Women shortening their hair out of necessity
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Question: What is the ruling regarding (women) shortening their hair out of necessity such as in the United Kingdom where the women find washing their hair difficult due to the cold weather so because of this they shorten it.

Response: If the situation is as mentioned, then it is permissible for them to cut short their hair according to what their needs stipulate only. As for cutting short their hair out of resembling the disbelieving women (kaafiraat), then this is not permissible as the Prophet (sal-Allaahu `alayhe wa sallam) said:

((Whoever resembles a nation, then he is from them)).

And with Allaah lies all success and may Allaah send prayers and salutations upon our Prophet (sal-Allaahu `alayhe wa sallam) and his family and his companions.

The Permanent Committee for Islaamic Research and Fataawa
Head: Shaykh 'Abdul 'Azeez Ibn Abdullaah Ibn Baaz;
Deputy Head: Shaykh 'Abdur-Razzaaq 'Afeefee;
Member: Shaykh 'Abdullaah Ibn Ghudayyaan;
Member: Shaykh 'Abdullaah Ibn Qu'ood
Fataawa al-Lajnah ad-Daa.imah lil-Buhooth al-'Ilmiyyah wal-Iftaa., - Volume 5, Page 182, Question 2 of Fatwa No.2922;
Fataawa wa Ahkaam fee Sha'r an-Nisaa - Question 27, Page 32