A very venerable shaykh told us that it was makruh tahrimi for a woman to cut her hair unless absolutely necessary. What if one’s husband wants her to cut it? Is that considered to be one of those “absolutely necessary” cases?

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