It is not permissible for a woman to attach other hair to her hair (hair extensions ) because of the warning against hair extensions.
Al-Bukhari (5937) and Muslim (2122) narrated from Ibn ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said: “May Allah curse the one who adds hair extensions and the one who has them added, the one who does tattoos and the one who has them done.”
Muslim (2126) narrated that Jabir ibn ‘Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him) said: The Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) forbade women to attach anything to their head.
Is attaching string, fabric and the like to the hair permissible?
This is general in meaning and applies to anything that may be attached to the head. Hence some of the scholars are of the view that it is haram to attach string, fabric and the like to the hair; others are of the opinion that what is haram is attaching hair to it.
An-Nawawi said in Sharh Muslim: al-Qadi ‘Iyad said: The scholars differed concerning this issue. Malik, at-Tabari and many or most of the scholars said that attaching anything is prohibited, whether it is hair, wool, or cloth . They quoted as evidence for that the hadith of Jabir which was narrated by Muslim, according to which the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) forbade women to attach anything to their head.
Al-Layth ibn Sa‘d said: The prohibition applies specifically to attaching hair; there is nothing wrong with attaching wool, cloth and so on. Others said: All of that is permissible. …
Muslim scholars hold different opinions regarding extending hair with something other than human hair. Ibn Qudaamah highlighted that permissibility is the preponderant opinion, saying: “Apparently, what is prohibited is extending the hair with human hair for it implies a form of deception and also implies using hair that scholars hold different opinions regarding its impurity. Other than that , it is not prohibited, for it lacks those reasons of prohibition and it achieves some benefits like the woman beautifying herself for her husband without causing any harm.”
Abu Daawood reported that Sa‘eed ibn Jubayr said: “There is nothing wrong with using Qaraamil (threads of silk or wool that are made into braids with which the woman extends her hair).” Abu Daawood said: “It is as if he views that what is prohibited (in extending hair) is the (natural) hair of women. Ahmad used to say that there is nothing wrong with using Qaraamil.”
An-Nawawi further said in his explanation of Saheeh Muslim that Al-Layth ibn Sa‘d said: “The prohibition applies specifically to attaching hair; there is nothing wrong with attaching wool, pieces of cloth and so on.”
Nevertheless, the majority of scholars held the opinion that it is prohibited for a woman to extend her hair in any way, even if it is with other than hair such as wool and the like because of the general evidences that prohibit hair extension. The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, forbade women to attach anything to their head [Muslim]; and this Hadeeth has to be understood in its general context.
Is tying strings of coloured silk to hair permissible?
Al-Qadi said: “With regard to tying strings of coloured silk and the like which does not resemble hair, that is not prohibited because it does not come under the heading of attaching hair extensions and it does not serve the same purpose as hair extensions; rather it is done for the purpose of beautification and adornment. In the hadith it states that doing hair extensions is a major sin for which the one who does it is cursed; it also shows that the one who helps in doing something haram has a share of the burden of sin with the one who does it, just as the one who helps in an act of obedience has a share of the reward.”
Ruling on doing hair extensions with artificial human hair that is common today
Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymin (may Allah have mercy on him) issued a fatwa forbidding doing hair extensions with artificial hair.
He (may Allah have mercy on him) replied:
Based on that, it is not permissible to attach to the natural hair , artificial hair that resembles the hair created by Allah, may He be glorified and exalted; rather that is included in this hadith. This hadith contains a stern warning to the one who does that, because the Messenger (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said: May Allah curse the one who adds hair extensions and the one who has them added.” What is meant by being cursed is being excluded and banished far away from the mercy of Allah. The scholars have stated that every sin for which Allah, may He be exalted, has decreed the punishment of being cursed is a major sin.” (Fatawa Nur ‘ala ad-Darb)
If the hair ties asked about here include hair that is mixed with the hair on the head so that it appears to be attached to it, then it comes under the heading of hair extensions which are haram.
And Allah knows best.
To be continued
