Should a person who is going to offer a sacrifice avoid cutting their hair and nails?

It is considered mustahabb (recommended) not to cut the hair or nails after the month of Dhu al-Hijjah begins, until the sacrifice is offered.

The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:

مَن كانَ له ذِبْحٌ يَذْبَحُهُ فإذا أُهِلَّ هِلالُ ذِي الحِجَّةِ، فلا يَأْخُذَنَّ مِن شَعْرِهِ، ولا مِن أظْفارِهِ شيئًا حتَّى يُضَحِّيَ

“When the first ten days of Dhu al-Hijjah begin and one of you intends to offer a sacrifice, let him not remove anything from his hair or nails until he has offered the sacrifice.” [1]

The command in this hadith is not obligatory, but indicates recommendation (mustahabb) [2]. The wisdom behind the instruction not to cut hair or nails is to leave the body whole until one is freed from the Fire, or to resemble those in ihram during Hajj [3].

Therefore, if someone who intends to offer a sacrifice does cut their hair or nails, there is no sin in that [4]. This is supported by a narration from Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her), who said:

كنت أفتل قلائد هدي رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم بيدي، ثم يبعث بها وما يمسك عن شيء، مما يمسك عنه المحرم، حتى ينحر هديه

“I used to make the garlands for the sacrificial animals of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) with my own hands. Then he would send them (to Mecca), but he would not avoid anything that a person in ihram must avoid, until his sacrifice was slaughtered.” [5]

Shariah and Fatwa Department of the Spiritual Administration of Muslims of Kazakhstan

• [1] Muslim, No. 1977

• [2] Ibn Abidin, “Radd al-Muhtar”, 3/66. “Al-Ishraf ‘ala Madhahib al-‘Ulama”, 3/412.

• [3] Shawkani, “Nayl al-Awtar”, 5/133.

• [4] Tahawi, “Sharh Ma’ani al-Athar”, 4/182.

• [5] Muslim, No. 1321.