hair transplant in islam

Hair Transplant in Islam: Is it haram or halal?

 

Among Muslims, the place of hair transplant in Islam is a subject of debate. Because hair transplantation is divided into many procedures, deciding halal or haram techniques can be confusing. Many Muslim people suffering from alopecia ask such a question like “Are hair transplants permissible in Islam?”. 

 

In Islam, there are scholars who say that hair transplants are haram and those who say that they are halal. The common view of scholars is that the underlying reason for the procedure determines whether it is halal or haram. In the light of the scholars’ references, this article will try to explain which hair transplant methods are considered haram and which are considered halal. 

Is hair transplant permissible in Islam?

 

There are several interpretations of Islamic principles and practices regarding hair transplant surgery. Some scholars believe that it is not an essential surgical operation. Altering Allah’s creation is not okay. 

 

The Qur’an says: “… the natural disposition of Allah in which He has created mankind. There is no altering Allah’s creation…” (Quran 30:30). By altering a person’s physical look, hair transplant procedure contradicts this principle.

 

However, some scholars interpret that patients don’t introduce foreign or unnatural substances into their bodies through a hair transplant surgery. They also state that it is for the treatment of androgenetic alopecia, female or male pattern baldness, diffuse hair loss, traction alopecia, injuries, alopecia areata, telogen effluvium, and so on. Therefore,it is a medical procedure, performed by surgeons for the treatment of a medical condition. 

Those who say hair transplant is haram;

 

  • They think that some of the hair transplantation procedures are unnecessary because they are not applied for the treatment of a condition like baldness. 
  • They state that applications including wigs and extensions are for beautification.
  • They argue that unnatural injections into the body to change the appearance created by Allah are haram. 

Those who say hair transplant is halal;

 

  • The position within Islam regarding hair transplants is that of Sheikh Muhammad ibn’ Uthaymin and other scholars (Al-Bukhari, 3277, and Muslim, 2964) (Fatawa’ Ulama al-Balad al-Haram, p. 1185), who consider the procedure halal.
  • It is stated that techniques containing hair grafting, that is, transplanting one’s own hair follicles to another part of the body, such as FUE, DHI, U-FUE, NeoGraft, are halal. 
  • According to the opinion of these scholars, if a person undergoes surgery for the treatment of a condition like patterned baldness, it is considered halal. However, if the person has no medical condition but undergoes procedures such as extensions and micropigmentation, it is considered haram. 

Are all hair transplantation techniques halal?

Hair transplant procedures are very varied. The most common techniques include:

Looking at the methods one by one, FUE hair transplant techniques are generally considered halal because;

  • The hair follicles are taken individually from the donor area of the person and transplanted to the bald area of the person. 
  • It is carried out by surgeons under local anesthesia.
  • It is usually used for people with severe stages of alopecia on the Ludwig or Norwood hair loss scale.
  • It is a medical treatment and does not contain any pig or related products. 
  • It does not involve transplanting someone else’s hair etc. into the body. 

PRP or iPRF is not considered religiously forbidden because it involves injecting one’s own blood into one’s own body. However, this may not be the case for micropigmentation. Because in this technique, a tattoo-like dye is used to create the illusion of hair on the scalp. There are Islamic scholars who think that tattooing is an obstacle to ablution. Therefore, consult a religious leader for detailed information. 

Sources about hair transplant in islam

What do sources say about hair transplant in Islam?

The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH – صلى الله عليه وسلم ) has  some words on the hair transplantation methods of that period:

Hadiths on hair transplantation

 

In the Qur’an, there is no specific information in the hadiths about modern hair transplant technology that involves graft transplantation. On the other hand, there are hadiths about the wigs:

 

  • ‘Abdullāh ibn ‘Amr (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) cursed the woman who fixes hair extensions (to another) and the woman who has them fixed for her, and the woman who does tattoos and the woman who has them done for her.’

                                                  Sahih/Authentic. – [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

 

 

The Prophet Muhammad  (PBUH – صلى الله عليه وسلم ) forbade having or attaching somebody else’s hair attached. (Bukhari, Libas, 83-85 [5935-5942]; Muslim, Libas, 115-119 [2122-2124]).  It is obvious that there is a hadith in this regard:

 

  • A woman from the Ansar informed the Prophet Muhammad that her son was getting married, and her hair had fallen out due to an illness. She expressed her intention to attach hair to her head before the wedding. The Hazrat Muhammad responded by saying, “May Allah curse those who attach hair extensions and those who have them attached”

                                                                            Muslim, “Libas”, 115

Fatwas of Islamic Scholars about Hair Transplant Surgery

 

There are some religious rulings (fatwas) that declare hair transplant surgery permissible (halal) under specific circumstances: 

 

  • Hair transplantation (hair grafting) is allowed in Islam as long as it is performed by transplanting one’s own hair follicles into the donor area (bald area). 

The fatwa committee of Al-Azhar University 

 

  • Hair transplants are halal as long as they do not contain any haram substances, do not do harm to the body and are not in conflict with other Islamic principals. 

The Islamic Fiqh Council of the Muslim World League

 

  • The Fiqh Academy of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation has issued a fatwa stating that hair transplantation is permissible if it is done to correct a medical defect. For instance, to cover scars on the scalp after an accident or injury, after a health problem that causes baldness, etc. The purpose must be legitimate and related to a health problem. 

The International Islamic Fiqh Academy

What are the differences between scholarly opinions?

 

Teachers of Islam differ on the following issues:

 

  • Which technique is halal,
  • How the prohibitions applicable to wigs and tattoos are interpreted for hair transplantation,
  • If substances like blood, grafts, hair follicles belonging to the person’s own body are used or not,
  • Whether an organ has been removed from someone else’s body – for a purpose other than treating a disorder.

Can you pray with hair transplant?

 

From an Islamic point of view, there is no harm in praying. However, to prevent damage to the newly transplanted hair, water should not come into contact with the scalp during ablution for the first 48 hours. After this period, washing that involves wetting the head, including ghusl ablution, can be done carefully.

 

Can a hair transplant be done in Ramadan?

 

For most Islamic scholars, the answer is yes. Since you will receive local anesthesia for your scalp, your fast will not be invalidated. However, you should be sure to eat enough between iftar and sahur. Plus, you should also refrain from eating at least 8 hours before the hair transplant surgery, as you will be receiving anesthesia. You may choose to take a break from fasting for 1 day. However, fasting during your recovery period will not harm your new hair.

FAQs about Hair Transplant in Islam

There is general acceptance among Islamic institutions and organizations that it is halal.

From an Islamic perspective, there is no difference between hair transplants and mustache or beard transplants. The same rules apply to all three. 

Techniques like FUE hair transplantation are considered halal if they are;

  •  healthy and safe,
  •  performed to eliminate a health problem,
  •  not involving haram products and techniques.

If plastic surgery is performed to treat an illness, injury, psychological problem, etc., it is usually regarded as halal. However, we recommend that you proceed in consultation with an Islamic scholar for your specific situation. 

Ref. List

 

  1. http://www.darussalaam.co.uk. (2015). Islamic Ruling | Ruling on Hair Transplants | Darussalam | Hair transplantation | Darussalam Bookstore | Hadith | Goodreads. Darussalaam.co.uk. https://www.darussalaam.co.uk/Ruling_on_Hair_Transplants_336_islamic_fatwa_detail 
  2. Hadith: The Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) cursed the woman who fixes hair extensions (to another) and the woman who has them fixed for her, and the woman who does tattoos and the woman who has them done for her. Encyclopedia of Translated Prophetic Hadiths. https://hadeethenc.com/en/browse/hadith/58099
  3. ‌Hair transplantation. (2021, November 3). Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hair_transplantation

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