Fatwa: 782
Category: fatwas about marriage
The ruling regarding a bride going to the hammam and to the hairdresser's, and adornment with henna
The question:
What is the ruling regarding the fact that the bride goes to a hammam, the hairdresser and adorning with henna?
The answer:
All praise is due to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds. Peace and blessing be upon whom Allah sent as a mercy to the Worlds, upon his Family, his Companions and his Brothers till the Day of Resurrection.
As for the hammam, it is not permissible that a woman enters it, as established by the Prophet’s صلَّى الله عليه وسلَّم saying, “He who believes in Allah and the Last Day must not send his wife to the hammam”(1) and his saying, “The hammam is forbidden for the women of my nation”(2) and his saying, “By the One in whose hand is my soul, every woman who removes her clothes anywhere except the house of one of her mothers has torn down all that veils her before Ar-Rahmân (The Merciful)”(3).
As for going to the hairdresser, it is forbidden in order to block the route to harm, because the majority of those women who hold these hairdressing and beauty salons, either they mix up with men, then it is not permissible to show their adornments to them, or they do not abide by religion. So going to them is a kind of consent to their corruption, that is to say, altering the creation of Allah and seducing. Besides, if we consider that they are steadfast in religion, it is not permissible to do one’s hair as the disbelieving women and the prostitutes or the dissolute women would do. However, if her sister in faith comb her hair, not in the way I previously mentioned, then it is permissible in order to beautify herself for her husband.
As regards henna, if it is in order to adorn herself for her husband, then it is recommended, if for herself, it is permissible, but she should not show it to strangers as it is considered an adornment, only if it is for need, as it is reported by `Â'isha the mother of the believers رضي الله عنها who said, “A woman made a sign from behind a curtain to indicate that she had a letter for the Prophet صلَّى الله عليه وسلَّم. The Prophet صلَّى الله عليه وسلَّم closed his hand, saying: ‘I do not know this is a man's or a woman's hand. She said: No, a woman. He said: If you were a woman, you would make a difference to your nails with henna”(4).
However, if it is the day of “Tasdîra”(5), it is generally accompanied with corrupt beliefs, among them: believing that the bride who does not put henna will not have children, that henna keeps away from evil eye and brings happiness, such things should be banned in order to protect people from Shirk (polytheism).
The perfect knowledge belongs to Allah عزَّ وجلَّ. Our last prayer is all praise is due to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds. Peace and blessing be upon our Prophet, his Family, his Companions and Brothers till the Day of Resurrection.
Algiers, Safar 3rd, 1428H.
Corresponding to: February 21st , 2007.
(1) Reported by At-Tirmidhi, chapter of “Good manners”, concerning what is reported regarding the fact of going to the hammam (hadith 2801) and by Ahmad (hadith 14651) on the authority of Jâbir رضي الله عنه. Al-Albâni judged it Hassan (good) in Sahîh Al-Jâmi` (hadith 6506) and judged it authentic in Sahîh At-Targhîb Wat-Tarhîb (hadith 163) and in Âdâb Az-Zifâf (page 67).
(2) Reported by Al-Hâkim (hadith 7784) on the authority of `Â’isha رضي الله عنها. Al-Albâni judged it Hassan (good) in Sahîh Al-Jâmi` (hadith 3192) and judged it authentic in As-Silsila As-Sahîha (hadith 3439).
(3) Reported by Ahmad (hadith 27038) and by At-Tabarâni in Al-Mu`jam Al-Kabîr (24/253) on the authority of Um Ad-Dardâ’ رضي الله عنها. This hadith is judged authentic by Al-Albâni in Âdâb Az-Zifâf (page 60). See: At-Targhîb Wat-Tarhîb by Al-Mundhiri (1/119), Majma` Az-Zawâ’id by Al-Haythami (1/617) and As-Silsila As-Sahîha by Al-Albâni (7/1308) (hadith 3442).
(4) Reported by Ahmad in Al-Musnad (hadith 26258). Abu Dâwûd reported a hadith in this meaning, chapter of “Combing one’s hair”, concerning dying for women (hadith 4166) on the authority of `Â’isha رضي الله عنها. This hadith is judged Hassan (good) by Al-Albâni in Sahîh An-Nassâ’i (hadith 5089) and in Hijâb Al-Mar’a Al-Muslima (page 32).
(5) Tasdîra: the fact that the women wears her robes one after the other on the day of her wedding to show them to her women guests. Translator’s note.