Making a Bun or Ponytail

Question: I know that tying one’s hair into a camel bump is haram. But is wearing your hair in a bun at the top of your head when at home haram? It’s easier to handle especially when I’m showering or going to the bathroom. My mum also wears her hair like this when she sleeps. When I sleep, I gather all my hair at the top of my head into a ponytail. This is the perfect method for me. Is it permissible?

Answer:

Assalamu alaykum,

Thank you for your question. There is a lot of interpretation concerning the hadith about the camel hump and whether it relates to the manner of donning the hijab. Please see the details here: https://seekers.flywheelstaging.com/answers/general-counsel/camel-hump-volumised-hijab/

As for tying your hair in a certain manner at home, such as a high bun or high ponytail, it is permissible. You may find with time that you prefer to make braids, as this gives the hair ultimate protection from tangling and pulling, and is beautiful due to its simplicity. Either way, you are not sinning, and Allah knows best.

[Ustadha] Shazia Ahmad

Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Ustadha Shazia Ahmad lived in Damascus, Syria for two years where she studied aqidah, fiqh, tajweed, tafseer, and Arabic. She then attended the University of Texas at Austin, where she completed her Masters in Arabic. Afterward, she moved to Amman, Jordan where she studied fiqh, Arabic, and other sciences. She recently moved back to Mississauga, Canada, where she lives with her family.