The hadith
Umm Salamah (may Allah be pleased with her) narrated that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said:
> "When the ten days begin and one of you intends to offer a sacrifice, let him not remove anything from his hair or skin." >, Sahih Muslim 1977
In another wording:
> "Let him not touch his hair or his nails until he sacrifices." >, Sahih Muslim 1977b
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What does "hair and skin" cover?
According to the major commentators (Imam Nawawi, Ibn Qudamah and others), the Sunnah covers:
- Cutting the hair of the head
- Trimming the beard (for those who do)
- Removing armpit hair
- Removing pubic hair
- Cutting fingernails
- Cutting toenails
- Removing dead skin (e.g., calluses, peeling)
- Shaving (men or women)
It does not include:
- Brushing or combing hair (as long as no hair falls out by force)
- Washing the body
- Trimming a hangnail that is causing pain
- Necessary medical procedures
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The four schools' rulings
| School | Ruling on cutting hair / nails |
|---|---|
| Hanafi | Recommended to refrain (mustahabb) but not sinful if cut |
| Maliki | Recommended to refrain |
| Shafi'i | Recommended (mustahabb) but cutting is karahatan tanzihiyah (mildly disliked) |
| Hanbali | Haram (forbidden), Imam Ahmad considered cutting to be sinful based on the apparent meaning of the hadith |
The dominant UK practice across all madhabs is to refrain from cutting from 1 Dhul Hijjah, treating it as a strong Sunnah even if not strictly forbidden.
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Why this Sunnah?
Several wisdoms have been mentioned by scholars:
1. Resemblance to Hajj pilgrims: Pilgrims in ihram cannot cut hair or nails. Refraining at home creates a spiritual link with those at Hajj. 2. The whole body shares in the sacrifice: Just as the slaughtered animal's body parts will be intact at the moment of sacrifice, the donor's body (whose Qurbani it is) is kept intact in honour of the act. 3. Ihram-like reverence: The first 10 days of Dhul Hijjah are the most sacred days of the year. Refraining from grooming reflects spiritual intensification.
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Who does this apply to?
The hadith says "one of you intends to offer a sacrifice." This refers to the person paying for the Qurbani (the financier of the act), not to:
- The wife and children of the donor (unless the wife is offering her own separate Qurbani)
- The recipients of the meat
- The slaughterer or charity workers
In a household where only the husband is paying for one family Qurbani, only the husband observes this Sunnah. If both husband and wife pay separately, both observe it.
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What if I cut by mistake or out of necessity?
There is no kaffarah (expiation) required. The Qurbani remains valid. Simply renew the intention to refrain going forward.
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When does the Sunnah end?
It ends at the moment of slaughter of your Qurbani. For UK donors using a charity, this means when your animal is slaughtered in the country of distribution (typically on the morning of 10 Dhul Hijjah, local time). Some scholars say wait until you receive confirmation of slaughter, but the majority say you may resume cutting after the morning of Eid in your local time, since the slaughter abroad is presumed to have occurred.
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What about people not giving Qurbani?
The Sunnah only applies to the one giving Qurbani. Family members and others who are not paying for a Qurbani may continue normal grooming.
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Action
Lock in your 2026 Qurbani before Dhul Hijjah begins (18 May 2026) so you can observe this Sunnah from day one with peace of mind.
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