Henna in Islaam Detailed Article
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Hair
in Islaam:
“Whoever has
hair should honour it.”
(Narrated by
Aboo Hurayrah in Aboo Daawood no. 4151).
The
explanation of ‘honour it’ (ikraam) is to make it beautiful by:
·
washing it,
·
oiling it and
·
combing it
(Awn al
Ma’bood vol. 11 pg 221)
Grey
hair in Islaam:
“...the
Prophet (SallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam) passed away at the age of 60 and he
scarcely had 20 white hairs on his head and beard.”
The Prophet (SallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam) said,
“There
will be a people at the end of time who will use black dye like the breasts of
pigeons, they will not smell the fragrance of paradise.” (Aboo Daawood no.
4200).
Abee Quhaafah
was brought on the Day of the Conquest of Makkah. His hair and beard were white
like the hyssop plant (white flowers and its fruit are like white hair. So the
Messenger of Allaah (SallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam) said,
“Change
this with something but avoid black.” (Jaabir bin ‘Abdullaah in Muslim
no.5509)
“Do not pluck
out grey hair. If any believer grows a grey hair in Islaam, he will have light
on the Day of Resurrection (Sufyaan’s version). Yahyaa’s version: Allaah will
record on his behalf a good deed for it, and will blot out a sin for it.”
(Narrated by
‘Amr bin Shu’ayb’s Grandfather in Aboo Dawood no.4190)
Imaam Nawawi said
that it is recommended (mustahab) to dye white hair with yellow or red but
forbidden to dye it with black.
Some of the
companions used to dye their grey hairs and some used to leave them. There is a
narration from al Hakam bin Amr al Ghifaaree who said,
“My
brother Raafi’ and I visited ‘Umar bin al Khattaab. I had dyed my hair with
henna and my brother had dyed his hair yellow (sufrah). So ‘Umar said, ‘this is
the dye of Islaam’ and he said to my brother, ‘this is the dye of faith,
eemaan.”
(Awn al Ma’bood Sharh Aboo Daawood.
Vol. 11 p 258).
Dr. Saalih
Fawzaan comments:
“Grey
hair is a reminder of death. So if you see grey hair then prepare yourself for
death because nothing comes after grey hair except death. In the explanation of
the aayah:
37. Therein they will cry: "Our Lord! bring us out, we
shall do righteous good deeds, not (the evil deeds) that we used to do."
(Allâh will reply): "Did we not give you lives long enough, so that whosoever
would receive admonition, - could receive it? and the warner
came to you. so taste you (the evil of your deeds) for the Zâlimûn (polytheists
and wrongdoers, etc.) there is no helper." [The Noble Qur’aan. Soorah
Faatir 35:37]
In this
context ‘warner’ means grey hair. So if a person sees grey hair then he knows
that his time is near and that his youth has gone, just like a plant that turns
yellow. Nothing remains apart from its harvest. So (ta’ahab)......death and
repent to Allaah. Know that you are at the end of your life. Even if you dyed
it black, shaved it or plucked it, it would not benefit you.”
There is a hadeeth which states:
“Allaah has
left no excuse for a man who reaches the age of sixty.”
(Because the Messengers and the truth
have had time to reach them before they die so that they should believe in
Allaah and worship Him alone).
Henna
in Islaam
Henna is a
plant whose green leaves are ground into a powder. This powder is mixed with
water and used to dye hair and skin (orange/red/mahogany).
Katam is also
a plant with green leaves. It is also ground into a powder and then made into a
paste the same way as henna. However this plant dyes dark grey on its own and
when mixed with henna it tones down the henna to dark brown. (When katam is
boiled, the water becomes ink to write with).
Rulings
Regarding Henna and Wudhoo
Taken from
Fataawa al Lajnah ad Daa’imah Lilbuhooth al ‘Ilmiyyah wal Iftaa’ (www.alifta.org)
(Part No. 5; Page No.
114)
Q: Does
the oil that women use on their hair prevent water from reaching the head,
which nullifies the Wudu' (ablution) and Ghusl (full ritual bath)?
A: No, the oil which is applied to
the hair does not prevent water from reaching the head as henna, and similar
substances.
Q: What
is the ruling on applying nail polish?
A: Coloring nails with henna or
other substances that beautify them is permissible if these things are
(ceremonially pure) and do not prevent water from reaching the skin or nails
when performing Wudu' (ablution) or Ghusl (bath following major ceremonial
impurity). However, if the substance has body, it must be removed before
performing Wudu' or Ghusl, in order not to prevent water from reaching the
nail. This means that it is permissible to use whatever beautifies nails, such
as henna or polish, provided that what has body of these things must be removed
before performing Wudu' or Ghusl in order not to prevent water from reaching
the nails. Using henna and things that have no body, which merely color the
nails in red or black, do not affect
(Part No. 5; Page No.
244)
Wudu' or
Ghusl. However, substances, which have body and prevent water from reaching the
skin, must be removed.
(Part No. 5; Page No.
250)
Q: A
questioner asks: I use liquid kohl. This kind of kohl is a dark line that you
apply outside the eye, which forms a strip. It may accumulate and form a layer,
so is it permissible to perform Wudu' (ablution) while wearing this kohl?
A: If the kohl leaves a layer that
prevents water from reaching the skin, it must be removed. It is not
permissible to have this kind of kohl during Wudu' or Ghusl (bath following
major ceremonial impurity). If this kohl is a mere coloring that does not
prevent water from reaching the skin, such as the color of henna and the like,
there is nothing wrong with it. However, if it produces a layer or film that
prevents water from reaching the skin, it must be removed before performing
Wudu' and Ghusl. The same ruling applies to henna if it is a mere color without
body.
The first
question of Fatwa no. 15888
Q 1: I
would like to inquire about henna. It is a substance used by men to dye their
white hair, whether in the head or in the beard, so that it becomes red, and by
women to dye their white hair or decorate their hands and feet. Is this valid
or not?
(Part No. 24; Page
No. 108)
A: it is Mustahab (desirable) for
men and women to dye their white hair with any color other than black,
according to the saying of the Prophet (peace be upon him), "Change the colour of the white hair, but avoid black." whether by using henna or any
substance that gives another color. As for decoration by henna, it is one of
the characteristics of women; it is impermissible for men, as the Prophet
(peace be upon him) cursed the men who imitate women. As for using henna as a
medication when necessary, it is permissible for both men and women, according
to the saying of the Prophet (peace be upon him), Treat yourselves medically, but don't use anything unlawful.
The
fourth question of Fatwa no. 6193
Q: It is
reported that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said that Wudu’ (ablution) is not
valid if there is paste, nail polish, or mud on the fingers. However, I saw some women
putting henna on their hands and feet - and this is a paste - and they perform
Salah (Prayer) with it. Is this permissible, bearing in mind that when they are
forbidden to do it they say that it is Tahir (ritually pure)?
A: All praise be to Allah Alone, and
peace and blessings be upon His Messenger, and his family and Companions.
There is
no Hadith reported that carries these words, as far as we know. What remains on
the hand and feet from henna is just its color, and this does not have any
effect on Wudu’, as this has no thickness as paste, nail polish, or mud do.
These things have a thickness that prevents water from reaching the skin.
Therefore, it is not permissible to perform Wudu’ if these things remain,
because they prevent water from reaching the skin. However, if the henna is a
thick substance on the hands or feet which prevents water from reaching the
skin, it should be removed in the same way paste and the like should.
May Allah
grant us success! May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his
family, and Companions!
Permanent Committee for Scholarly
Research and Ifta’
Medicinal
Uses of Henna throughout history:
|
Author
|
Medicinal
uses of henna
|
1
|
Ibn al
Qayyim
(died 751AH/
14th
century )
|
Burns
|
Mouth
ulcers, oral thrush, canker sores
|
Infected
swellings
|
Strengthens
nails
|
Makes hair
grow and strengthens it
|
Blisters
and ulcers on legs and body
|
|
|
When its flowers are mixed with
warm wax and rose oil, it is good for pains of the side.
When its flowers are put between the folds of woolen clothing, they scent it
and keep moths away…
|
2
|
Al Baghdadi
|
Mouth
ulcers, canker sores
Swelling
and inflammation
Use its
boiled water for burns
Treat
broken nails
Prevents
small pox going near eyes
|
3
|
Ibn Sina
(Avicenna)
|
Astringent
for wounds
Burns
Eyewash
Leprosy and
gout
Henna and
vinegar put on forehead for headaches
|
4
|
Dr. Al
Naseemi
(contemporary)
|
Abrasions
from walking bare foot
Fungal
infections between toes
(astringent
causes skin to contract, dries and hardens skin preventing it from harbouring
infection)
|
5
|
Dr. Samas
Qaasi
(contemporary)
|
Fungal
infections
Heals
wounds
Purifies
scalp of germs, parasites and excess oily secretions
Dandruff
Works to
reduce sweat in those who sweat too much
|
|
|
Inhale the
henna flower perfume to cure headaches
|
|
|
|
In America
some cancer patients are using henna to cool their hands and feet and reduce
the side effects of radiation therapy.
Some
hospitals are using henna as a natural and safe dye to mark places on the body
for therapy.
References:
1.
“Henna through the Ages” by Dr. Muhammad Nizaar ad Daqr
(in Arabic)
2.
“Healing with the Medicine of the Prophet (SallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam)” by Ibn al Qayyim.
3.
“Islamic Medicine the Key to a better Life” by Dr. Yusuf
al Hajj Ahmad. Darussalam 2010.
Ittifhaaf
at Tulaab be sharh Mandhoomatil Aadaab by Dr. Saalih bin Fawzaan bin ‘Abdullaah
al Fawzaan. p267. 2005.
Ritual cleansing with
water for the five daily compulsary prayers.
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