Fatwa ID: 06467
Answered by: Maulana Mohammed Dilwar Hussain
Question:
With regard to a Muslim who is not performing Hajj, what should he do during the first ten days of Dhu’l-Hijjah? Is cutting the nails and hair not permissible? Is putting on henna or wearing new clothes not permitted until after the sacrifice has been slaughtered
In the name of Allāh, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
Answer:
The Prophet ﷺ has said: “When the days of Dhul Hijjah commence and any of you intend to sacrifice an animal, then he should not remove his hair or trim his nails until he has sacrificed his animal.” [Sunan Ibn Mājah: Hadith 3149] [1]
However, if one’s bodily hair in their private areas or their nails have not been cut for more than 40 days then it would be incumbent (Wājib) for them to cut it.
Moreover, the Prophet ﷺ has said: “No good deeds done on any other days are superior to those done on these (first ten days of Dhul Hijjah).” Then some companions of the Prophet ﷺ asked: “Not even Jihād?” He ﷺ replied: “Not even Jihād, except that of a man who does it by putting himself and his property in danger (for Allāh’s sake) and does not return with any of those. (i.e., he gives his life and wealth in Allāh’s path) [Sahih al-Bukhari: Hadith 969] [2]
Adorning oneself with henna or good clothes can always be done. There are no restrictions on this. The restrictions only apply to those performing Hajj. [Radd ul-Muhtār: vol. 7, pg. 220] [3]
If one is able to fast then they should try to fast all nine days leading up to the day of Eid. They can increase their reciting of the Noble Qur’ān, do Zikr, Durood and etc. Possibly, even more, crucial would be to make all efforts to avoid sins during this time.
Only Allāh Ta’ālā knows best.
Written by Maulana Mohammed Dilwar Hussain
Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah
Darul Ifta Birmingham
[1]حَدَّثَنَا هَارُونُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ الْحَمَّالُ، حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ بْنُ عُيَيْنَةَ، عَنْ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ حُمَيْدِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ عَوْفٍ، عَنْ سَعِيدِ بْنِ الْمُسَيَّبِ، عَنْ أُمِّ سَلَمَةَ، أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ قَالَ “ إِذَا دَخَلَ الْعَشْرُ وَأَرَادَ أَحَدُكُمْ أَنْ يُضَحِّيَ فَلاَ يَمَسَّ مِنْ شَعَرِهِ وَلاَ بَشَرِهِ شَيْئًا ” .
[2]حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَرْعَرَةَ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ، عَنْ سُلَيْمَانَ، عَنْ مُسْلِمٍ الْبَطِينِ، عَنْ سَعِيدِ بْنِ جُبَيْرٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَنَّهُ قَالَ ” مَا الْعَمَلُ فِي أَيَّامِ الْعَشْرِ أَفْضَلَ مِنَ الْعَمَلِ فِي هَذِهِ ”. قَالُوا وَلاَ الْجِهَادُ قَالَ ” وَلاَ الْجِهَادُ، إِلاَّ رَجُلٌ خَرَجَ يُخَاطِرُ بِنَفْسِهِ وَمَالِهِ فَلَمْ يَرْجِعْ بِشَىْءٍ ”.
[3]فيشترط للزوم الدم دوام لبسه يوما أو خضب راسه بحناء رقيق.
