Can you wear a wig or hair extensions in Islam?

Wigs are permitted if they are made of pure materials and do not contain human hair. The same ruling applies to hair extensions.

عَنْ عَائِشَةَ، رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهَا: أَنَّ جَارِيَةً مِنَ الأَنْصَارِ تَزَوَّجَتْ، وَأَنَّهَا مَرِضَتْ فَتَمَعَّطَ شَعَرُهَا، فَأَرَادُوا أَنْ يَصِلُوهَا، فَسَأَلُوا النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فَقَالَ: لَعَنَ اللَّهُ الوَاصِلَةَ وَالمُسْتَوْصِلَةَ

(Sayidah) Aishah (May Allah Most High be pleased with her) said, an Ansari girl married, then she became sick, and her hair fell out. They intended to add (human) hair to it. So they asked the Prophet ﷺ. He ﷺ said, ‘The curse of Allah (Most High) is upon the one who attaches (human) hair and the one who requests the (human) hair to be attached.’ (Sahih al-Bukhari, 5934).

The authentic Hadith above prohibits the use of hair. This is understood to refer to human hair and not synthetic or animal hair. Therefore, this ruling is aligned with the general prohibition upon using anything from the human body.

If a wig or hair extensions are made of pure materials, then both will be permitted. Other legal rulings must be kept in mind in such circumstances. For example, the obligation to wipe or wash the head or actual hair when performing Wudu (ablution) or Ghusl.

وَوَصْلُ الشَّعْرِ بِشَعْرِ الْآدَمِيِّ حَرَامٌ: سَوَاءٌ كَانَ شَعْرَهَا أَوْ شَعْرَ غَيْرِهَا. (الاختيار لتعليل المختار)

Connecting the hair with human hair is Haram (prohibited). Irrespective of it being her own hair or someone else’s hair. (Imam Abu al-Fadl al-Mowsili, al-Ikhtiyaar the commentary of al-Mukhtaar).

وَفِي اخْتِيَارٍ وَوَصْلُ الشَّعْرِ بِشَعْرِ الْآدَمِيِّ حَرَامٌ سَوَاءٌ كَانَ شَعْرَهَا أَوْ شَعْرَ غَيْرِهَا

وَإِنَّمَا الرُّخْصَةُ فِي غَيْرِ شَعْرِ بَنِي آدَمَ تَتَّخِذُهُ الْمَرْأَةُ لِتَزِيدَ فِي قُرُونِهَا، وَهُوَ مَرْوِيٌّ عَنْ أَبِي يُوسُفَ، وَفِي الْخَانِيَّةِ وَلَا بَأْسَ لِلْمَرْأَةِ أَنْ تَجْعَلَ فِي قُرُونِهَا وَذَوَائِبهَا شَيْئًا مِنْ الْوَبَرِ. (رد المحتار على الدر المختار)

Imam al-Haskafi: In al-Ikhtiyaar (it is mentioned that) connecting the hair with human hair is Haram (prohibited). Irrespective of it being her own hair or someone else’s hair.

Imam Ibn Abideen: The dispensation is in using other than human hair. A woman may use it (other than human hair) to add to the top of her head. This has been narrated from Abi Yusuf. In al-Khaniyah it has been mentioned that there is no harm in a woman placing animal hair at the top of her head or attaching it to her braids. (Radd al-Muhtaar Ala al-Durr al-Mukhtaar).

وَوَصْلُ الشَّعْرِ بِشَعْرِ الْآدَمِيِّ حَرَامٌ سَوَاءٌ كَانَ شَعْرَهَا أَوْ شَعْرَ غَيْرَهَا كَذَا فِي الِاخْتِيَارِ شَرْحِ الْمُخْتَارِ. وَلَا بَأْسَ لِلْمَرْأَةِ أَنْ تَجْعَلَ فِي قُرُونِهَا وَذَوَائِبهَا شَيْئًا مِنْ الْوَبَرِ كَذَا فِي فَتَاوَى قَاضِي خَانْ. (الفتاوى الهندية)

Connecting the hair with human hair is Haram (prohibited). Irrespective of it being her own hair or someone else’s hair. This was mentioned in al-Ikhtiyaar the commentary of al-Mukhtaar. However, there is no issue with a woman placing animal hair on top of her head or attaching it to her braids. This was mentioned in Fataawa Qadi Khan. (al-Fatawaa al-Hindiyah).

As mentioned above, the prohibition upon using human hair for wigs and hair extensions aligns with the general prohibition on using anything from the human body. This is explicitly mentioned in al-Hidaayah and its commentary Fath al-Qadeer.

(وَلَا يَجُوزُ بَيْعُ شُعُورِ الْإِنْسَانِ وَلَا الِانْتِفَاعُ بِهَا) لِأَنَّ الْآدَمِيَّ مُكَرَّمٌ لَا مُبْتَذَلٌ فَلَا يَجُوزُ أَنْ يَكُونَ شَيْءٌ مِنْ أَجْزَائِهِ مُهَانًا وَمُبْتَذَلًا. (الهداية في شرح بداية المبتدي)

It is not permitted to sell human hair. Nor is it permitted to use it. This is because the human being is honored and not to be used. Therefore, it is not permitted to disrespect or use any part of it (the human body). (Imam Burhan al-Deen al-Marghinani, al-Hidaayah).

(قَوْلُهُ وَلَا يَجُوزُ بَيْعُ شَعْرِ الْإِنْسَانِ) مَعَ قَوْلِنَا بِطَهَارَتِهِ (وَالِانْتِفَاعِ بِهِ؛ لِأَنَّ الْآدَمِيَّ مُكَرَّمٌ غَيْرُ مُبْتَذَلٍ فَلَا يَجُوزُ أَنْ يَكُونَ شَيْءٌ مِنْ أَجْزَائِهِ مُهَانًا وَمُبْتَذَلًا) وَفِي بَيْعِهِ إهَانَةٌ، وَكَذَا فِي امْتِهَانِهِ بِالِانْتِفَاعِ. (فتح القدير)

It is not permitted to sell human hair, although we accept that it is pure. Nor is it permitted to use it. This is because the human being is honored and not to be used. Therefore, it is not permitted to disrespect or use any part of it (the human body). Selling it (a part of the human body) is disrespectful. Likewise, using it is disrespecting it. (Imam Ibn Humaam, Fath al-Qadeer).

Thus, the understanding of the Hanafi scholars is that the prohibition in the Hadith relates to the use of human hair. This is not only supported by the general rule that prohibits the use of anything from the human body, but Iman Ibn Humaam also mentioned the following verse as evidence.

قُلْ مَنْ حَرَّمَ زِينَةَ اللَّهِ الَّتِي أَخْرَجَ لِعِبَادِهِ

Say, who has prohibited the adornment that Allah has provided for his slaves. (Surah al-Araaf, 32).

The Imam’s point was that adornment is generally permitted. Therefore, this Hadith is excluding something specific. The specific prohibition relates to the use of anything from the human body.

And Allah Most High Knows Best.

-Answered by Shaykh Noorud-deen Rashid (26.03.2023)

See also:
Are women permitted to cut their hair?

Is black hair dye Haram?

See also: