Okay, I wasn't sure what would be an appripriate title for this thread so I apologise for its vagueness.
Anyway, I cane across this hadith and wanted to ask something:
It was narrated in Saheeh Muslim that Abu Salamah ibn ‘Abd al-Rahmaan said: “The wives of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) used to cut their hair until it came just below their ears.” (al-Hayd, 320)
The think which confuses me is, if the wives of the prophets used to cover their hair then wouldn't we have no clue what their hair looks like? I was told that when wearing the hijab you cannot describe your hair to other people. So how did others know what the hair of the prophet's wives look like?
Okay, so I didn't know there was a hadith about the Prophet's Muhammad SAW wives' hair...but I used to go to a Muslim girl's weekly halaqah and it was there I learned: after the Prophet Muhammad SAW passed away his wives cut and kept their hair short to just below their ears. It was done because they could not marry after his death so they got rid of their beauty. Another point that was noted (from the halaqah), this is the shortest acceptable length a muslimah may cut her hair. If I remember correctly, it was narrated by Aisha, may Allah be pleased with her, years after Muhammad's SAW passing.
I know it doesn't answer your question. Plus, I haven't cited any evidence for my post. I hope, in sha Allah, a member on our board will clarify it for us.
The think which confuses me is, if the wives of the prophets used to cover their hair then wouldn't we have no clue what their hair looks like?
It was narrated from ‘Aa’ishah that the wives of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) used to go out at night to al-Manaasi’ (well known places in the direction of al-Baqee’) to relieve themselves and ‘Umar used to say to the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), “Let your wives be veiled.” But the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) did not do that. Then one night Sawdah bint Zam’ah, the wife of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), went out at ‘Isha’ time and she was a tall woman. ‘Umar called out to her: “We have recognized you, O Sawdah!” hoping that hijab would be revealed, then Allaah revealed the verse of hijab.
Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 146; Muslim, 2170.
I was told that when wearing the hijab you cannot describe your hair to other people. So how did others know what the hair of the prophet's wives look like?
I don't know how it came to light but if someone asked them concerning it then they may have told them as they were scholars themselves who relayed ahadith to others. Plus they are also known as mothers of the believers. Position of a mother is different then a non-mahram girl.
I used to go to a Muslim girl's weekly halaqah and it was there I learned: after the Prophet Muhammad SAW passed away his wives cut and kept their hair short to just below their ears. It was done because they could not marry after his death so they got rid of their beauty.
But why get rid of their beauty? No one could see it anyway because they would remain covered after the prophet's death. Couldn't they keep their beauty at least for themselves?
But why get rid of their beauty? No one could see it anyway because they would remain covered after the prophet's death. Couldn't they keep their beauty at least for themselves?
That was a good point and majority of women might think alike but I think (just my own opinion) that Prophet´s wives were more religious and interest to looking for more than just the earthly beauty. What if they got all their pleasure from the religion, praying and thinking of the Jannah.
Last edited by sister herb; 04-14-2017 at 01:26 PM.
From Occupied Palestine:
We have suffered too much for too long. We will not accept apartheid masked as peace. We will settle for no less than our freedom.
Anyway, I cane across this hadith and wanted to ask something:
It was narrated in Saheeh Muslim that Abu Salamah ibn ‘Abd al-Rahmaan said: “The wives of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) used to cut their hair until it came just below their ears.” (al-Hayd, 320)
The think which confuses me is, if the wives of the prophets used to cover their hair then wouldn't we have no clue what their hair looks like? I was told that when wearing the hijab you cannot describe your hair to other people. So how did others know what the hair of the prophet's wives look like?
Assalamu alaikum sister,
This hadith (the tail end of which is quoted above) is occasionally quoted by some as one proving permissibility of women cutting their hair.
و حدثني عبيد الله بن معاذ العنبري قال حدثنا أبي قال حدثنا شعبة عن أبي بكر بن حفص عن أبي سلمة بن عبد الرحمن قال
دخلت على عائشة أنا وأخوها من الرضاعة فسألها عن غسل النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم من الجنابة فدعت بإناء قدر الصاع فاغتسلت وبيننا وبينها ستر وأفرغت على رأسها ثلاثا قال وكان أزواج النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم يأخذن من رءوسهن حتى تكون كالوفرة
Abu Salama ibn. 'Abd al-Rahman reported:
I along with the foster brother of 'A'isha went to her and he asked about the bath of the Apostle (may peace be upon him) because of janaabah (major impurity). She called for a vessel equal to a Sa' and she performed ghusl, and there was a curtain between us and her. She poured water on her head thrice and he (Abu Salama) said: The wives of the Apostle (may peace be upon him) used to "akhth" from their heads until it reached till just to ears/above the shoulders.' (Muslim, Book of Menstruation, Number 320)
The words in highlighted in red are "ya'khuthna min", meaning 'to take from'. This is translated in some places, as 'cutting' or 'lopping'. The root word word 'akhth', means, to take, or to take hold of, and with 'min', means to take from, or take hold from. The hadeeth is about the method of ghusl, and it would seem odd for the hairstyle of the Prophet's wives (may Allah be pleased with them) to be mentioned at the end of it. Contextually, it seems to refer to what the wives of the Prophet did with their hair during ghusl, i.e. instead of allowing their hair to hang down whilst performing Ghusl, they may have taken hold of some of their hair and put it up in order to reach just above their shoulders. This way washing the back would become easy whilst performing Ghusl, as whilst the hair is hanging down, it is difficult for water to reach all parts of the back thoroughly. This is the meaning of 'akhth' in the Hadith taken by some scholars.
The last word of the hadeeth is wafrah. Wafrah has different meanings: It may be hair collected upon the head or hair hanging down upon the ears or hair extending to the lobes of the ears only. (Lanes Arabic - English Lexicon). In other words, some scholars have understood this to mean that the wives of the prophet used to take their hair and put it up to that level, to keep the back clear.
There doesn't appear to be a need for the narrator to tell someone enquiring about ghusl, about Aisha's (radiyallu anha) hairstyle. What was said appears to be relevant to the act of ghusl, so that ladies would know what they could do with their hair to make it easier to do ghusl.
Those who believe that "to take from" equals "to cut", believe that the wives of the Prophet or Aisha (radiyallau anha) in particular, had cut hair, or used to cut their hair in a style called wafrah i.e. near the shoulders/ears. Bearing in mind that the Prophet forbade men from imitating women, and women from imitating men, it does not appear befitting to say that the wives of the Prophet , may Allah be pleased with them, had hair cut to their ears.
And Allah knows best in all matters, and may he forgive me if I said anything wrong.
Those who believe that "to take from" equals "to cut", believe that the wives of the Prophet or Aisha (radiyallau anha) in particular, had cut hair, or used to cut their hair in a style called wafrah i.e. near the shoulders/ears. Bearing in mind that the Prophet forbade men from imitating women, and women from imitating men, it does not appear befitting to say that the wives of the Prophet , may Allah be pleased with them, had hair cut to their ears.
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It is permissible for a woman to cut and dye her hair, so long as that cut does not resemble men or kaafir women or immoral women, and the hair is not dyed black.
The fact that it is permissible for a woman to cut her hair short is indicated by the report narrated by Muslim (320) from Abu Salamah ibn ‘Abd al-Rahmaan who said: The wives of the Prophet (S) used to cut their hair so that it came down just past their ears.
al-Nawawi (may Allaah have mercy on him) said:
al-Qaadi ‘Iyaad (may Allaah have mercy on him) said: Perhaps the wives of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) did that after the death of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), because they stopped adorning themselves and they had no need to grow their hair long, so they reduced the amount of effort required to take care of their hair. What al-Qaadi ‘Iyaad said about them doing that after his death and not during his lifetime was also said by others and it is sound. No one should think that they did that during his lifetime. This indicates that it is permissible for women to cut their hair, and Allaah knows best. End quote.
It's not our place to judge and assume they didn't do it and doing it so has some negative connotation. Whether it was done for ghusl or easier hair management or other reasons, how about we just leave it at that it was done and is allowed.
Sheikh Ibn Uthaymeen considered women cutting their hair as a disapproved act, and quoted the most well-known view of the madhab of Imam Ahmad Ibn Hanbal: - that it is Makrooh in general, and haraam if done in emulation:
"A woman cutting her hair, does so either on account of emulating males. In this case it is Haraam and of the great sins because Rasoolullah said: Women who emulate men have been cursed'. Or the hair-cutting may not reach (the limits) of tashabbuh with men. In this case, the Ulama have differed and there are three views: Among them are those who say that it is permissible. And, among them are those who say that it is haraam, and among them are those who say that it is Makrooh. The well-known (Mash-hoor) view of the Math-hab of Imaam Hambal is that it is Makrooh. The reality is what we have answered earlier (referring to another question). Just a short time ago, we saw women (i.e. Muslim women) taking pride in an abundance of hair on their heads and in long hair. What has happened with their condition (nowadays)? They go towards this act (of hair-cutting) which has come to us from alien lands. I am not denouncing every new development, but I denounce every thing which leads to the changing of the community to the acceptance of the practices of non-Muslims."
(Fataawal Mar'ah, page 232)
In another Fatwa Shaikh Ibn Uthaymeen says:
"Hair-cutting for women according to the Hanaabilah is Makrooh. However, if the cutting is in emulation of males, then it is Haraam because Rasulullah said : Allah has cursed women who imitate men. Similary (will it be haraam) if she cuts her hair in emulation of kaafiraat (non-Muslim women). This too is Haraam because it is not permissible to emulate kaafir women and immoral women because Rasulullah said: Whoever emulated a people, becomes of them. If there is no tashabbuh with this (hair-cutting) or with that (hair-cutting), then according to the Hanaabilah Ulama, it is Makrooh."
(Fataawal Mar'ah, pages 235, 236)
Shaikh Saalih Bin Fawzaan states in the book Tanbeehaat Alaa Ahkaam Takhtassu bil-Mu'minaat, that Muslim ladies are required to lengthen the hair on their heads.
Stunningly beautiful adhaan from the Dome of the Rock in Masjid ul Aqsa Download (right click and choose "save target/link as").
This is a clear message for mankind in order that they may be warned thereby, and that they may know that He is only One God, and that those of understanding may take heed (14:52)
Indeed Allah knows, and you know not (16: 74, part)
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did with their hair during ghusl, i.e. instead of allowing their hair to hang down whilst performing Ghusl, they may have taken hold of some of their hair and put it up in order to reach just above their shoulders. This way washing the back would become easy whilst performing Ghusl, as whilst the hair is hanging down, it is difficult for water to reach all parts of the back thoroughly. This is the meaning of 'akhth' in the Hadith taken by some scholars.
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