissible, then (definitely) shaving the hair off is
impermissible to a greater extent, as this too is
the custom of the polytheists in India,
because when someone dies amongst them, or when she goes for Hindu pilgrimage,
the females remove all their hair.
Law: The hair that is
shaved off or trimmed should be buried. The same applies to the finger nails.
To discard of it in the toilet or bathroom is Makruh, as this causes illness. [Alamgiri] It is impermissible
to discard the pubic hair in a place where others will see it.
Law: There are four things
which should be buried: Hair, nails, sanitary pad and blood. [Alamgiri]
Law: If ones hair is
infested with lice and the hair has been shaved off, then it should be buried. [Alamgiri]
Law: If an insane female
has some illness of the hair. For example, if the hair is infested with lice,
and she has no guardian (to care for her), then if someone shaves off her hair,
that person has actually done her a favour. However, some hair should be left
on her head, so she may be recognised as a female. [Alamgiri]
Law: It is permitted to
pluck out the white hair, so long as it is not being done with the intention of
adornment (i.e. for cosmetic reasons). [Durr-e-Mukhtar,
Raddul Muhtar]. It is quiet clear that those who remove the
white hair do this solely for adornment, so that this whiteness is not visible
to others, and so that they may seem younger. It is for this reason that this
has been disallowed in the Hadith. It is also evident that this type of
tampering with the beard is disallowed to a greater degree.
[1]
Fitrah or Fitrat refers to Natural and inherent qualities. In this
context, it refers to those things, which are Sunnah of the past Ambia.
[2] Da’eef Hadith refers to a Hadith with weak chain of transmission
[3] In other words, in the issue of virtuousness.
[4] Khilaal here refers to cleaning between the toes.
[5] Mujaahid refers to a true Muslim soldier.
[6] Aankla refers to the illness Gangrenous stomatitis.
[7]
Khat means to get a trim as in to clean the area under the eye and
around the inner cheek. In other words, this refers to cleaning the hair above
the beard area. It must be noted that this does not refer to trimming the
actual beard.
[8]
Ehraam refers to the sacred state a Muslim enters before
performing Hajj or Umrah, where he puts on the prescribed clothing and follows
the rules pertaining to it.
[9] Sunnat-e-Mansookha here refers to an abolished tradition.
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