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Fatwa CenterWoman not obliged to cover hair detached from her head
Question
Assalaamu alaykum wa rahmatullaahi wa barakaatuhu, Shaykhs. If a woman's hair has fallen from her head or has been cut off, will she be sinful if a non-Mahram (permanently unmarriageable kin) looks at that hair of her? For example, that which is cut off at the completion of ‘Umrah or what falls off the head and sticks to the abaya, gloves, etc., should she remove it or hide it to the best of her ability, or is there no harm in leaving it as is? May Allaah reward you, Shaykhs.
Answer
All perfect praise be to Allah, the Lord of the worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His slave and Messenger.
The Muslim woman is obliged to cover her hair as long as it is attached to her head; Allah, the Exalted, says (what means): {O Prophet, tell your wives and your daughters and the women of the believers to bring down over themselves (part) of their outer garments. That is more suitable that they will be known and not be abused. And ever is Allah Forgiving and Merciful.} [Quran 33:59] If her hair is detached from her head, she is not obliged to cover it. Accordingly, she bears no sin if a non-Mahram (marriageable) man happened to look at it. However, scholars held that it is recommended to cover the hair or other parts that are detached from the body, such as nail clippings, because these are parts of the body of the human being whom Allah has honored; Allah, the Exalted, says (what means): {And We have certainly honored the children of Adam and carried them on the land and sea and provided for them of the good things and preferred them over much of what We have created, with (definite) preference.} [Quran 17:70]
Al-Haafith Ibn Hajar 
wrote, “Our scholars held that it is recommended to bury them because they are parts of the human being.” [Fat-h Al-Baari]
It should be noted that scholars held different views regarding the ruling on a non-Mahram man looking at the parts detached from a woman's body, including her fallen hair. some held that it is permissible, others held that it is impermissible, and others differentiate between what is detached during her lifetime and what is detached after her death.
Allah knows best.
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