Is there a specific recommended procedure of disposing nails and hair that have been cut?

Answered by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Is there a specific recommended procedure of disposing nails and hair that have been cut? I heard they should be buried, or something to that effect. Insha'Allah, could you please comment on this?

Answer:

In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful

Walaikum assalam,

The scholars generally concur that it is recommended to bury everything that is separated of a living human's body, such as a limb, hair, nails, and the like. [Shafii: Nawawi (al-Majmu` Sharh al-Muhadhdhab, 5.213), Hanbali: Buhuti (Kashshaf al-Qina`) 2.96, Hanafi: Turi (Takmilat al-Bahr al-Ra'iq) 8.232]

This is because every part of the human being has been honored by Allah Most High:

"Verily we have honoured the Children of Adam ." [Qur'an, 17.70]

This was from the habitual practice of many of the Companions of the Prophet (Allah bless him & give him peace) and the early Muslims, as mentioned in works such as Ibn Abi Shayba's Musannaf.

Some Hanafi works would seem to indicate that it is necessary (wajib) to bury the hair and nails, but other texts make it clear that what is meant is a linguistic usage of wajib, namely 'highly recommended' because they follow it up by saying, 'And if one throws it away there is no wrong in it (la ba'sa bihi), though if one throws it in the toilet or washroom it is disliked.' ( Muhammad ibn Husayn al-Turi, Takmilat al-Bahr al-Ra'iq, 8.232, quoting al-Nawazil)

Walaikum assalam, 

Faraz Rabbani.

Q. Can you tell me if it is permissible to cut one's nails during the night or what is the ruling on cutting nails according to the Sunnah?

A. It is permissible to cut one's nails during the night. According to the sunnah, one should cut his/her nails every week on a Thursday or Friday.

The manner of cutting the nails is that one should begin with the right hand first. In this hand, one must cut the nails in the following procedure:-

1st- the index finger

2nd- the fore finger

3rd- the ring finger

4th- the little finger

After this, one will continue by cutting the nails of the left hand in the following procedure:-

1st- the little finger

2nd- the ring finger

3rd the fore finger

4th- the index finger

5th- the thumb of the left hand.

After this, a person should cut the nail of the thumb of the right hand.

And Allah knows best.

Mufti Waseem Khan