Quran
Hadith
Islamic Text
Short Answer:
No, it is not Haram for women to wear Henna (Mehndi) on the hands. Rather, it is recommended for women to wear Henna on their hands.
Evidence:
عَنْ عَائِشَةَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهَا، قَالَتْ: أَوْمَتْ امْرَأَةٌ مِنْ وَرَاءِ سِتْرٍ بِيَدِهَا، كِتَابٌ إِلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ، فَقَبَضَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَدَهُ، فَقَالَ: مَا أَدْرِي أَيَدُ رَجُلٍ، أَمْ يَدُ امْرَأَةٍ؟ قَالَتْ: بَلِ امْرَأَةٌ، قَالَ: لَوْ كُنْتِ امْرَأَةً لَغَيَّرْتِ أَظْفَارَكِ. يَعْنِي بِالْحِنَّاءِ
(Sayidah) Aishah (May Allah Most High be pleased with her) said, “A woman signalled from behind a curtain to indicate that she had a letter for the Messenger of Allah.” The Prophet ﷺ drew back his hand, saying: ‘I do not know if this is a man’s hand or a woman’s hand.’ She said: “Rather, a woman.” He ﷺ said: ‘If you were a woman, you would have changed (the colour of) your nails.’ Meaning with henna.” (Abu Dawood, 4166).
عَنْ عَائِشَةَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهَا، أَنَّ هِنْدَ بِنْتَ عُتْبَةَ، قَالَتْ: يَا نَبِيَّ اللَّهِ، بَايِعْنِي، قَالَ: لَا أُبَايِعُكِ حَتَّى تُغَيِّرِي كَفَّيْكِ، كَأَنَّهُمَا كَفَّا سَبُعٍ
(Sayidah) Aishah (May Allah Most High be pleased with her) narrated that Hind, daughter of Utbah, said: “O Prophet ﷺ of Allah, accept my allegiance (Bay’ah).” He ﷺ replied, ‘I will not accept your allegiance till you change the palms of your hands. It is as if they are paws of a predator.’” (Abu Dawud, 4165).
عَنْ ابن ضَمْرَةَ بْنِ سَعِيدٍ، عَنْ جَدَّتِهِ، عَنِ امْرَأَةٍ مِنْ نِسَائِهِمْ قَالَ: وَقَدْ كَانَتْ صَلَّتِ الْقِبْلَتَيْنِ مَعَ رَسُولِ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَتْ: دَخَلَ عَلَيَّ رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فَقَالَ لِي: اخْتَضِبِي، تَتْرُكُ إِحْدَاكُنَّ الْخِضَابَ حَتَّى تَكُونَ يَدُهَا كَيَدِ الرَّجُلِ
Ibn Damrah bin Saeed narrated from his grandmother, from a woman from amongst them. He said, “indeed she had prayed facing both prayer directions (Qiblatayn) with the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.” She said, “The Messenger of Allah ﷺ entered and said to me, ‘Use dye (Henna). One of you neglects dye (Henna) until her hand becomes like that of a man.’” (Musnad Ahmad, 16650).
The above Hadith narrations strengthen each other since multiple narrations regarding the same issue strengthen one another.
For a detailed discussion on the strength of these narrations, see: Hadith permitting women to wear Henna.
From the above hadith, we see that the Holy Prophet ﷺ clearly encouraged women to wear henna (mehndi) on their hands. Therefore, it cannot be said that it is prohibited (Haram). Rather, the legal ruling is that it is recommended for women to wear henna (mehndi) on their hands. However, they should avoid images of animate beings (humans or animals) as that is generally prohibited.
Classical Scholars:
روى الحسن بن زياد عن أبي حنيفة قَالَ: الخضاب حسن بالحناء أو بالوسمة، ولا ينبغي للرجل أن يخضب يده ولا رجله ولا بأس به للنساء. (عُيُون الْمَسَائِل)
(Imam) Hasan bin Ziyad narrated from (Imam) Abu Hanifah that he said: Dying is good whether it is with henna or Wasmah. It is not acceptable for a man to dye his hand or foot. However, there is no harm if a woman does so. (Imam Abu al-Layth al-Samarqandi, Uyoon al-Masail).
لا بأس بأن تخضب المرأة يدها ورجلها تتزين بذلك لزوجها، ما لم يكن خضاباً فيه تماثيل، ولا بأس بالخضاب للجارية الصغيرة والكبيرة، وأما الصبي فلا ينبغي أن تخضب يده ولا رجله كالرجل. (المحيط البرهاني في الفقه النعماني)
There is nothing wrong with a woman dying her hand or her foot in order to adorn herself for her spouse, as long as animate images are not included. There is no harm in a younger or older girl doing it either. As for a boy, it is not acceptable for him to dye his hand or foot, just like a man. (Imam Burhan al-Deen al-Bukhari, al-Muheet al-Burhani).
وَيحل خضاب الْيَد وَالرجل للنِّسَاء مَا لم يكن فِيهِ تماثيل وَيحرم للرِّجَال وَالصبيان مُطلقًا وَلَا بَأْس بخضاب الرَّأْس واللحية بِالْحِنَّاءِ والوسمة للرِّجَال وَالنِّسَاء. (تحفة الملوك)
Dying the hand and foot is permitted for women. As long as there are no animate images. It is absolutely prohibited for men and boys to do so. There is no harm in dying the hair and beard with henna or Wasmah for men or women. (Imam Zayn al-Deen al-Raazi, Tuhfatu al-Mulook).
(ويحل خضاب اليد والرجل للنساء، ما لم يكن فيه تماثيل) أي صور، لأن ذلك من أجل الزينة، فيجوز لهن بشرط أن يمتنعن عن المحرم. قوله: (ويحرم للرجال) أي يحرم خضاب اليد والرجل للرجل (والصبيان مطلقاً) يعني سواء كانت فيه تماثيل أو لم تكن، لأنهم ممنوعون عن مثل هذه الزينة، إلا لأجل التداوي. (منحة السلوك في شرح تحفة الملوك)
Dying the hand and foot is permitted for women. As long as there are no animate images. Meaning, portraits. Since this is for adornment it is permitted for them on condition that they refrain from anything prohibited (Haram). His saying: It is prohibited for men. Meaning, dying the hand or foot is prohibited for a man. And boys absolutely. Meaning, irrespective of it containing animate images or not. As they are prohibited from this form of adornment. Unless it is used for medical purposes. (Imam Badr al-Deen al-Ayni, Minhatu al-Sulook Sharh Tuhfatu al-Mulook).
In the Nusoos (texts) above, Hanafi scholars clarified that dying the hands and feet with henna (mehndi) is permitted for females. Yet, prohibited for males. Furthermore, even with females, there is a prohibition upon producing images of animate beings.
And Allah Most High Knows Best.
–Answered by Shaykh Noorud-deen Rashid (08.04.23)
