Darul Uloom Trinidad & Tobago

Assalaamu Alaikum

Mufti Wasim,

I need your help with an issue concerning my profession. I am a Beautician that is hairdresser / Aesthetician.

I have been in this field for the pass 36 yrs and have my own business.

As knowledge came to me I tried my best to make necessary changes, all women salon , no eyebrows shaping .

However I have been hearing different types of opinions on cutting of hair and Hair services . Since I mostly  follow the opinion of the Darul ul Loom and such your opinion.

What is the ruling of cutting Muslim and non Muslims hair  (women) and what sin will fall on me as the Technician.

Also the views on coloring hair.

Most of my clients are veiled women who are comfortable with my services.

I do facials that are none evasive just maintenance on the skin with only products free from animal derivatives.

Waxing of legs , arms and abnormal facial hair.

I am very concerned  and would like an early reply.

Jazzak Allah Khairan

May Allah always guide you to continue to administer your fatwahs to best of your ability that will be pleasing to Him and for us to accept and take action on them.

Wasalaam

Answer:

Assalamu Alaikum,

With respect to ‘cutting of the hair’ for women, many scholars have stated that it is not permissible for a woman to cut her hair except when it is done for a medical/health, or any other valid reason. Some scholars have stated that it is permissible for a woman to cut her hair as long as it is not done in a way to imitate the hairstyle of men and it is not done to follow the fashions and styles of non Muslim women.

As mentioned by many scholars, the reason for the prohibition stated above by the scholars is that women may cut their hair either to imitate men or to follow the styles and fashions of the non Muslim women, and both of these are totally prohibited in Islam,.

Based on the explanations given by many former, latter and contemporary scholars, it will be allowed for you to cut /trim the hair of Muslim and non Muslim women when they require their hair to be cut/trim on account of a medical/health reason or any other sound and valid reason. It is seen that women sometimes encounter problems and difficulties in keeping long hair. In some cases, women experience shedding, thinning of the hair, splitting at the ends, and other similar problems which require slight cutting/trimming. In this case, once there is a valid reason, then it will be allowed for you to cut/trim the hair with two guidelines. These are:

1. You must not cut/trim in a manner that causes the hairstyle (of these women who come to you) to be an imitation of men. It is recorded in an authentic tradition that the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) ‘cursed the men who took resemblance to women and the women who took resemblance to men’ (Sahih Al Bukhari). While explaining this tradition, the great scholar of hadith and fiqh, Allama Badruddeen Al Aini has stated, ‘This resemblance occurs in clothing and dress, means of beautification and adornment etc., which are specific to one’s gender. Similarly the resemblance occurs in actions, speech, manner of walk etc.’ (Umdah Al Qari-Commentary of Sahih Al Bukhari vol. 22 pg. 41 Maktaba Rasheediya Queta Pakistan).
   It is therefore, totally prohibited for women to adopt such conduct, dress, speech, beautification etc. that brings about a resemblance to men, and it is totally prohibited for men to do such, to bring about a resemblance to women. Therefore, in the case of hairstyles and haircuts, a woman is totally prohibited from cutting/trimming her hair (when she has a valid reason to do so) in a manner that causes her hairstyle to resemble that of a man. This includes having short haircuts like that of men, and also the styles and fashions that are normally adopted by men.
   When a valid reason comes about for cutting/trimming, a woman must only cut the minimum amount of her hair which will solve the problem which she is encountering. Anything more than this will not be permissible.
   Therefore, as a hairdresser you should follow this guideline while cutting the hair of women.
2. The second guideline is that you must not cut the hair in a manner that causes it to be in the style and fashion of the non Muslim women. Imitating the unbelievers is strictly forbidden in Islam, and Muslims are not allowed to adopt their customs, practices, attire/dress, styles and fashions.
   There is no doubt that the fashions/styles of the non Muslim women have become very attractive to some Muslim women, especially those of the celebrities and others. Daily, new styles come about which are all based upon the desire to look attractive and appealing to men, to make a wanton display of oneself and to create designs of hairstyles based on evil and wicked intentions.
   Women who invent these styles and propagate them, are those who follow nothing but their own desires and fancies. They are not women who adhere to the rules of decency/morality, modesty (Haya), chastity and religious conduct. Exposing their bodies and beauty to the sight of men are satisfying to these women who invite other women to follow them in their styles and fashions. Islam has condemned all such actions and has made it Haram upon both Muslim men and women to imitate, resemble and adopt the traits, habits, styles and fashions of the non Muslims. While warning us about this, the Messenger of Allah (S.A.W) said, ‘Whoever adopts a resemblance to a people, he/she is from amongst them’. (Abu Dawood).
   Hence, in the matter of keeping one’s hair in a certain style and cutting/trimming it in a certain fashion, Muslim women are totally forbidden from following the way of non Muslim women. This means that as a hairdresser, it will not be permissible for you to cut/trim women’s hair in such styles and fashions.

With respect to coloring of the hair, it is permissible for women to color their hair in colors other than black on the condition that it is not done to imitate and follow the styles of the unbelieving women.
With respect to coloring in black, the Prophet (s.a.w) forbade this and even warned against it. In this regard, he is reported to have said, ‘There will be people at the end of time who will dye their hair black like the crops of pigeons; they will not even smell the fragrance of paradise’. (Abu Dawood; Nasaa’i).

It is also narrated in another tradition that the Prophet (s.a.w) said, ‘Whoever colors the hair with black, Allah will blacken his face on the day of judgement’ (Abu Dawood; Tuhfatul Ahwazi).(The prohibition of coloring the hair in black is for both males and females).

Since it is allowed for women to color their hair in colors other than black, it is permissible for you to color their hair in that which is permissible.

Facials will be permissible once it is the normal maintenance of the skin. Removal of facial hair will only be permissible when such hair grows on a woman’s face that are not normal for women and may resemble hairs that grow on the face of males.

It is also permissible for women to remove hair from their arms and legs when these resemble that which are grown on the body of men, and/or when it is meant for a woman to enhance her beauty for her husband. The hair can be removed through waxing.

This means that as an aesthetician, you can do the above.

And Allah Knows Best.

Mufti Waseem Khan.

20/10/2014