The Manners of Cutting Nails in Islam

Nails are the part of the body that are soft and easy to grow back. Therefore, when it has reached a certain length, we are suggested to cut the fingernails and toenails. Let the nails long purposely in Islam is the same as letting it become the place of dirt because nails are the outer part of the body that directly interacts with the outside environment. So that it is easy to get various kinds of dirt.

In Islam, we cannot cut nails carelessly. There are certain manners that we should notice before. For example, the forbidden time to cut nails for those who want to sacrifice when Eid al-Adha. So, understand the law of cutting nails before sacrifice.

Then, what are the manners of cutting nails in Islam?

Check out below!

The Virtue of Cutting Nails in Islam

This suggestion or law of cutting nails in Islam is reviewed in some verses.

From Abu Hurairah radhiyallahu ‘anhu, the Prophet shallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam said,

الْفِطْرَةُ خَمْسٌ الْخِتَانُ وَالِاسْتِحْدَادُ وَقَصُّ الشَّارِبِ وَتَقْلِيمُ الْأَظْفَارِ وَنَتْفُ الْآبَاطِ

“There are five kinds of fitrah, they are: circumcision, shaving pubic hair, trimming the mustache, cutting nails, and plucking armpit hair.” (Hadith Bukhari no. 5891 and Muslim no. 258)

Imam Nawawi rahimahullah said,

وأما التوقيت في تقليم الاظفار فهو معتبر بطولها: فمتى طالت قلمها ويختلف ذلك باختلاف الاشخاص والاحوال: وكذا الضابط في قص الشارب ونتف الابط وحلق العانة:

“There is also the time limit of cutting nails, then it is seen from the length of the nails. When it is long, then cut it. This is different from the one and another, it is also seen from the condition. This also becomes a standard of thinning the mustache, plucking armpit hair and pubic hair.” (Al Majmu’, 1: 158)

How to Cut Nails

Before starting to cut nails, prepare the tool first which is a nail clipper or scissors. It is better to use a specially designed nail clipper so that it is safer and easier.

The sunnah is to follow the way that is in the Book of Almajmu, which is:

ويستحب ان يبدأ باليد اليمني ثم اليسرى ثم الرجل اليمني ثم اليسرى

“It is suggested to start from the right hand then the left hand, from the right foot then the left foot.”

According to Imam Nawawi, the sunnah in cutting nails is started from the right hand which is the index finger, middle finger, ring finger, little finger and thumb. Then, it is continued to the left finger, starting from the little finger, ring finger, middle finger, index finger and thumb.

Next is toenails, the sunnah is started from the right little toe to big toe. Then, the left toenails which is started from big toe to little toe.

It is stated in the Book of Fathul Bari, Imam Ibn Hajar said:

وَلَمْ يَثْبُتْ فِي تَرْتِيبِ الْأَصَابِعِ عِنْدَ الْقَصِّ شَيْءٌ مِنَ الْأَحَادِيثِ لَكِنْ جَزَمَ النَّوَوِيُّ فِي شَرْحِ مُسْلِمٍ بِأَنَّهُ يُسْتَحَبُّ الْبَدْاَءةُ بِمُسَبِّحَةِ الْيُمْنَي ثُمَّ بِالْوُسْطَى ثُمَّ الْبِنْصِرِ ثُمَّ الْخِنْصِرِ ثُمَّ الْإِبْهَامِ وَفِي الْيُسْرَى بِالْبَدْاَءةِ بِخِنْصِرِهَا ثُمَّ بِالْبِنْصِرِ إِلَى  الْإِبْهَامِ وَيُبْدَأُ فِي الرِّجْلَيْنِ بِخِنْصِرِ الْيُمْنَى إِلَى الْإِبْهَامِ وَفِي الْيُسْرَى بِإِبْهَامِهَا إِلَى الْخِنْصِرِ

“None of the hadiths that explain about the order of cutting nails. However, Imam Nawawi emphasized in the book of Syarh Muslim, that it is suggested to start from the right index finger, middle finger, ring finger, little finger, and thumb. For the left fingernails, it is started from the little finger, ring finger to thumb. For toenails, it is started from the right little toe to big toe, and the left toenails are started from big toe to little toe.”

The Time of Cutting Nails

The law of maintaining long nails in Islam is not more than 40 days. As it is in the verse below.

From Anas bin Malik radhiyallahu ‘anhu,

وُقِّتَ لَنَا فِى قَصِّ الشَّارِبِ وَتَقْلِيمِ الأَظْفَارِ وَنَتْفِ الإِبْطِ وَحَلْقِ الْعَانَةِ أَنْ لاَ نَتْرُكَ أَكْثَرَ مِنْ أَرْبَعِينَ لَيْلَةً

“We are given a limitation in shortening the mustache, cutting nails, plucking armpit hair, shaving pubic hair, which it is not left for more than 40 nights.” (Hadith Muslim no. 258). What is meant by this hadith is not to let the nails and hairs that are mentioned in the hadith be long for more than 40 days (See Syarh Shahih Muslim, 3: 133)

• Cutting nails before doing the Friday prayer

“According to Imam asy-Syafi’e and the asy-Syafi’eyah theologians, the sunnah of cutting nails is before doing the Friday prayer, as it is suggested to take a bath, brush teeth, wear a fragrance, dress neatly before going to the mosque to do the Friday prayer.” (Hadith Muslim)

Those were the manners of cutting nails in Islam. Hopefully we can practice it in accordance with the provision in Islam. So that the faith in ourselves increases because of keeping the virtues of cleanliness in Islam. Aamiin Insha Allah.