What is the ruling for cutting one’s hair or nails from the beginning of Dhul-Hijjah until Eid ul-Adha?
Question
As salaamu ’alaykum,
What is the ruling for cutting one’s hair or nails from the beginning of Dhul-Hijjah until Eid ul-Adha?
Answer
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
الجواب حامدا ومصليا ومسلما
Whoever is intending to sacrifice an animal for ‘Eid (i.e Qurbani/Udhiya), it is desirable for them to avoid removing any hair from their body or clipping their nails from the time the moon is sighted for Dhul-Hijjah until the animal is sacrificed. Consider the following hadith:
Um Salama (may Allah be pleased with her) reports that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and give him peace) said, “When you see the moon of Dhul-Hijjah and you intend to sacrifice (for udhiyya), then you should refrain from (cutting) hair or (clipping) nails.”
(Muslim)
However, if someone has not removed their excess hair (i.e below the navel or underarms) for 40 days or more, they should not delay in removing that hair even if the month of Dhul-Hijjah has commenced, as keeping excess hair for longer than 40 days is prohibited.
والله اعلم
And Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala knows best.
AbdurRahman Islam
Approved by Mufti Husain Ahmad Madani