Law of Cutting Hair During Menstruation in Islam

Review by : Yuli SE., MM

There is an insight in the society that the law of cutting hair and nail during menstruation is prohibited because a woman who is in the condition of menstruation is considered impure.

So, when cutting hair and nails during menstruation, the separate parts will be not pure, too. So, if hair and nails are thrown, then it will be problematic on the Doomsday someday.

The analogy like this, when the day of resurrection come, then every part of body will be returned to the original condition. Similarly, the hair and nails that had been thrown in impure condition will be back in impure condition, too. So, this thing will make a shame for her later. Is that right?

The prohibition of cutting hair and nails is often equated with people who do qurban. As the hadith of the Prophet Muhammad shallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, a person who do qurban is forbidden to cut his hair and nails that start from the 1^st of Zulhijjah. (Narrated by Muslim)

According to Ibn Taimiyah, a believer should not be called najis. This is based on with the hadith of the Prophet Muhammad shallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam,

“Indeed Muslims are not najis.” (Narrated by Bukhari Mulim)

Even if a believer had died, his body is not called najis (Narrated by Hakim). The name of najis is only for the disbelievers. The word of Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala,

“Indeed the polytheists are najis.” (Q.S. At-Tawbah : 28)

The Law of Cutting Hair During Menstruation in Islam

Haidh is a biological condition of women who have entered the baligh period. Haidh or menstruation is an event where the fresh blood out from the feminine hole in a cycle every once a month. As for, the blood of haidh and nifas women is only najis, not the person. So it is for junub people.

In the fatwa of Al Kubra, Syaikhul Islam Ibn Taimiyah had a question,

“When someone is junub and cutting his nails or moustache or comb hair, is it wrong?. Some of people said if a person who cut hair or nails when he is junub, then all of his body will be back at the Doomsday and claim their owner to take a bath them and is it right?”

Then Syaikhul Islam answered, “There is a saheeh haidth from Hudzifah and Abu Hurairah radliallahu ‘anhuma, that the Prophet Muhammad shallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam was asked about a junub person, then he said,

‘Indeed that believer is not najis.’ In saheeh Al-Hakim, there is an addition,

‘both when life or die.”

In the hadith of the Prophet shallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam and atsar of the companions was found an advice for haidh and nifas women to take care importance of cleanliness in Islam.

[AdSense-B]

For example, A haidh person is recommended to take a bath and comb her hair. Whereas, some of women are in hair loss and combing hair can pull a part of her hair. Of course this is contrary with an insight about the prohibition of cutting hair during menstruation.

Here will be explained briefly about the law of cutting hair during menstruation in Islam. Hopefully it can be understood.

There is a story, this happened to the wife of the Prophet Muhammad shallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, ‘Aisha r.a. When ‘Aisha r.a. fulfilled Wada’ hajj with the Prophet Muhammad shallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, she found herself menstruating. The Messenger of Allah saw asked her to take a bath and combed her hair.

“Spread out your hair and comb it. And do talbiyah with hajj and leave umroh,

” said the Prophet Muhammad shallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam. (Narrated by Bukhari Muslim)

In that hadith, it is clear that the Messenger of Allah saw said to ‘Aisha who was having menstruation to leave umrah, then spread out and combed her hair. This means that in the hadith there is no information specifically about the prohibition of cutting hair during menstruation. Even highly it is recommended to comb the hair.

In fact, combing hair can cause hair loss. Of course, this can be a basic that cutting hair during menstruation is not a prohibited thing in Islam.

Muhammad bin Yusuf Al-Ibadhi in the book od Syarkh An-Nail Wa Syifai Alil (1/347) mentions about the understanding that forbids haidh and nifas women to cut nails or hair as a bid’ah matter. If she believes, it will affect the day of resurrection.

Muslims are prohibited to make haram a matter that is allowed. As it is prohibited to allow a halal matter.

The hadith of the Prophet Muhammad shallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam confirmed,

“Indeed the biggest sins and evils of Muslims is a person who ask about things that are not haram, then it becomes haram because of the question earlier.” (Narrated by Bukhari)

In that hadith, it is explained that indeed we should not make a speculation about this. Because legally, there is no basic and confirmation that explains about the prohibition of cutting hair during menstruation.

In this condition, we should hold on the source of Quran and hadith. So, there is no misunderstanding and something that tends to mislead. Which eventually was then believed by most of the Muslimah.

In the book of muktamad fiqh, if we explore things that are prohibited to be done by someone who is in junub circumstance, no one mentioned that she should not cut nails and hair. Here are prohibited things to be done by a junub person :

Prayers or sujud at-Tilawah
Tawaf around the Ka’bah
Touching the Mushaf Al-Quran Al-Karim
Reading the verse of Al-Quran Al-Karin with his tongue not in the heart, except a dua that its lafadz is taken from verses.
I’tikaf in the mosque or come into the mosque outside I’tikaf

As the hadith below :

“From ‘Aisha r.a., “If the woman was mestruating, does she not pray and fast? That is a deficiency of that woman’s religion.” (Muttafaqun ‘alaih, narrated by Bukhari and Muslim)

From ‘Aisha r.a. said that the Messenger of Allah saw said,

“I do not make halal the mosque for a junub and haidh person.”

[AdSense-C]

“None touch (Quran) except the purified.” (Q.S. Al-Waqi’ah : 79)

Ulama only said this thing about the prohibition of a menstruation woman. Based on the prohibition that is mentioned above, it is clear that indeed cutting hair during menstruation is not a prohibited thing.

In the opinion of Atho bin Abi robah r.a. who is a senior tabi’in said,

“A junub person (allowed) does hijamah (treatment by taking out dirt blood) and cuts nails and hair, although she has not done wudu.” (Saheeh al-Bukhari 1/496)

Thus the article about the law of cutting hair during menstruation in Islam. We should believe in a theory that is totally based on the Quran and Hadith, As the function of Quran for Muslims as a guide. So, then it will not cause confusion and even the wrong understanding. Hopefully this article can be useful for you. Amen.

Nia Widya