بِسْمِ ٱللّٰهِ ٱلرَّحْمٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
Is it allowed to clip nails on a Wednesday? I have heard that doing so is not allowed on a Wednesday.
Nails should not be clipped on a Wednesday as some Ahadeeth (plural of Hadith) have censored doing so. Although Zaeef (weak) in transmission but established nonetheless, some traditions state that clipping nails on a Wednesday causes leprosy.
Allama Shahaabudeen Khifaaji Hanafi Misri (Allah be pleased with him) states, “To clip nails is Sunnat but doing so on Wednesday has been prohibited by some traditions because it causes leprosy. An incident about a certain learned individual is that he clipped his nails on a Wednesday. When he was stopped from doing so, he retorted, “This tradition is not established” and he immediately contracted leprosy thereafter. At night he sees the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) in a dream and complains to him about his leprosy. Rasoolullah said to him, “Did you not hear the prohibition of clipping nails on a Wednesday?” He submitted, “The tradition didn’t reach the level of being Sahih (correctly transmitted) according to my knowledge.” The Noble Messenger (peace be upon him) replied, “It should’ve been sufficient for you that you heard this Hadith.” Thereafter Rasoolullah (peace be upon him) passed his blessed hand over his body and the sickness was instantly removed. The scholar thereafter made Tauba (penance) from opposing traditions which he hears.”
(Naseemur Riyaadh Sharhu Shifaa lil Qaadhi Ayaadh- Fasl wa Amma Nazaafatu Jismihi, Vol. 1, pg. 344)
The scholar in this incident is Imaam Allama Ibn Haaj Makki Maaliki (Allah be pleased with him). Sayed ul Ulama Allama Tahtaawi (Allah be pleased with him) writes, “Some traditions narrate prohibition about clipping nails on Wednesday because it causes Bars (leprosy). It is narrated that Ibn Al-Haaj (Allah be pleased with him) the author of the book Mudkhal shouldn’t clip his nails on Wednesdays based on this prohibition. He then thought to himself that clipping nails is Sunnat whereas the tradition of prohibition has not reached Sihat (correctness in transmission). Based on this thinking, he clipped his nails and immediately contracted leprosy. He saw the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) in a dream and he asked him, “Did you not hear of the prohibition?” He replied, “This tradition is not Sahih according to me.” The Noble Messenger (peace be upon him) stated, “It was sufficient for you that it was related to me.” He thereafter passed his blessed hand over his body causing the leprosy to be removed and the Allama (Allah be pleased with him) being cured. Allama Ibn Haaj (Allah be pleased with him) states, “I then made Tauba in Allah’s Ta’aala Court not to oppose anything I hear related to the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him).” (Haashia Tahtaawi alad Durril Mukhtaar, Kitaabul Hazr Wal Ibaahah- Fasl fil Bai, Vol. 4, pg. 202)
Another Zaeef Hadeeth states, “He who clips his nails on Wednesday, Waswasaa (evil thoughts) and fear is removed from him and security and cure is acquired.”
(Al Mouzooaat li Ibn Jauzi, Vol. 3, pg. 53)
The question now is, “Which tradition must be acted upon?”
The Ulama state that the Hadith which prohibits cutting nails on a Wednesday should be acted upon. This ruling is deduced on analogy from the following Hadith. Hazrat Uqbaa bin Haarith (Allah be pleased with him) married the daughter of Abu Ihaab bin Azeez (her name was Attiya). Then a lady came forward and claimed, “I have breast fed milk to both Uqbaa and his bride.” Hazrat Uqbaa (Allah be pleased with him) said, “I don’t have knowledge of you breastfeeding me and you have not mentioned this to me in the past.” He then rode to Madina Shareef and asked the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) (of what to do). He replied, “How can you continue with her (Attiya) when such a matter has been said?” Hazrat Aqbaa (Allah be pleased with him) then left Attiya and she made another Nikaah.
(Bukhari Shareef, Kitaabul Ilm- Baabur Rihla fil Mas’alatin Naazila)
Even the erudite scholar of the 14th Islamic century, Aala Hazrat Imaam Ahmed Raza Khan (Allah be pleased with him) opines the same. (Fataawa Razvia, Vol. 22, pg. 685-686)
Allah and His Rasool know best.
Darul Iftaa
Islamic Lifestyle Solutions
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