How Should Muslim Women’s Hair and Hijab Be Depicted in Animation?

Answered by Shaykh Irshaad Sedick

Question

I am working on a 2D animation that does not depict real people, and I want to ensure my depictions are accurate.

Does an adult woman need to have all her hair covered in front of non-mahrams, or is it acceptable if a few strands show?

When should girls start covering, and can young girls be shown without a head covering? Are there any rules about showing or styling hair among women and mahrams?

Answer

In the name of Allah, the Most Merciful and Compassionate.

May Allah reward you for wanting to handle this matter with care.

One: All the Hair, Before Non-Mahram Men

A free woman’s nakedness (awra) before non-mahram men is her whole body except the face and the hands, and the feet also, on the strict view of the school.

The hair is included without exception. There is no allowance in the Shafiʿi school for a few visible strands. [Nawawi, Minhaj al-Talibin; Ibn Hajar, Tuhfat al-Muhtaj]

Some people mention a leniency allowing less than a quarter of the hair to be uncovered, but this is a Hanafi rule and applies only to whether a woman’s own prayer is valid.

It does not apply to what non-mahram men may see, so it is not relevant to your question in either school.

Allah (Most High) says: “And tell the believing women to lower their gaze and guard their chastity, and not to display their adornment except what ordinarily appears, and to draw their head-coverings over their bosoms.” [Quran 24:31]

For your animation, if an adult woman is shown with non-mahram men, her hair should be completely covered. Showing loose strands would not reflect the standard practice.

Two: Covering Begins at Puberty

The requirement to cover applies to a woman once she reaches puberty (bulugh). Before puberty, a girl is not legally responsible for this herself; instead, her guardian is responsible for teaching her.

Scholars use the example of teaching children to pray at age seven as a guide for this training.

In our school, there is one important exception: if a girl becomes someone men might desire, she should cover like an adult, even if she has not yet reached puberty. [Bajuri, Hashiya ala Sharh Ibn Qasim]

In your animation, it is accurate to depict young girls without head coverings.

Girls who are close to or have reached puberty should be shown with their hair covered.

It is also accurate to show a girl of six or seven wearing a scarf, since many families start this practice early. Both options reflect real Muslim practices.

Three: Among Women and Mahrams

In front of Muslim women of good character, as well as mahram men, a woman’s awra is between the navel and the knees. Hair may be shown uncovered and may be styled. [Nawawi, Minhaj al-Talibin]

There are two important limits to know.

First, it is not allowed to join human hair to your own. The Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) cursed both the woman who joins hair and the one who has it joined. [Bukhari; Muslim]

However, in the Shafiʿi school, using extensions made from permitted animal hair or synthetic material is allowed as a way to beautify oneself for one’s husband. [Ibn Hajar, Tuhfat al-Muhtaj; Ramli, Nihayat al-Muhtaj]

Second, the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) described women “whose heads are like the humps of camels, leaning to one side,” as among those who will not enter Paradise. [Muslim]

Scholars have different interpretations of this, and no specific hairstyle has been declared forbidden because of it. The main caution is against hairstyles that are meant to attract attention outside the home.

For your animation: in scenes among women or family, hair uncovered and ordinarily styled is accurate.

Principle and Practical Guidance

The main principle is that the rules for covering depend on the situation and who is present, not on whether it is animation or real life.

Show women as they would be allowed to appear in each scene: fully covered in front of non-mahram men, and relaxed among women and family. This will make your work accurate.

And Allah (Most High) knows best.

[Shaykh] Irshaad Sedick
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Shaykh Irshaad Sedick was raised in South Africa in a traditional Muslim family. He graduated from Dar al-Ulum al-Arabiyyah al-Islamiyyah in Strand, Western Cape, under the guidance of the late world-renowned scholar Shaykh Taha Karaan (Allah have mercy on him), where he taught.

Shaykh Irshaad received Ijaza from many luminaries of the Islamic world, including Shaykh Taha Karaan, Shaykh Muhammad Awama, Shaykh Muhammad Hasan Hitu, and Mawlana Abdul Hafeez Makki, among others.

He is the author of the text “The Musnad of Ahmad ibn Hanbal: A Hujjah or not?” He has been the Director of the Discover Islam Centre, and for six years, he has been the Khatib of Masjid Ar-Rashideen, Mowbray, Cape Town.

Shaykh Irshaad has fifteen years of teaching experience at some of the leading Islamic institutes in Cape Town). He is currently building an Islamic podcast, education, and media platform called ‘Isnad Academy’ and has completed his Master’s degree in the study of Islam at the University of Johannesburg. He has a keen interest in healthy Prophetic living and fitness.