Darul Uloom Trinidad & Tobago

Question: Is it true girls are not allowed to tie their hair on the top of their head (crown/mole of their head). If its true why is it not allowed?
Jazaakhaallah.

Answer:

Assalamu Alikum,

With respect to a woman tying her hair at the top of the head (crown/mole/bun style on the head), there are differences of opinion among the scholars. Some have stated that this is not allowed since it is an imitation of women about whom the Prophet (s.a.w) has condemned. About this, Abu Hurairah (R.A) relates that the Prophet (s.a.w) said: ‘There are two categories among the inhabitants in Hell whom I have not seen (encountered). The first are people who carry whips like the tails of cows and beat the people with them. The second are women, clothed, yet naked, drawn to licentiousness and enticing others to it, their heads are like the humps of camels. They will neither enter paradise nor smell its fragrance, though its fragrance can be found to a great distance’. (Muslim Hadith No. 2127).

Based on this narration, some scholars have stated that it is prohibited for women to tie their hair on the top of the head which will make it look like the hump of a Camel.

Many scholars however, have not adopted this position. Instead, they have stated that it is allowed for women to tie their hair on top of the head in the style of a bun/crown, when it is not done for the reason of following the fashion/style of Unbelieving and immoral women.

Having the hair in this manner is seen to be very convenient for women who are normally engaged in many chores at home. Many women fix their hair in this style without having any motive in following a particular fashion or style, and without having an intention of resembling non-Muslim women. Instead, they have become accustomed to tying their hair in this manner from a young age seeing that this creates ease for them and it avoids their hair from hanging all the time (which sometimes become difficult upon women while engaged in chores and other works in the home). With respect to the hadith, the Prophet (s.a.w) described  women  who will come on the face of the earth whom he has not seen as yet. They will be wicked and immoral and will be a cause of great mischief.  While describing them, he said that they will be such indecent women who will be clothed, yet naked. They will be drawn towards men and will also entice men. They will be wanton and immoral, and will have their heads in such a fashion that these will look like the humps of camels. Such women will be thrown in the Fire of Hell.

When one looks at devout  Muslim women, one will see that they do not behave in this manner. They do not dress in the manner described in the hadith, nor do they make a wanton display of themselves. They are filled with haya (modesty and shame) and so, they refrain from the open mixing of the sexes and every type of immoral or immodest conduct. They cover themselves according to the Laws of the Shariah, and ensure that their heads are covered when in front of non-blood relatives.

Therefore, that which has been mentioned in the hadith does not extend to Muslim women who wish to keep their hair in a ‘bun’ style for ease and convenience.

As mentioned before, whatever is done by a woman from the manner of her dress and fashion, it should be for the right objective. It must not be done in order to follow non-Islamic fashions/style, and must not be for the sake of imitating immoral and disbelieving women.

And Allah Knows Best.

Mufti Waseem Khan.

27/8/2014.