Can women use wigs

  For the sake of fashion, women are getting their hair cut.  They are having different types of hairstyles like u-cut, v-cut, step-cut, etc.  They are also using wigs.  Does the Shariah permit this?

Adorning and beautifying herself is the very nature of women.  This is her natural right.  For this reason, Islam has not prohibited women from makeup, etc., but has declared it Mustahab (commendable) for them.  Islam has permitted women that they take good care of themselves, wear colorful clothes, beautify themselves with jewelry, use henna (Mehndi), use Kohl.

For makeup, etc. guidelines have been framed.  In the Hadith, women have been prohibited from making themselves similar to men.  There is a Hadith in Sahih Bukhari:

Translation:  The Prophet of Allah (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) has cursed the men who become similar to women and women who become similar to men.

Thus, it is not correct for women to get their hair cut in step-cut, u-cut, v-cut, etc.

Among all creation, human beings have been given the place of honor.  For this reason, using human hair after they have been severed from the body is not permissible in the light of the Shariah.  This is against the honor of human beings.  However, excepting pig hair, it is permissible to use hair of any other animal or even artificial hair.  Thus, using wigs in itself is not impermissible.

Mufti Syed Ziauddin Naqshbandi Qadri

[Professor, Islamic Law, Jamia Nizamia,
Founder-Director, Abul Hasanaat Islamic Research Center]