Is It Haram for a Woman Who Doesn’t Wear a Hijab to Brush Her Hair?

Answered by Ustadha Shazia Ahmad

Question

Would it make a difference if she brushed her hair with the brush that she bought to style her hair when going out?

Answer

Thank you for your question.  It is not unlawful for a woman to brush her hair if she goes out without a hijab, or to use a specific brush.

Modesty

The Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and grant him peace) said, “There is never any obscenity in a thing, but it mars it, and there is never any modesty in a thing, but it adorns it.” [Ibn Maja]

Islam is a religion of modesty. The Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) said, “Every religion has its distinct characteristic, and the distinct characteristic of Islam is modesty.” [Ibn Maja]

I can see that you are very concerned about sin, and want to do something to please Allah. I encourage you to make the big step and wear hijab and embrace this symbol of liberty, freedom of choice, and piety. You will feel tremendous relief and baraka, by His grace. If you wish, start small by wearing it a few hours of the day and gradually increase.

Please see these links as well:

• Explaining Why I Wear Hijab
• I Am Struggling to Wear Hijab. Is It Better for Me to Not Wear It at All?
• How To Start Wearing a Hijab?

Ustadha Shazia Ahmad lived in Damascus, Syria, for two years, where she studied aqidah, fiqh, tajweed, tafsir, and Arabic. She then attended the University of Texas at Austin and completed her Master’s in Arabic. Afterward, she moved to Amman, Jordan, where she studied fiqh, Arabic, and other sciences. She later moved back to Mississauga, Canada, where she lives with her family.