Question: 

1. Why is it not permissible for a woman to cut her hair? 

2. Is it permissible for a woman to get bangs on her hair? 

Answer: 

It is forbidden for women to cut their hair because of the following reasons:

1. Tashabbuh bil Kuffaar (imitation of the disbelievers) and Tashabbuh bin Nisaa il Faasiqaat (imitation of the evil women), Allah Ta'aala states in the Quraan-e-Kareem,

وَلاَ تَرْكَنُواْ إِلََ الَّذِينَ ظَلَمُواْ فَتَمَسَّكُمُ النَّارُ وَمَا لَكُم من دُونِ ا للِّ مِنْ أَوْلِيَاء ثَُُّ لاَ تُنصَرُونَ

And do not incline (do not associate with and imitate) those who do wrong (the Kuffar) for then the fire will reach you …

Under the abovementioned verse the Ulema have written that it is bad to incline towards the way of the oppressors and transgressors even to a slight extent. Inclining towards them refers to adopting their lifestyle and fashion such as adopting the English or western fashions (which includes their hairstyles as well).

In a Hadith recorded in Abu Daud Sharif, Rasulullah صلى الله عليه وسلم is reported to have said,

من تشبه بقوم فهو منهم ) ٤ / ٤٤ )

Whosoever imitates a nation will be from amongst them

From the above it is clearly understood that it is not permissible for women to cut their hair as it is tantamount to imitating the Kuffar. On the other hand, Allah says:

قُلْ إِنْ كُنْتُمْ تُُِبُّونَ اللََّّ فَاتَّبِعُونِِ يُُْبِبْكُمُ اللَُّّ وَيغَْفِرْ لَكُمْ ذُنُوبَكُمْ ) ٣ / ٣١ )

“Say: (O Muhammad) If you love Allah then follow me and Allah will love you and He will forgive your sins.”

وَاتَّبِعْ سَبِيلَ مَنْ أَنََبَ إِلَ ) ١٥ / ٣١ )

“And follow the way of those people who repent to me.”

2. Tashabbuh bir Rijaal(imitation of men), it comes in the Hadeeth Shareef;

عن ابن عباس رضىي الله عنه قال قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم لعن الله المتشبهين من الرجال بالنساء والمتشبهات من النساء بالرجال ) بخارى ٣70(

Hazrat Abdullah ibn Abbaas (Radhiallahu anhuma) narrates that Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) has cursed that man who imitates a woman and the woman who imitates a man.

Allama Shami (rahmatullahi alaih) has written in his famous Kitaab Raddul Muhtaar which provides the final verdicts pertaining to various Masa’il of the Hanafi Mazhab, “if a woman cuts her hair, she will be sinful and fall under the curse of Rasulullah صلى الله عليه وسلم. He further explains that a woman will be sinful for cutting her hair even though she may claim that she had cut her hair obeying the instructions of her husband, as it is not permissible to obey the creation of Allah Ta'aala at the expense of disobeying the Creator (Allah Ta'aala). Hereunder follows the text of Allama Shami:

قطعت شعر راسها اثمت ولعنت زاد فى البزازية وان باذن الزوج لانه لا طاعة لمخلوق فى معصية الخالق )شامى ٦ / ٤0(

3. There are some Ahaadeeth that indicate to the prohibition of cutting hair for the women.

عن أسماء بنت عميس أن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم قال لها يا ابنة عميس لا غسل عليكن ولا جمعة ولا حلاق ولا تقصير الا أن تأخذ إحداكن لنفسها أو من كان منها بمحرم من أطراف شعرها مقدم رأسها يوم النحر)المعجم الكبير ٢٤ / ١٣٨ )

“O Asma binte Umays! there is no Ghusl (for Jumu`ah Salaah), no Jumu`ah, shaving of the head and no trimming of the hair for women, except if she or one of her Mahrams trims the edges of her hair on the 10th of Zul Hijjah when she, after performing Hajj needs to come out of Ihraam.”

Allamah Abdul Haq (Rahimahullah) mentions, because shortening the hair is imitating the male gender; hence, such a course of action will fall under the banner of Tashabbuh which is prohibited. (Fatwawa Haqqaniyyah page 463 volume 2).

Hazrat Maulana Ashraf Ali Thanwi (Rahimahullah) has mentioned: firstly, in cutting the hair definitely Tashabbuh bil Kuffar is found. If Tashabbuh bil Kuffaar is not found, then imitation of men will be included in any case whether intended or not. (Imdaadul Fatawaa page 227 vol 4).

Allah Ta'aala has created both men and women with different characteristics and their beauty lies in the manner Allah Ta'aala had created them. However, due to western influence, many men take pride and enjoyment in imitating women by adopting their manner of dressing, hairstyles etc. Similarly, many women imitate men in various aspects as well. As Muslims we should protect our identity. Islam is our way of life in everything. It is not restricted to the masjid, the house or our workplace. It advises us on what we can wear and can’t wear, on what we can eat and cannot eat; likewise, it has given us specific guidelines pertaining to our appearance.

Similarly, it will not be permissible for a woman to have bangs on her hair because of the above-mentioned reasons as one cannot get bangs without cutting her hair. It is mentioned in Fatawah Uthmaniyyah:

Question - Is a woman allowed to cut the front of her hair such that it hangs down by her cheeks?

Answer - Islam is a religion of Fitrah, every law of Islam is according to this fitrah. The hair of a woman is by nature an adornment that is why for a woman to cut her hair is against fitrah and comes under the umbrella of making changes in the creation of Allah. In addition to it being a western fashion which is being adopted, this an act resembling that of men, that is why it is forbidden in Shariah to do so.

AND ALLAH TA'AALA ALONE IN HIS INFINITE KNOWLEDGE KNOWS BEST

ANSWERED BY: Mohmmad Anas Khan 

CHECKED AND APPROVED BY: Mufti Muhammed Saeed Motara Saheb D.B. 

Islamic Date:7 جمادى الأولى ١٤٤١ 

English Date: 3 January 2020