The Ruling on Cutting a Woman's Hair

Question : She asks: What is the ruling on haircuts for women, other than imitating disbelieving women? And what is the meaning of "mala'ilat" and "mumilat"?

Answer : It seems she is asking about cutting the hair of the head, and there is scholarly disagreement on this. Some scholars said it is forbidden except in Hajj and 'Umrah, where one cuts from each lock the length of a finger. Others said it is disliked. And others said it is permissible. The most apparent view is that it is permissible, on the condition that it hangs below the shoulders. If it is raised to the shoulders, it resembles the hair of men, and the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) cursed . Cursing is expulsion and distance from the mercy of Allah. May Allah protect us and the listeners from that. And if a woman cuts her hair in a way that resembles the haircuts of disbelieving women, it is also forbidden, based on the saying of the Prophet