Col. Tahir Breaks Down Islamic Views on Nail Cutting Ahead of Dhul‑Hijjah
A senior military officer and Islamic scholar, Colonel Abubakar Tahir, DSS, mni, of the Directorate of Islamic Affairs, Nigerian Army, has offered a detailed scholarly perspective on the longstanding Islamic debate surrounding the cutting of nails and hair during the first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah by Muslims intending to perform the Eid al-Adha sacrifice.
In a scholarly article titled “Cutting Nails in Dhul-Hijjah: Scholarly Perspectives,” Colonel Tahir examined classical and contemporary Islamic opinions on the practice, emphasizing that while scholars differ on its legal status, the validity of the sacrifice remains unaffected.
The article revisited a narration reported by Umm Salamah (RA), in which Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) was quoted as saying: “When the ten days begin, and one of you intends to offer a sacrifice, let him not remove anything from his hair or nails.” The hadith is recorded in Sahih Muslim under Kitab al-Adahi.
According to the scholar, the issue has generated differing interpretations among Islamic jurists for centuries, with the majority of classical scholars treating the instruction as recommended rather than obligatory.
Colonel Tahir explained that both the Hanafi and Shafi’i schools classify refraining from cutting nails and hair as mustahab (recommended), stressing that violating the practice does not invalidate the sacrifice.
He cited renowned Islamic scholar Imam Al-Nawawi, who maintained that although the hadith applies generally to Muslims offering sacrifice, its solitary chain of transmission suggests recommendation rather than compulsion.
The Maliki school, he noted, initially leaned towards recommendation under Imam Malik and early scholars of Madinah, including Saʿid ibn al-Musayyib. However, later Maliki jurists adopted stricter interpretations, with some describing avoidance as obligatory while still affirming the validity of the sacrifice even if nails or hair are cut.
The Hanbali school, according to Colonel Tahir, adopts the strictest position by considering the act forbidden for intending sacrificers during the period, though the sacrifice itself remains valid.
Read Also:
He quoted Hanbali scholar Ibn Qudamah as explaining that the practice symbolically connects non-pilgrims to the spiritual atmosphere of Hajj by mirroring certain restrictions observed during ihram.
The article also highlighted the minority view of the Andalusian scholar Ibn Hazm, who argued that the hadith may have been directed specifically to the Prophet’s household rather than the wider Muslim community.
According to Colonel Tahir, Ibn Hazm based his reasoning on the fact that the narration was transmitted solely through Umm Salamah despite Eid sacrifice being a widely observed public ritual.
He explained that this cautious interpretation reflected the approach of some early scholars of Madinah who exercised restraint in treating solitary narrations as binding obligations unless reinforced by communal practice.
The Nigerian Army officer further reviewed contemporary fatwas on the issue, noting that many modern scholars and Islamic institutions continue to support the more lenient interpretation.
He referenced prominent Islamic scholar Sheikh Yusuf al-Qaradawi, who described refraining from cutting nails and hair as recommended rather than mandatory and advised Muslims not to feel guilty if unable to observe the practice.
Similarly, Egypt’s Dar al-Ifta affirmed that cutting nails or hair does not invalidate the sacrifice, while Saudi Arabia’s Permanent Committee for Islamic Research and Ifta leaned towards the Hanbali position but equally maintained that the sacrifice remains acceptable.
Colonel Tahir concluded that the issue reflects the richness and flexibility of Islamic jurisprudence, stressing that the differing opinions should not become a source of division among Muslims.
“In conclusion, the debate over cutting nails and hair during the first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah highlights the richness of Islamic jurisprudence and the careful balance between textual fidelity and communal practice,” he stated.
He added that refraining from cutting nails and hair is best understood as a Sunnah act symbolising spiritual participation in the sacred atmosphere of Hajj rather than a binding legal obligation.
The scholar emphasized that such nuanced understanding preserves the sanctity of Islamic tradition while promoting compassion, flexibility and accessibility in religious practice.
By PRNigeria
