Question:
Assalamualaikum. I once heard from the television that it is haram for a woman to cut her hair short like a man even if she covers her awrah completely. Can I get and explanation from ustaz?
Answer:
Waalaikumussalam wbt,
Alhamdulillah, praise and thanks to Allah for the countless blessings He has blessed us all with. Blessings and salutations to the Prophet Muhammad PBUH, his wives, his family, companions and all those that follow his teachings to the day of judgement.
From Abu Hurairah RA, the Prophet PBUH said:
مَنْ كَانَ لَهُ شَعْرٌ فَلْيُكْرِمْهُ
“He who has hair should honour it.”
Sunan Abu Daud (4163)
Thus, for woman she should take care of her hair and it is haram for her to cut it short just like a man’s hair or if she is resembling others with bad character. Whereas, it is makruh (undesirable) if it is done not for a necessity. If there is a need for it, such as severe headaches and others, then the ruling changes to permissible. However, the intention should not be to resemble a man for it to be permissible. From Abu Salamah bin Abdurrahman RA, he said:
وَكَانَ أَزْوَاجُ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَأْخُذْنَ مِنْ رؤوسهن حَتَّى تَكُونَ كَالْوَفْرَةِ
“The wives of the Apostle (ﷺ) collected hair on their heads and these lopped up to ears (and did rot go beyond that).”
Sahih Muslim (320)
Imam al-Nawawi said: “This hadith shows the permissibility of cutting a woman’s hair. Wallahua’lam.” Refer Syarah Sahih Muslim (4/4)
Syeikh Muhammad Amin al-Syanqiti said: “Among the Western culture (non-Islamic) is for women to cut their hair extremely short.”
From Ibn Umar R.Anhuma, the Prophet PBUH said:
مَنْ تَشَبَّهَ بِقَوْمٍ فَهُوَ مِنْهُمْ
“He who copies any people is one of them.”
Sunan Abu Daud (4031)
From Ibn Abbas R.Anhuma:
لَعَنَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ المُتَشَبِّهِينَ مِنَ الرِّجَالِ بِالنِّسَاءِ، وَالمُتَشَبِّهَاتِ مِنَ النِّسَاءِ بِالرِّجَالِ
“Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) cursed those men who are in the similitude (assume the manners) of women and those women who are in the similitude (assume the manners) of men.”
Sahih al-Bukhari (5885)
From Abu Hurairah RA, the Prophet PBUH said:
أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ لَعَنَ الرَّجُلَ يَلْبَسُ لُبْسَةَ الْمَرْأَةِ، وَالْمَرْأَةَ تَلْبَسُ لُبْسَةَ الرَّجُلِ
“The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) cursed a man who puts on the dress of women, and a woman who puts on the dress of men.”
Musnad Ahmad (8309)
May Allah SWT give us the strength to have taqwa to Him.
Wallahua’lam.