The Shaykh’s remarks on the ruling regarding a woman cutting her hair
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The Shaykh : It is permissible for a Muslim woman to cut her hair for the purpose of lightening it or to adorn herself for her husband, provided she does not look at or imitate the open sinners or the disbelievers.
The questioner : What is the minimum?
The Shaykh : There is no minimum.
The questioner :: meaning.
The Shaykh : ... She should avoid imitating men.
The questioner :: meaning.
The Shaykh : There is no objection, because in Sahih Muslim it is stated that the women of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) used to cut their hair until it was like a wafrah, and a wafrah is hair that begins at the shoulders or near the shoulders.
The questioner : ... .
The Shaykh : ... .
Another questioner: It is hair... it is adornment, my brother, if they travel with a group.
The Shaykh : Yes.
The questioner : Long hair with adornment and beauty, I mean.
The Shaykh : This is undoubtedly so, but the issue is whether lightening is permissible or not. Since it is in Sahih Muslim that the women of the Messenger used to cut their hair until it was like a wafrah, we say that we are strict in what Allah has made strict, and we are lenient in what Allah has made lenient. We are nothing but followers; where there is leniency, we are lenient, and where there is strictness, we are strict. This is faith, and they submit in complete submission.
The questioner : What is the minimum?
The Shaykh : There is no minimum.
The questioner :: meaning.
The Shaykh : ... She should avoid imitating men.
The questioner :: meaning.
The Shaykh : There is no objection, because in Sahih Muslim it is stated that the women of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) used to cut their hair until it was like a wafrah, and a wafrah is hair that begins at the shoulders or near the shoulders.
The questioner : ... .
The Shaykh : ... .
Another questioner: It is hair... it is adornment, my brother, if they travel with a group.
The Shaykh : Yes.
The questioner : Long hair with adornment and beauty, I mean.
The Shaykh : This is undoubtedly so, but the issue is whether lightening is permissible or not. Since it is in Sahih Muslim that the women of the Messenger used to cut their hair until it was like a wafrah, we say that we are strict in what Allah has made strict, and we are lenient in what Allah has made lenient. We are nothing but followers; where there is leniency, we are lenient, and where there is strictness, we are strict. This is faith, and they submit in complete submission.