Fatwa ID: 03614

Answered by: Maulana Belaal Ahmed

Question

Is it permissible for women to get layered haircuts, so long as it is not exposed?

بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيْم

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

Answer:

Generally, in the books of Hanafi jurisprudence we find that it is not permissible for women to cut their hair and there are two main reasons given by the scholars for its impermissibility:

1)  Imitation of the immoral ones.

In which regards the holy Prophet (S.A.W) said: He who copies any people is one of them. (Abu Dawood)

2) Imitation of men (therefore, hair should be below shoulders)

Ibn Abbas (R.A) narrates that Allah’s Apostle cursed those men who imitate women and those women who imitate men. (Sahih Bukhari: 7.773)

 In another Hadith it is mentioned:

"The Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) forbade women from shaving their hair.” (Sunan Tirmidhi, 2/246)

Due to the above two reasons, the jurists have prohibited the cutting of hair for women. However, if a woman trims her hair slightly in a way that she did not go against any of the above two conditions, then this could be permitted. With regards to layering or other such haircuts which are becoming common in many women in today's times, it will fall under the category of imitating the immoral ones, therefore it will not be permissible.

Only Allah knows best

Written by Maulana Belaal Ahmed

Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah

Darul Ifta Birmingham

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