Women and Ḥijāb

Is it Obligatory for Women to Dye Their Hands with Henna? – Shaykh ibn Bāz

Shaykh Ibn Bāz explains the ruling on women using henna on their hands and whether leaving them undyed constitutes imitation of men.

July 18, 2017 · updated October 10, 2026 · 2 min read

Painterly illustration of henna powder in a ceramic bowl beside a brass applicator.

Question

Is it obligatory for a woman to dye her hands with henna, because some people claim that a woman is imitating men if she does not henna her hands? Please benefit us.

Shaykh ʿAbd al-Azīz bin ʿAbdullah bin Bāz:

Without a doubt, dyeing her hands with henna is highly recommended. Some narrations are reported which are weak, however it is better for her to dye them with henna. In regards to its ruling, if its permissible or prohibited for her to leave her hands plain, I’m not aware of any basis this saying. Nonetheless, it is better and preferable for her to dye them with henna, so that they will not resemble the hands of a man.

This is what is better and is more preferable, since there are narrations which mention this, and it is from the sunnah that is well-known among women and it was a norm at the time of the Prophet and after his death to dye the hands with henna, and it is highly recommended for women.