Wearing Wigs and Hair Extensions In Islam

The use of wigs started among non-Muslim women, who were so well known for wearing them and adorning themselves with them that this became one of their distinguishing features. If a woman wears a wig and adorns herself with it, even if she does this for her husband, she is imitating the kaafir women, which the Prophet (pbuh) forbade:

It was narrated that ‘Abd-Allaah ibn ‘Umar said: The Prophet (pbuh) said: “Whoever imitates a people is one of them.” Narrated by Abu Dawood, 3512; classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Irwa’ al-Ghaleel, 2691

Wigs also come under the ruling about hair extensions, which is even more vehement in its prohibition as the Prophet (pbuh) forbade this practice and cursed the one who does it.

Women are forbidden to add extensions to their hair, whether they are made of hair or anything else, if they could be mistaken for hair, because of the reports that have been narrated concerning that.

Narrated ‘Aisha (R.A):

An Ansari girl was married and she became sick and all her hair fell out intending to provide her with false hair. They asked the Prophet(pbuh) who said, “Allah has cursed the lady who artificially lengthens (her or someone else’s) hair and also the one who gets her hair lengthened.” Volume 7, Book 72, Number 817: Sahih Bukhari

Narrated ‘Aisha (R.A):

An Ansari woman gave her daughter in marriage and the hair of the latter started falling out. The Ansari women came to the Prophet (pbuh) and mentioned that to him and said, “Her (my daughter’s) husband suggested that I should let her wear false hair.” The Prophet (pbuh) said, “No, (don’t do that) for Allah sends His curses upon such ladies who lengthen their hair artificially.” Volume 7, Book 62, Number 133: Sahih Bukhari

Narrated Abdullah bin Mus’ud (R.A):

Allah’s Apostle (pbuh) has cursed the lady who uses false hair. Volume 6, Book 60, Number 409: Sahih Bukhari

Narrated Asma (the daughter of Abu Bakr) (R.A): Allah’s Apostle (pbuh) has cursed such a lady as artificially lengthening (her or someone else’s) hair or gets her hair lengthened.Volume 7, Book 72, Number 819:Sahih Bukhari

Narrated Sa’id bin Al-Musaiyab (R.A):

Mu’awiya (R.A) came to Medina for the last time and delivered a sermon. He took out a tuft of hair and said, “I thought that none used to do this (i.e. use false hair) except Jews. The Prophet (pbuh) labelled such practice, (i.e. the use of false hair), as cheating. Volume 7, Book 72, Number 821: Sahih Bukhari

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