[Q]: There are a great multitude of people that have begun to grow their hair long, to the extent that it can sometimes be difficult to distinguish men from women, or young boys from girls. [Contrastingly,] women have started cropping their hair short. If such people are told that long hair is considered ḥarām for men, they respond by saying that the Messenger of Allāh (صلى الله عليه وسلم) would not cut his hair, to the extent that it would reach a length sufficient to be plaited. Is this authentic? Is a man growing his hair long and a woman cropping her hair short ḥarām?

Shaykh Muḥammad ibn Ṣāliḥ al-ʿUthaymīn:

[A]: This question comprises two issues. The first relates to the men growing their hair long and the second [relates to] women cropping their hair short.

The Ruling on Men Growing Their Hair Long: The Custom of the Prophet (ﷺ) and the Custom of the Day

As for the first issue, there is nothing wrong with a man growing his hair long because the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) used to have hair that would reach his shoulders at times. In consideration of this, there is fundamentally nothing wrong with this practice. However, all practices should be perceived in accordance with the time period and customs of the people of each era. For a particular party of people are associated with this custom of lengthening hair such that it has become rampant among them, to the extent that people recognise it as an established norm for that group only. It is in light of this that it should be considered most inappropriate for any possessor of true masculinity and integrity to lengthen their hair in this case. For the customs and norms of the people in our era widely associate such lengthening with a lowly, base group of bottomfeeders and charlatans. Therefore, a man lengthening his hair is considered among the generally permissible practices that is subject to the customs and norms of the people in each era. If there comes a time wherein all men were to lengthen their hair — those occupying an honourable status among them as well as those of a lower persuasion — then there would be nothing wrong with it. It is because of its current association with an inferior, lost people that it should be considered most inappropriate for those attributed to honour and repute to lengthen their hair like them.

The view expressed here does not conflict with the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) having long hair. This is because our opinion on this issue is that his (صلى الله عليه وسلم) lengthening of his hair was never meant to represent a form of worship and, as such, may not be considered a Sunnah (to be emulated). Rather, he (صلى الله عليه وسلم) kept long hair in accordance with the well-established norms and customs of that time.^[1]

The Grooming of Men and a Warning Against Vanity and Resembling Women

On the authority of ʿAbdullāh ibn Mughaffal (رضي الله عنه) that the Messenger of Allāh (صلى الله عليه وسلم) forbade men from combing their hair (daily), but rather every other day.

Shaykh Muḥammad Nāṣir al-Dīn al-Albānī explains:

It is most unbefitting for a Muslim man to show great care and attention towards his own beauty, cultivating his own vanity with alacrity. This manifests in him tending to his hairstyle, constantly combing and preening it daily. Rather, it is sufficient for him to simply comb his hair every other day, but not on a daily basis. This is also concordant with the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) forbidding men from engaging in excessive opulence, luxury and pampering, for such habits are most unsuited to true men. Rather, men should lead a life that is difficult, unyielding, harsh and wrought with hardship. This does not completely negate the permissibility of them seeking some ease or comfort at times. For this reason, it is permissible for them to comb their hair every other day such that they avoid being overindulgent in the luxurious, finer things in life. For this all acts as a veritable preparation for their ultimate struggle in Allāh — the Blessed, the High’s — path. As for the man that is constantly concerned with his own beauty and appearance, incessantly standing before the mirror to comb and perfect his hair, he should be considered closer to the womenfolk and not to real men. In this way, the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) clarified a methodology whereby the true essence and nature of men is cultivated in a manner that staunchly avoids any form of resemblance to their female counterparts. For it is only women that stand before their mirrors daily. As for men, they should seek to rise above such habits, refusing to resemble females in their beautification rituals and adornments. This does not negate a Muslim from ensuring he is presentable, seeking to beautify and adorn himself (with that which is permissible and encouraged in the Sunnah), but female beauty must manifest in one way and male beauty in another, different way. For this was the practice of the Messenger of Allāh (صلى الله عليه وسلم) who forbade excessive opulence. He (صلى الله عليه وسلم) would dress himself in whatever clothing was easily attainable at his time, and would specifically seek to beautify himself on the occasions of the two ʿĪds and on Fridays. This was the behaviour of the Messenger of Allāh (صلى الله عليه وسلم) — our true role model.^[2]

Can Women Crop Their Hair Short?

Shaykh Muḥammad ibn Ṣāliḥ al-ʿUthaymīn:

As for women cropping their hair short, this is impermissible if done in a manner that resembles a male hair cut, or that of disbelieving women, well-established fornicators, or anyone else to whom resemblance must be avoided. If such resemblance is absent, then the scholars have three opinions on this issue. Among them are those that postulate that a woman cutting her hair short is completely impermissible except when she performs Ḥajj or ʿUmrah. Others opine that it is disliked which is the most well-known position of Imām Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal. Finally, there are also scholars who view it as permissible with the condition that it does not eventually lead to the aforementioned resemblance.^[3]

Shaykh Ṣāliḥ bin Fawzān al-Fawzān said:

Shaykh Muḥammad ibn Ibrāhīm ʾĀl al-Shaykh — the Muftī of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia — said:

Regarding women’s hair, it is impermissible for them to completely shave it as clarified in the ḥadīth narrated on the authority of ʿIkrimah (رضي الله عنه) who said: “The Messenger of Allāh (صلى الله عليه وسلم) forbade women from shaving their heads”.^[4] Any act expressly labelled as forbidden by the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) is deemed impermissible provided no evidence to the contrary exists.

Al-Mullā ʿAlī al-Qāriʾ explains this ḥadīth saying: “This is forbidden because the locks of hair that hang from a woman’s head are akin to the male beard, both in terms of overall appearance and derivation of beauty.^[5]”^[6]

As for a woman cutting her hair for a reason unrelated to beauty or style — for example because she is unable to maintain longer hair, or because she has a condition that is exacerbated by long hair — then there is nothing wrong with her cutting it, but only as short as is required for this need. This may be evidenced by the actions of some of the Prophet’s (صلى الله عليه وسلم) wives who cut their hair in this manner after his (صلى الله عليه وسلم) death as a manifestation of their abandonment of all forms of beauty, and an expression of their own self-sufficiency in not desiring long hair.

As for women who crop their hair short with the intention of seeking to resemble the style of disbelieving women, those famous for rebellious sinning, or male hair cuts, then this is undoubtedly impermissible as evidenced by the general prohibition of seeking resemblance to the disbelievers, and of a woman seeking to resemble the appearance of a man. Otherwise, if the intent behind this shortening of hair is simply seeking a form of beauty or style, then it is most apparent that such a practice is not allowed.

Our Shaykh — Shaykh Muḥammad al-Amīn al-Shanqītī — said in Aḍwāʾ al-Bayān:

As for the custom that has now become rampant in many countries of women cropping their hair so short that it is almost cut from the very roots of the hair fibres, this is a practice originally incorporated by French women, completely contrary to the appearances adopted by the Muslim women, and even Arab women during the pre-Islamic era. It is among the manifestations of corruption and misguidance that has now become widespread which has had an effect on the manner in which this religion is practiced by the community and the way people choose to present themselves, as well as other impacts.

The Shaykh then provided context for the ḥadīth in which it was reported that, after the death of the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم), his wives used to cut their hair so short that it was like al-wafrah (short hair that is sufficient to cover their ears only)”^[7]:

The wives of the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) only cut their hair this short because they used to beautify themselves for him (صلى الله عليه وسلم) when he was alive, and among the most beautiful features they would cultivate was their hair. After his (صلى الله عليه وسلم) demise, their state adopts a ruling that applies to them only as no other women on earth share their plight. This is that they have completely severed any hope of remarrying after his (صلى الله عليه وسلم) death, in a state of complete despair of ever entering into a union with another man, a despair that is completely devoid of any vestige of hope. Thus, by means of his (صلى الله عليه وسلم) death have they entered a state akin to a woman in a perpetual period of ʿiddah (designated period of waiting during which a woman may not remarry after being either widowed or divorced), considered to be in a continuous state of sequestration from any man. The Most High said:

وَمَا كَانَ لَكُمْ أَن تُؤْذُوا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ وَلَا أَن تَنكِحُوا أَزْوَاجَهُ مِن بَعْدِهِ أَبَدًا ۚ إِنَّ ذَٰلِكُمْ كَانَ عِندَ اللَّهِ عَظِيمًا

“And it is not (right) for you that you should annoy Allāh’s Messenger, nor that you should ever marry his wives after him (his death). Verily! With Allah that shall be an enormity.”
[Al-Aḥzāb, 33:53]

The complete surrender of this hope of remarrying any man may be considered a valid justification for the abandonment of certain practices usually incorporated by women for the purposes of beautification. The abandonment of such practices would not — under normal circumstances — be considered permissible for other women who do not share this plight.”^[8]

It is therefore incumbent upon all women to maintain and preserve their hair long, and to braid it (as was the practice of the Prophet’s (صلى الله عليه وسلم) wives).^[9]