Can Women Leave Their Hair Open In Their Own Homes?

Answered by Shaykh Abdul-Rahim Reasat

Question

Is it okay for women to leave their hair open when inside their homes? My mother would always tell me to tie my hair up because it drives the angels away and brings the shaytan closer. Is this true?

Answer

I pray you are well.

I don’t know of any Islamic reason why a woman would have to tie her hair up at home. Rather, the explicit impermissibility of her showing her hair in public entails that it is permissible in private, and having it open or tied doesn’t affect that.

It seems that your mother may be mistaken due to a cultural understanding or something she just learned when she was younger and didn’t question. Speak to her gently and, if it will help, suggest to her to check with a scholar she trusts. The important thing is for this to not become a cause of friction between you.

May Allah facilitate all matters for you.
[Shaykh] Abdul-Rahim
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Shaykh Abdul-Rahim Reasat began his studies in Arabic Grammar and Morphology in 2005. After graduating with a degree in English and History he moved to Damascus in 2007 where, for 18 months, he studied with many erudite scholars. In late 2008 he moved to Amman, Jordan, where he continued his studies for the next six years in Sacred Law (fiqh), legal theory (Usul al-fiqh), theology, hadith methodology, hadith commentary, and Logic. He was also given licenses of mastery in the science of Quranic recital and he was able to study an extensive curriculum of Quranic sciences, tafsir, Arabic grammar, and Arabic eloquence.