In summary: In the Hanbali madhab, cutting hair or nails before Qurbani is considered haraam (forbidden) for the person performing the sacrifice. In the Shafiʼi, Maliki, and Hanafi madhabs, it ranges from makrooh (disliked) to simply less virtuous, but it is not a sin in those schools.
For most Muslims, the safest and most spiritually rewarding position is to follow the Sunnah and refrain from cutting hair and nails during this blessed period, regardless of your madhab.
When Does the Prohibition on Cutting Hair and Nails Begin?
The prohibition on cutting hair and nails begins from the 1st of Dhul Hijjah, when the new moon of the month is sighted, and it lasts until after the Qurbani sacrifice has been performed. In most cases, this means refraining from the 1st until the 10th of Dhul Hijjah (Eid al-Adha), when the sacrifice takes place.
If you form your intention to perform Qurbani after Dhul Hijjah has already started, then the prohibition begins from the moment you make that intention. Anything you trimmed before forming the intention is fine.
Practical tip: If you want to trim your hair or cut your nails, the best time to do so is before the 1st of Dhul Hijjah begins. This way, you can enter the blessed ten days of Dhul Hijjah clean and in line with the Sunnah.
Does This Ruling Apply to the Whole Family?
No. The prohibition on cutting hair and nails before Qurbani applies only to the person who is personally offering the sacrifice. It does not extend to their spouse, children, or other family members unless those individuals are also offering their own separate Qurbani sacrifice.
This is confirmed by the wording of the Hadith itself: “One of you intends to offer a sacrifice”, the ruling is tied to the individual’s own intention and act of sacrifice.
So if only one person in a household is performing Qurbani on behalf of the family, only that person should refrain from cutting hair and nails. The rest of the family can trim their hair and nails as normal throughout the ten days of Dhul Hijjah.
What If You Accidentally Cut Your Hair or Nails Before Qurbani?
If you forget and accidentally cut your hair or nails during the first ten days of Dhul Hijjah, there is no need to worry. Islam is a religion of mercy, and this act does not invalidate your Qurbani in any way. The scholars are clear on this point.
Imam Nawawi (RA) said:
“Our companions said that it is disliked for the one who wants to sacrifice to remove anything from his hair, nails, or skin. If he does so, he should seek forgiveness from Allah, but there is no penalty upon him.”
This means:
