Hair Implants

Before responding to the Shar’i law related to hair implants/transplants which you have queried, it ought to be noted that although Islam allows, and even encourages to some extent, nonsurgical means of beautification, it prohibits having one’s body altered through surgical means merely for cosmetic purposes.

Islam has accorded great veneration and reverence to the human body hence the body of man deserves to be respected and honoured. Shariah therefore does not permit cutting and operating on the human body without any valid necessity. The Fuqaha (classical jurists) have thus prohibited all surgical procedures carried out on the body for the purpose of adornment.

Furthermore, having one’s body altered through surgical means entails two prohibited elements i.e. Muthla (mutilation) and At-Taghyeer-Li-Khalqillah (altering/changing the nature created by Allah Ta’ala),which have been explicitly prohibited in the Quraan-e-Majeed and Sunnah Mubaarakah.

Allah Ta’aala says in the Quraan-e-Majeed:

(Shaitaan says) and I will lead them astray and I will tempt them with false hopes and give them my order so they shall slit the ears of cattle and I will give them my order so they shall alter the creation of Allah.

It is reported in Sahih al-Bukhari that Abdullah bin Mas’ood (Radiyallahu Anhu) said:

Allah has cursed those women who practise tattooing and those who get themselves tattooed, and those who remove their face hairs, and those who create a space between their teeth artificially in order to look beautiful. They are such women that change the natural features created by Allah Ta Aala. Why then should I not curse those whom the Messenger of Allah  (Sallallahu Alaihi Aa Sallam) has cursed? And this is found in Allah’s Book: ‘And what the Messenger gives you, take it, and what he forbids you from abstain (from it).’
Sahih al-Bukhari

Based on the texts above, the scholars have mentioned that unnecessarily altering and tampering with one’s natural features by means of surgery, falls under the category of either At-Taghyeer-Li-Khalqillah or Muthlah (mutilation), which are strictly prohibited in Islam.

Nevertheless, Islam has also taken into account the fact that many surgical procedures are performed in order to fix physical defects or to treat injuries that otherwise would lead to severe health problems if not attended to at an earlier stage. In light of this, the Fuqahaa and many contemporary scholars have commented that if one uses surgical means in order to fix a physical defect or treat a certain disease, then it will be permissible to undergo such a surgery. In light of the above, we now respond individually to each of the query regarding hair transplants:

Generally it is understood that hair transplantation is the redistribution of your naturally growing hair. Hair follicles growing in areas of greater density at the back of the head are transplanted to areas that are bald. This method of Hair Transplantation for a person who is getting bald will be permissible but subject to the following conditions:

Firstly, the transplantation will only be permissible if it is by means of the person’s own natural hair. if the hair of another human being is used then it will not be permissible. However the usage of artificial hair is also permissible.

Secondly, it should be noted that the permissibility of a hair transplant (if conducted in the above manner) will be restricted to situations of necessity such as if the balding person suffers real psychological or social pains as a result of his baldness. If there is no necessity or if being bald is not regarded as a defect in the person then hair transplantation will not be allowed, even if his own hair were to be used.