Cutting a woman's hair according to Sharia

8-4-2002 | IslamWeb

Question:

I have heard that it is not permissible for a woman to cut her hair, also that her hair shouldn't be cut in a way which show her ears. I want to know how a woman can cut her hair according to Sharia.

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Answer:

Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the World; and may His blessings and peace be upon our Prophet Muhammad and upon all his Family and Companions.

There is no harm in cutting women's hair as long as there is no resemblance to men or non-Muslim women. The evidence is that the wives of the Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam) used to have their hair cut until it became as 'Wafra' (i.e. hanging over shoulders). It is narrated in Sahih Muslim from Abu Salama Bin Abdur Rahman Bin Awf that they used to do so to reduce the burden that is caused by hair.
Imam Nawawi (May Allah have His Mercy upon him) said: 'This is an evidence of permissibility for cutting women's hair'.
However, intending to imitate men or non-Muslim women by this practice is strongly forbidden. Imam Bukhari narrated from Ibn Abbas that the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam) "Has cursed men who make themselves like women and has cursed women who make themselves like men" .
There are many more Hadith that prohibit imitating Kuffar and proofs opposing it.
On the other hand, some scholars do not permit women to have their hair cut except if there is a necessity such as to treat head wounds that are not possible without cutting hair; in this case the hair should be cut only to the extent necessary.
Allah knows best.