The use of hair extensions in Islam has been perceived in different ways by different scholars in the world.
However, hair extensions, more commonly known as hair weaves, which add length and/or fullness to human hair, are usually clipped on to other hair by incorporating additional human or synthetic hair.
Natural human hair can be permed, dyed, and flat ironed, whereas synthetic hair cannot be sop done. The methods include tape in extensions, clip in or clip on extensions, fusion method, weaving method, and the wigs, depending on how the user wants to wear it.
But an Islamic cleric, Imam Ismail Lawal, the Director of Baytulm College , Lagos, said that hair extensions or hair weaves in general, are ‘haram’, which means in Islam, it is not permitted.
“Apparently, what is prohibited is extending the hair with human hair; for, it implies a form of deception and also implies using hair that is seen as impunity .
“The evidence that the prohibition of hair extensions is general, or that extending hair with anything is forbidden is the hadith by Al-Bukhari who narrated that an Ansaari woman gave her daughter in marriage and the hair of the latter started falling out. The Ansaari woman came to the Prophet, and mentioned that to him and said, “My daughter’s husband suggested that I should let her wear hair extension.”
“The Prophet said, ‘No, do not do that for Allah has cursed such women who lengthen their hair’,” he counselled.
Imam Lawal added that the same Hadith was reported by Muslim, an early-time Islamic scholar, with a slightly different wording, that Islam admonishes Muslim women to dress modestly and cover their ‘Awrah’ and forbid the use of false hair.
“Allah says in the Quran in Surah an-Nur verse number 31, ‘And tell the believing women to reduce some of their vision and guard their private parts and not expose their adornment except that which necessarily appears thereof and to wrap a portion of their head-covers over their chests and not expose their adornment.
‘Except to their husbands, their fathers, their husbands’ fathers, their sons, their husbands’ sons, their brothers, their brothers’ sons, their sisters’ sons, their women, that which their right hands possess, or those male attendants having no physical desire, or children who are not yet aware of the private aspects of women.
‘And let them not stamp their feet to make known what they conceal of their adornment. And turn to Allah in repentance, all of you, O believers, that you might succeed’,” the cleric quoted.
He noted that 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.
Lawal further pointed out the Hadith narrated by Muslim, which states, ‘The Prophet forbade women to attach anything to their head.’
“Since the issue of hair extensions has been a matter of great confusion, it is advisable for people keep away from it since a woman’s hair is only meant to be seen by her husband and family members, there will be no issue of deception of fake hair,” Lawal advised.
