Question

Are there any Hadiths with regards to women applying henna on their hands?

 

Answer

Yes. The following Hadiths encourage women to apply henna on their hands:

 

1) Sayyidah ‘Aaishah (radiyallahu ‘anha) reported that Hind bintu ‘Utbah said, “O Nabi of Allah! Accept my allegiance, he replied, “I will not accept your allegiance till you change the palms of your hands [by applying henna] for they [look like] the paws of an animal of prey.”

(Sunan Abi Dawud, Hadith: 4162)

 

2) Sayyidah ‘Aaishah (radiyallahu ‘anha) reported that a woman once indicated from behind a curtain that she had a letter for Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam). Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) withdrew his hand and said, “I do not know if this is a man’s hand or a woman’s hand. The woman replied, “No, a woman.” Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said, “If you were a female you would have changed your nails [by applying henna]”

(Sunan Abi Dawud, Hadith: 4163)

 

3) A Sahabiyyah (radiyallahu ‘anha) reports that Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) once entered upon her and said, “Apply henna. You leave out applying henna resulting in your hand looking like a man’s hand.” The narration states that this Sahabiyyah applied henna right until she passed away. She was eighty years old and still applied henna.

(Musnad Ahmad, vol. 4 pg. 70, Hadith: 16650)

 

And Allah Ta’ala Knows best.

 

Answered by: Moulana Suhail Motala

 

Approved by: Moulana Muhammad Abasoomar