Trimming Nails and Grooming in the Sunnah

Suyuti1 · Jun 07, 2025, 12:55 PM

Trimming the nails, removing unwanted body hair, and general grooming are not just acts of cleanliness — they are sunnah practices that preserve the natural disposition (fitrah) Allah has created. The Prophet ﷺ said:

"Five things are part of the fitrah: circumcision, shaving the pubic hair, clipping the nails, plucking the armpit hair, and trimming the moustache."
— Sahih al-Bukhari (5889), Sahih Muslim (257)

These practices promote hygiene, dignity, and self-respect. The Prophet ﷺ encouraged Muslims not to delay these acts beyond forty days, as narrated by Anas ibn Malik (RA):

"We were given a time limit for trimming the moustache, clipping the nails, plucking the armpit hair, and shaving the pubic hair, not to leave them for more than forty nights."
— Sahih Muslim (258)

The Prophet ﷺ also kept his beard well-maintained, instructing men to grow their beards and trim the moustache — a distinction from non-Muslim traditions at the time.

The Sahaba were meticulous in following this grooming guidance. Cleanliness was not just personal — it was social and spiritual. Maintaining neatness and hygiene reflects a Muslim's obedience to Allah and respect for the body He has entrusted.

Trimming Nails and Grooming in the Sunnah

Suyuti1

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