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Imtishat (combing the hair)

الامتشاط

Imtishat is combing the hair, in the lexical and the juristic sense. 1 A man is recommended to comb his hair and beard, and a woman her hair, following the report of a man with untidy hair whom the Prophet ﷺ told to tidy himself. 1 A man in ihram may not comb if it removes hair; a widow in mourning may not comb with oil or perfume, and the Hanafis forbid a narrow comb. 2

Depth

At a glance

Era
The Prophetic Era
Region
Global / Diaspora
Review
Draft Completeness 1/5 · Help complete it

Ethics and character

Definition

Imtishat is combing the hair; the lexical and juristic senses agree. 1

Ruling

  • A man is recommended to comb his head and beard, and a woman her head, after the report of a man with disordered hair whom the Prophet signalled to tidy himself, and the hadith: whoever has hair should honour it. 12
  • In ihram, combing is forbidden if it removes hair; oiling without removing hair is disputed. 2
  • Most jurists do not forbid a widow in her waiting period to comb, unless the comb is with oil or perfume; the Hanafis forbid a narrow comb. 2

People and things also explored

Ada' al-dayn (paying a debt: its ruling, the manner of payment, insolvency and the debts of the dead)· Ada' al-shahada (performing testimony: the duty on request, the excused witness, and the wording)· Manners of the Qur'an bearer· Biting and the liability for injury it causes (add)· Adha (harm of a slight kind: removing harmful things and the duty not to harm)· Justice and grace (adl wal-fadl)· Pardon (afw) in purity, worship, contracts and penalties· Covenant (ahd) and the duty to keep it; oath by the covenant of God

Sources

  1. al-Mawsu'a al-Fiqhiyya al-Kuwaitiyya, Noor-Book copy (file named v3) , p.3378
  2. al-Mawsu'a al-Fiqhiyya al-Kuwaitiyya, Noor-Book copy (file named v3) , p.3379
Cite this page

islam.museum contributors. “Imtishat (combing the hair)”. islam.museum, https://islam.museum/en/concept/imtishat/. CC BY-SA 4.0. Last updated 2026-10-23.

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Ada' al-dayn (paying a debt: its ruling, the manner of payment, insolvency and the debts of the dead)

Paying a debt in the form owed is obligatory by consensus. A debt due now must be paid on demand when the debtor can pay; a deferred debt is not due before its term. Payment is made in like items, with value owed where there is no like; a better payment is allowed when unconditioned. Remission, gift, assignment, set-off and settlement take the place of payment. A solvent debtor who refuses is compelled, imprisoned and his apparent property sold; the majority hold that a bankrupt is put under interdiction and his property divided among creditors, against Abu Hanifa. The insolvent is given respite, and his debt may be paid from zakat if he borrowed for himself in a lawful matter. A dead person's debt attaches to his estate and takes precedence over bequests and inheritance.