QUESTION: What can I do to my hair? Something is happening among Muslim ladies today and they consider it good and fashionable. What is the view of the Shareeah about Muslim ladies doing perming jerry curls fixing of artificial hair and elongating their hair using attachments. Please give us details from the Quraan and Sunnah.

ANSWER: All Praise is for Allaah and may His peace and blessings be upon the Noble Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessing be upon him). We pray Allaah to save us from the evils and Fitna (trial and temptations) of this present life, no matter how alluring they seem and no matter how sweet they are called. Allaah has instructed the believers; male and female to stick to that which His Messenger has given to them and to stay away from that which he has prohibited. He says:"And whatsoever the Messenger gives you, take it, and whatsoever he forbids you, abstain (from it), and fear Allaah. Verily, Allaah is Severe in punishment." (Q59:7)
Using artificial materials to elongate and add to the hair is Haraam! Allaah and His Prophet (peace and blessing be upon him) forbade it in clear terms and the curse of Allaah is upon the one who lengthens her hair artificially and the one who take it as a profession. In addition, this action led to the destruction of the children of Israel. Humaid bin Abdur Rahman bin Auf (RA) narrated that in the year he performed Hajj, he heard Muawiya bin Abi Sufyan (RA), who was on the pulpit and was taking a tuft of hair from one of his guards, saying, "Where are your religious learned men? I heard Allaah’s Messenger (peace and blessing be upon him) forbidding this (false hair) and saying, The Children of Israel were destroyed when their women started using this. (Bukhari).
Also Abu Huraira (RA) related: "The Prophet (peace and blessing be upon him) said, "Allaah 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. (Bukhari) Using false hair is not permissible even if it is to cover hair that has fallen off as a result of sickness or disease. Narrated Asma bint Abu Bakr (RA): "A woman asked the Prophet saying, "O Allaah's Messenger! My daughter got measles and her hair fell out. Now that Allaah has cursed thee lady who artificially lengthens(her or someone else) hair and the one who gets her hair lightened and the one who tattoos (herself or someone else) and the one who gets herself tattooed. (Bukhari) I got her married, may I let her use false hair?" He (peace and blessing be upon him) said (to her): "Allaah has cursed the lady who lengthens hair artificially and the one who gets her hair lengthened artificially. (Bukhari).
Since the beautification and treatment of the hair is an act of Muamalaat (acts of mutual dealings), then all processes of beautification and treatment of the hair are permissible except those which the text (Quraan and hadith) forbids. Therefore regarding the chemical conditioning of the hair like perming, relaxing and shampooing we do not have any evidence that indicates their prohibition from the Quraan and Sunnah. However we say if these things are done in order to imitate other women, to emulate the fashion of the unbelievers or because of our love for any culture or value other than that of Islaam, then this is Tasshabuh (blameworthy imitation) and this is haraam! (Forbidden). Abdullah bin Umar (RA) narrated that the Prophet (peace and blessing be upon him) said: "Whoever imitates any people is surely one of them. (Abu Dawood)
These beautification processes are permissible as long as there is a definite benefit in them for the Muslim women e.g. softening the hair for easy combing and as long as they do not constitute barriers to the fulfillment of all sanctioned acts of worship e.g. ghusl and ablution; nor are they done for open display in public. Also these beautification processes should not be considered as altering the creation of Allaah." And Allaah knows best.

This article was culled from the publications of Deen Communication Limited.
dawahnigeria.com/articles/adornments-and-attire-islamic-law/hair-treatment

Jazakallahu khairan