ANSWERED: Imam Abu Hanifa, what exceptions are there for females cutting hair?

[**muslimah*4*evr**]

Assalam ualay kum, Warahmatullahi Wa Barakatuh.

I was just curious to know what exact exceptions there are in the Hanafi Madhab for cutting hair? (For females, that is).
I mean, I already know that you've gotta cut it in a special way to get out of Ihram, but I read on askimam.com once that you can cut it if its really long and hard to control, but then I read again somewhere else that according to Imam Abu Hanifa, cutting hair is strictly prohibited. I'm a bit confuzzled. Just wondering if anyones got any backed up stuff on the matter.
I mean like are there ANY exceptions at all? (Besides the Ihram stuff). Like say, for a married woman, her husband don't like long hair or something...then for his pleasure. But then pleasure of Allah comes before anyone else's pleasure, be it your parents or husbands. As you can probably understand, I'm really confuzzled. Oh, and you know we have to have level hair all round, say your hair's really wonky, are you allowed to get it chopped to level it?
Someone enlighten me please!!
Jazakallah!
**muslimah*4*evr** AKA. Aisha

[MustafaKamal]

Walaikum assalam wa rahmatullah,

According to leading Hanafi scholars of Syria, including Shaykh Adib Kallas, there is no harm in a woman cutting her hair, as long as:

a) it remains feminine (and thus does not resemble men);

b) it is not cut with the express intent of imitating non-Muslim fashions; and

c) it is not cut ‘excessively’.

The texts in the Hanafi school indicating impermissibility of women cutting their hair are understood—these scholars say—to be conditioned by the above considerations.

In the Shafii school, it is permitted to even cut the hair very short if the husband prefers it that way.

Please go to www.SunniPath.com, and search for women cutting hair

And Allah alone gives success.

Wassalam,

Faraz Rabbani

http://qa.sunnipath.com/issue_view.a...=4319&CATE=178

[Zain121]

As Salaamu Alaykum,

In general, the major classical Hanafi Fiqh books prohibit the cutting of hair for women. This is also affirmed by many Indian Subcontinent scholars. However, some scholars of the Arab world have permitted it conditionally...

Imam al-Haskafi (Allah have mercy on him) mentions in his famous book in Hanafi Fiqh:

“If a woman cuts her hair, she will be sinful and cursed. In al-Bazzaziyya it is added: “Even with the permission of the husband, as there is no obedience to the creation in disobeying the Creator.” (See: Radd al-Muhtar with the Durr of al-Haskafi, kitab al-hazr wal-ibaha, 5/261)

The main two reasons given by scholars for the impermissibility of women cutting their hair are:

a) Imitation of the Kuffar (non-Muslims),

b) Imitation of men,

Both of which have been clearly prohibited in Shariah.

However, if a woman trims her hair slightly in a way that she did not contravene any of the above two reasons, then this would be (and Allah knows best) permitted. In other words, there are two conditions for this permissibility, and they both should be understood properly, and not misused or taken out of context:

1) There should be no imitation of non-Muslim Women,

The hairstyles adopted by kuffar and non-Muslim women, such as flicks, perms, fringes, etc… will not be allowed. Cutting the hair from the front will also be impermissible.

2) There should be no imitation of men

Cutting the hair in any way that resembles the hair of men is unlawful (haram), as mentioned previously. Therefore, if a woman cuts her hair from the lower end slightly in order to equate the level of the hairs, then this will be permissible.

It should be noted that, if the hair is cut, then it should be well below the shoulders, and this permissibility is only to cut it slightly. If the woman is married, then this should be done with the consent of her husband.

Finally, it should be remembered that it is better for a woman to not cut her hair altogether, unless there is some genuine reason. In the early times, a woman’s beauty was considered in the length of her hair, and not in looking like a man.

In conclusion, generally it is not permissible for a woman to cut her hair. However, if the hair is cut in the manner outlined above, it would be permissible, although better to avoid.

And Allah knows best

Source: Darul Iftaa

One should also remember that in certain situations the cutting/shaving of the hair will be permissble, for example when one has an illness and the treatment requires the hair to be cut, etc.

And Allah Knows Best.

Wasalaam

[**muslimah*4*evr**]

Jazakallah! Both were really helpful!