Ruling on cutting the hair of a deceased woman when washing her

Q 2: I participated in washing a very old woman whose hair was curly in a strange complicated manner, a woman who was present with me then, advised me to braid her hair, so I tried to undo her curly hair to braid it like what the woman said but it was in vain, I could not achieve the job, at last I cut the tips of the complicated curly hair of the dead woman until I was able to braid her hair three plaits depending on the opinion of that woman, Is there any sin on me doing so, or should I pay any Kaffarah (expiation)?


A 2: If the reality is as you have mentioned, then there is no sin on you since you did not cut the hair without any excuse, but you only acted like this to be able to braid her curly hair three plaits following the Sunnah (action following the teachings of the Prophet). It was reported by Um `Atiyyah (may Allah be pleased with her) that she said: (We braided her hair in three plaits, and put them behind her) referring to one of the daughters of the Prophet (peace be upon him). This Hadith is agreed upon by Al-Bukhari and Muslim. (Part No. 7; Page No. 234) May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.


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