Hadith Text

The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Allah has cursed the lady who artificially lengthens (her or someone else's) hair and the one who gets her hair lengthened and the One who tattoos (herself or someone else) and the one who gets herself tattooed"

Reference: Sahih al-Bukhari 5933

Scholarly Commentary

This hadith from the Book of Dress addresses two major prohibited practices: artificial hair extension and tattooing. The curse mentioned is a severe warning from Allah, indicating the gravity of these actions in Islamic law.

Artificial hair extension (wasl) involves attaching foreign hair to one's natural hair, which constitutes deception and alteration of Allah's creation. Tattooing (washi) permanently changes the skin's appearance, violating the sanctity of the human body that Allah created perfectly.

The curse applies to both the practitioner and the client, emphasizing shared responsibility in sinful acts. This prohibition preserves natural creation and prevents the imitation of disbelieving cultures.

Legal Rulings

All four major schools of Islamic jurisprudence agree on the prohibition of both artificial hair extension and permanent tattooing based on this authentic hadith.

The prohibition applies regardless of gender, though the wording addresses women specifically as these practices were more common among them during the Prophet's time.

Temporary henna designs that fade naturally are permissible, as they don't permanently alter Allah's creation.

Spiritual Wisdom

These prohibitions teach contentment with Allah's creation and rejection of artificial alterations that mimic the practices of pre-Islamic ignorance or other religions.

The human body is a trust from Allah, and we must preserve its natural state as created by Him without permanent, deceptive modifications.