Hair Extensions
- Apr 10
- 4 min read
Such matters have become normalised and this article will cover why hair extensions are forbidden. We are going to share evidences from authentication sources in depth in this article, with views from schools of thoughts, Ulama and the Salaf as well as Hadiths that has been researched and gathered to prove this statement.
Hair:
This section covers
Wigs
Extension with rags such as silk and the like
According to the four school of thoughts that believe it's haram with human hair:
Hanafi - Haram
Shafi'- Haram
Maaliki - Haram
Hanbali - Haram
On the authority of Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him), on the authority of the Prophet ﷺ who said, “May Allah curse the one who does hair extension for others and the one who asks for it, the woman who pulls out hair for other people and the woman who depilates herself, the woman who does tattoo and the one who has it done.” - Bukhari 5933
Asmaa bint Abee Bakr (may Allah be pleased with her) narrates stating that a woman came to the Prophet ﷺ and said, “I have a daughter who is newly wedded. She had an attack of smallpox and thus her hair had fallen;
Tamarraqa (fell out), it plucked out and fell off.
should I add false hair to her head? Thereupon Allah's Messenger ﷺ said, “Allah has cursed the woman who adds some false hair and the woman who asks for it.”
It was narrated by Al-Bukhaaree (5941), and Muslim (2122) and the wording is his
Both hadith contains the curse of the one who does that, and the evidence of cursing upon the prohibition is one of the strongest proofs.
This is because the perpetrator of the permissible thing is not allowed to be cursed. (Fath Al-Baaree) by Ibn Hajar (10/377).
Abu az-Zubayr narrates that he heard Jaabir bin Abdullah reporting that Allah's Apostle ﷺ reprimanded that a woman should add anything to her head (hair extension). - Narrated by Muslim (2126).
Those who believe it is forbidden to connect the human hair with animal hair, with its wool and its fur:
Malikis
Shafi' which view was strengthened by Imam Al Nawawi- (Al-Majmoo’) by al-Nawawee (3/140).
Hanbalis - Forbidden
FROM THE SCHOLARS:
Sheikh ibn Baz:
(It is not permissible to do hair extension, and there is no difference between the hair of the sons of Adam and other hair items that are used for hair extension, due to the generality of the authentic hadeeths contained in the prohibition of that). (Collections of the Fatwas of Ibn Baaz) (10/52).
Ibn Uthaymeen:
Ibn Uthaymeen said: (Hair extension - the hair on the head - with another hair is forbidden, rather it is a major sin, because the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) has cursed the one who does it). (Fataawaa Noor ‘aal ad-Darb) (2/582)
Ruling on hair extension with rags such as silk and the like:
It is permissible to extend the hair with rags, silk threads, according to:
Malikis
Hanbalis - The Hanbalis stipulated that it is permissible if it is for the need, and if it is above the need, then there are two narrations about it: undesirability and prohibition. See: (Kashshqaf al-Qinaai) by al-Buhootee (1/81), (Mataalib oolee al-Nuhaa) by al-Rahibaanee (1/90).
Al Layth bin Saad - Al-Nawaawee said: (Al-Layth bin Sa’d said: The prohibition is specific to extending the hair with hair, and there is no harm in extending it with wool, rags, etc.). (Sharh an-Nawawee ‘alaa Muslim) (104/14).
Wearing synthetic hair (a wig)
It is not permissible for a woman or a man to wear synthetic hair
FROM THE SCHOLARS:
Ibn Baz:
Ibn Baaz said: (The artificial hair called (the wig) is not permissible to wear, whether the wearer is a man or a woman). (Collections of Fatwas of Ibn Baaz) (29/95)
Ibn Uthaymeen:
Ibn Uthaymeen said: (The wig is forbidden and is included in the hair extension (wasl), and though it is not an extension, then it shows the woman’s head longer than it is, so it resembles hair extension, and the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) cursed the one who does hair extension for others and the one who asks for it. (Majmoo’ Fataawaa wa Rasaail al-‘Uthaymeen (11/137).
Standing Committee Fatwa:
(It is not permissible for a man to wear false hair called a wig for adornment, just as it is not permissible for a woman to do the same). (Fatwas of the Standing Committee - First Collection) (5/207)
Hadiths:
Abu az-Zubayr narrates that he heard Jaabir bin Abdullah reporting that Allah's Apostle ﷺ reprimanded that a woman should add anything to her head (hair extension). Narrated by Muslim (2126).
The word anything is general, so it includes hair and other manufactured hair that resembles the natural hair created by Allah. Fataawaa Noor ‘Alaa ad-Darb by Ibn Uthyameen (2/582).
It is narrated from Mu'aawiyah bin Abi Sufyin that he delivered a sermon to people on the pulpit of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ holding a bunch of hair in his hand which was (previously) in the hand of a sentinel: “O people of Madeenah, where are your scholars? I heard Allah's Messenger ﷺ forbidding this and saying, ‘That the people of Banee Israa'eel were ruined at the time when their women wore such hair.’” It was narrated by Al-Bukhaaree (5932), and Muslim (2127) and the wording is his.
What is known as the wig, if it is different from what the Prophet ﷺ mentioned about the children of Israel, then it is not below it, but rather it is more severe than it in sedition, deception and falsehood. (Majmoo` Fataawa Ibn Baaz) (10/56)
if a woman's hair extension is longer, more, and bigger than it, then it is forbidden wherein the woman deserves to be cursed thereby, that is because of the deception, fraud and lying under oath are found in that; thus, using a complete forged wig is more severe in fraud, and the greatest in lying under oath and deceit. (Collections of Fatwas of Ibn Baz) (10/57)
