The Law of Cutting Nails When Menstrual Period in Islam

Discuss the issue of cutting nails or hair during menstruation, there is no history to write if cutting the nails during menstruation is prohibited.

In an A’ishah tradition it is mentioned that when Aisyah joined the pilgrimage with the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam and after arriving in Mecca, she experienced menstruation. The Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam then said to him,

“Leave your umrah, loose your hair ties and take a comb …” (Narrated by Bukhari & Muslim : 1211)

Rasulullah sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam ordered A’ishah who was menstruating to comb her hair. Though he just came from the trip. So we can conclude with confidence, there will be hair that fall out. But Rasulullah sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam did not tell A’ishah to keep her hair fall to be bathed after the sacred menstruation. See also : law of cutting hair during menstruation in Islam

In both hadiths above, it shows if cutting nails or hair that fall out when menstruation is equal to the state of holy which means it has no obligation to bathe with menstruation bath. If it is prescribed, of course Rasulullah sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam will also explain to A’ishah to store her hair and bathe it with menstruation bath.

In fatwa of Al Kubra, Shaykh Ibn Taymiyyah has a question:

“When a man is junub and cuts his nails or whiskers or combs his hair, is it wrong ?Some say if a person cuts a hair or nails when junub, then all parts of his body will back on the Judgment Day and demand the owner to bathe him and is that true?”

Shaykh al-Islam then replied,

“There is a saheeh hadith from Hudzifah and Abu Hurairah radliallahu ‘anhuma, that the Prophet sallallaahu’ alaihi wa sallam was asked about the person who junub, then he said, ‘Surely the believer is not unpure.’ In saheeh Al-Hakim, there is an addition, ‘Both when alive and when dead.’

While I have never known the existence of the shari’a proposition that being makruh (detestable or abominable) of hair and nails, when junub. On the contrary, the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam ordered the people who converts to Islam,

“Eliminate your hair of kufr and confab.” He also commanded those who converted to Islam to bathe. And he did not order that the haircut and his circumcision be done after bathing. The absence of a command, indicating that it is possible to cut nails and circumcise before bathing…” (Fatwa of Al-Kubra, 1: 275)

1. The expert opinion fiqih mazhab Syafi’iyah

Meanwhile, according to the jurisprudence of the Shafi’iyah school of thought emphatically allow women who are menstruating or nifas to cut nails, shave hair underarm or genital and so on. There is no provision for doing so and would give a devastating impact on the Judgement Day. (Holy Book of Tuhfatul Muhtaj 4: 56)

See also :law of women leading prayer in Islam

2. The opinion of Saudi Arabia’s Mufti

The next opinion of the Saudi Arabian mufti namely Sheikh Ibn Utsaimin in the collection of fatwa Az Ziinah Wai Mar’ah essay also touched on this issue. Shaykh Uthaymeen gave his denial when a woman who was menstruating, nifas or junub is forbidden to cut her nails and hair. Precisely a woman who was menstruating and also postpartum is strongly recommended to always keep their body to be clean such as cutting her nail. [AdSense-B]

3. The opinion of Al-Utsaimin

Al Utsaimin also adds that a woman during her menstruating or nifas or even having a wet dream, then it is advisable to bathe of janabat (major ablution) as when he was pure. This is also the case when he was making out with a husband without jima which producing the semen, then the woman still perform janabah bath even in the state of menstruation or nifas. See also : law of washing hair during ramadhan fasting

4. The opinion of Muhammad bin Yusuf Al Ibadhi

Muhammad bin Yusuf Al Ibadhi in his book Syarkh An Nail Wa Syifai Alil (1 : 347) mentions the understanding about prohibition of women menstruation and during nifas to cut her nails or hair into the case bi’dah. He believes that it will affect the day of resurrection and Muslims are forbidden to prohibit permissible cases as prohibited to allow lawful matters.

5. Shahih Al-Hakim

Inside Sahih Al Hakim it’s also mentioned, “Both life and deat”. I do not know the syar’i’s argument of hair and nails being makruh when junub. On the contrary, the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam said to the new convert,

“Throw out the hair of disbelief from you and make a confession,” (Abu Dawud No. 356 and Hasan by Shaikh Al Albani in Irwaul Ghalil (1 : 120))

Then after that, h ordered those person to bathe. He did not order that circumcision and hair cuts be postponed after bathing. From his words this shows both things can be done. Take a shower or a haircut first. Likewise, menstruating women are instructed to comb their hair while bathing while hair brushed could thresing your hair.”(Majmu’ Fatwa, 21 : 120-121). See also : dangers of excessive laughter in Islam

6. The opinion of Al-Ghazali

Al Ghazali said in al-Ihya,

“It is not proper to cut (hair) or cut the nails or cut the placenta, or bleed or cut any part of the body in junub condition, remembering all the limbs will be returned to one’s body. Thus (if it is done) then the truncated part is returned in a junub state. It is said: every hair is held accountable for its janabah.”

Yet even so, Imam Al Ghazali does not forbid it and it is only be a makhruh that visible from the word that is used which is “not appropriate”.

The opinion of Imam Al Ghazaliini was then denied by the majority of Shafi’iyah scholars. In the other Shafii: Niyatul Muhtaj Syarh al Minhaj,

“The opinion of Imam Al-Ghazali does not need to be re-examined since the part of the body that is returned is that at the death of the owner and the part of the original body that had been cut, not the whole nail and hair ever cut during his life “.

7. The opinion of Atho bin Abi Robah ra

Atho bin Abi ra who is a senior tabi’in (Followers) said,

“A junub (allowed) to do hijamah (a treatment by means of dirty blood) and cut the nails and cut hair, although he has not performed ablution” (Shahih al-Bukhari 1 : 496)

[AdSense-C]

8. The opinion of Ibn Rajab al Hanbali

In “Fath al-Bari Shohih al-Bukhari”, Ibn Rajab al-Hanbali declares that there is no erroneousness about this may (combing hair or cutting nails) between ashabina (Hanbali scholars) except Abu al-Farj al -Syirozi. See also : law of woman propose to marriage in Islam

9. Fatwa of Al-Kubra

In holy book of Fatwa Al-Kubra explained if,

“And I do not know for the makruh of removing hair for people who are junub (unpure) and removing nails in Shari’a proposition, but, indeed the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam has said to people who convert to Islam: (remove) from you hair of kufur and circumcision. So, the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam who converted to Islam to bathe, and did not order to end the circumcision and remove the hair and put the bath first. (Fatwa Al-Kubra: 1 : 275)

Hadith Rasulullah give an affirmation:

“The greatest sins and evils of the Muslims are those who ask about things that are not forbidden, then it becomes forbidden because of that question.” (Narrated by Bukhari)

In some of the information we have explained above, there is no shari’a proposition which gives explanation if removal of hair and also cut nails became a makruh and let alone forbidden, then the law is allowed and should not be called makruh even haram without constituted with strong argument that gives a clear explanation.

So those are the full review we could give about the law of nail cutting during menstruation. Hopefully it can be useful and add some information especially for Muslimah.