[Q 380] Is Avoiding Henna & Jewellery Imitating Men?

Question

If a woman does not wear henna and does not wear jewellery (especially on her hands), would this count as her imitating men and so would this be sinful? Please provide guidance.

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
الجواب بعون الملك الوهاب اللهم هداية الحق والصواب

Answer

Yes, refraining from wearing jewelry or applying henna, despite having the ability to do so, is considered Makruh (disliked) and an undesirable act. The Noble Prophet صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم regarded this as imitating men.

As mentioned in Fatawa Rizwiyyah:
“It is Makruh (disliked) for a woman to remain completely without jewellery despite having the ability, as this is imitating men.” A Hadith states:

كَانَ رَسُوْلُ اﷲِ صلَّی اﷲ تعالٰی عليه وَسَلَّمَ يَكْرَهُ تَعَطُّرَ النِّسَاءِ وَتَشَبُّهَهُنَّ بِالرِّجَالِ

“The Prophet ﷺ disliked women to be unadorned (meaning without jewellery) and to imitate men.”

(Fatawa Rizwiyyah, Volume 22, Page 127)

Imam Ahmad Raza Khan رضي الله تعالى عنه further elaborated:
“Women were commanded to apply henna on their hands so they would not resemble men’s hands.”
In Abu Dawud narrates from Umm al-Mu’minin Siddiqah (may Allah be pleased with her):
Hind bint Utbah (may Allah be pleased with her) said:

“يَا نَبِيَّ اللَّهِ، بَايِعْنِي. قَالَ: لَا أُبَايِعُكِ حَتَّى تُغَيِّرِي كَفَّيْكِ كَأَنَّهُمَا كَفَّا سَبُعٍ”

“O Prophet of Allah, accept my pledge of allegiance.” He replied: “I will not accept your pledge until you change your palms (by coloring them), for they are like the paws of a beast.”
In Mirqat, it is mentioned:

“شَبَّهَ يَدَيْهَا حِينَ لَمْ تَخْضِبْهُمَا بِكَفَّيْ سَبُعٍ فِي الْكَرَاهِيَةِ، لِأَنَّهَا حِينَئِذٍ شَبِيهَةٌ بِالرِّجَالِ”

“He compared her uncolored hands to those of a wild beast out of disapproval because in that state she resembled men.”
Another Hadith states:

“إذا كان لا بد، فَلْتَكُونَ الأظافر مُلَوَّنَةً”

“If nothing else, at least keep the nails colored. ”
Ahmad, Abu Dawud, and Nasa’i narrate with a good chain from Umm al-Mu’minin (may Allah be pleased with her):
A woman gestured from behind a curtain with her hand holding a letter to the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him). The Prophet (peace be upon him) withdrew his hand and said:

“مَا أَدْرِي أَيَدُ رَجُلٍ أَمْ يَدُ امْرَأَةٍ”

‘I cannot determine whether this hand belongs to a man or a woman.’
She replied, ‘It is a woman’s hand.’ The Prophet صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم responded:

“لَوْ كُنْتِ امْرَأَةً لَغَيَّرْتِ أَظْفَارَكِ”

‘If you were a woman, you would have dyed your nails.’

(Fatawa Rizwiyyah, Volume 24, Page 539)

Answered by: Usman Madani (Askmufti Scholar)
Verified by: Mufti Sajid Attari
Translated Answer
Date: 25th December 2024