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Fatwa CenterRuling on using hair extensions
Question
Assalamu Alaikum, I wanted to ask you if you might clarify something for me. I am very confused over the hair extensions ruling. 1. I know hair extensions in general are haram meaning REAL hair from another human being. I read one of your other rulings regarding where you state: "Apparently, what is prohibited is extending the hair with human hair for it implies a form of deception and also implies using hair that scholars hold different opinions regarding its impurity. Other than that is not prohibited for it lacks those reasons of prohibition and it achieves some benefits like the woman beautifying herself for her husband without causing any harm." You then go on to state the Hadith: The Prophet , forbade women to attach anything to their head [Muslim] So which is it? It is either allowed or not? Also synthetic hair that is sold is made of very thin strands of plastic made to resemble hair, is this allowed if it is plaited into the hair in a different colour? The hadiths cannot refer to synthetic hair since they did not have synthetic hair then. If it is a matter of great confusion I will keep away from it, however I think we need to know whether synthetic hair is allowed or not? Since it is only seen by husband, family, it can NEVER be mistaken for real hair. So is it about deception, in which case it would not be, or is it just a general prohibition against all extensions? I just want to be 100% sure on this subject. Thank you for your time.
Answer
All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His slave and messenger.
Fatwa 217561, which you have partially quoted in your question, highlights in detail the opinions of the scholars on when it is permissible or impermissible to use hair extensions. Please refer to the Fatwa.
The part of the Fatwa which reads, “Apparently, what is prohibited is extending the hair with human hair for it implies a form of deception …” is in fact referring to the opinion of the scholars who hold that hair extensions (with something other than human hair) are permissible. We have highlighted in the Fatwa the different opinions of scholars regarding hair extensions made of something other than human hair and underlined that it is prohibited for a woman to extend her hair in any way, even if it is with something other than human hair and that this opinion is more prudent. Moreover, it is the opinion held by the majority of scholars.
Evidence that the prohibition of hair extensions is general (i.e. that extending hair with anything is forbidden) and that the wisdom behind the prohibition is not deception is the following report. An Ansaari woman gave her daughter in marriage and the hair of the latter started falling out. The Ansaari woman came to the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, and mentioned that to him and said, “Her (my daughter's) husband suggested that I should let her wear hair extension.” The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said, “No, (do not do that) for Allaah has cursed such women who lengthen their hair.” [Al-Bukhari] The same Hadeeth was reported by Imaam Muslim with a slightly different wording.
Allaah Knows best.
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