Short answer
No. Cutting nails or removing hair is forbidden from the moment you enter ihram until you shave or trim at the end. In the Hanafi school, cutting all five nails of one hand or foot requires a dam; fewer than five requires sadaqah for each nail. A nail that breaks and hangs may be removed.
Clipping nails and removing hair are haram in ihram. All five nails of one hand or foot, or all twenty in one sitting, require one dam; fewer than five require half a sa' of wheat for each nail. Shaving a quarter of the head or beard requires a dam, less requires sadaqah. Forgetfulness does not cancel the penalty.
Other madhhabs
- Shafi'i
- Removing three hairs or three nails requires the full fidyah (a sheep, three days of fasting or feeding six poor people); one or two require a mudd of food each.
- Hanbali
- Removing three hairs or three nails requires the full fidyah; less than that requires food for each one.
Explanation
The Quran says "do not shave your heads until the sacrificial animal has reached its place", and the scholars extend this to all body hair and to nails. The four schools agree that both are forbidden in ihram; they differ only in the details of the penalty.
Penalties in the Hanafi school:
- All five nails of one hand or one foot: a dam (a sheep or goat slaughtered in the Haram).
- All four hands and feet in one sitting: one dam. In separate sittings, one dam for each limb.
- Fewer than five nails: sadaqah for each nail, the amount of sadaqat al-fitr.
- A quarter or more of the head or beard, or a whole armpit or the pubic area: a dam.
- A few hairs: a small sadaqah.
If you have a real need, such as a medical reason, you may cut what is needed, and then choose one of three: a sheep, fasting three days, or feeding six poor people. This is the ransom in the same verse, and the Prophet ﷺ gave Ka'b ibn Ujrah exactly this choice when lice in his hair forced him to shave.
- Broken nail: removing the broken part that hangs carries no penalty.
- Hair falling in wudu or sleep: hair that falls on its own while you sleep is excused; hair that falls from your rubbing during wudu needs a small sadaqah, so wipe gently.
- Trimming before ihram: it is sunnah to cut your nails, trim the moustache and remove armpit and pubic hair before you enter ihram.
The evidence
Quran, Surah Al-Baqara 2:196
وَأَتِمُّوا۟ ٱلْحَجَّ وَٱلْعُمْرَةَ لِلَّهِ ۚ فَإِنْ أُحْصِرْتُمْ فَمَا ٱسْتَيْسَرَ مِنَ ٱلْهَدْىِ ۖ وَلَا تَحْلِقُوا۟ رُءُوسَكُمْ حَتَّىٰ يَبْلُغَ ٱلْهَدْىُ مَحِلَّهُۥ ۚ فَمَن كَانَ مِنكُم مَّرِيضًا أَوْ بِهِۦٓ أَذًۭى مِّن رَّأْسِهِۦ فَفِدْيَةٌۭ مِّن صِيَامٍ أَوْ صَدَقَةٍ أَوْ نُسُكٍۢ ۚ فَإِذَآ أَمِنتُمْ فَمَن تَمَتَّعَ بِٱلْعُمْرَةِ إِلَى ٱلْحَجِّ فَمَا ٱسْتَيْسَرَ مِنَ ٱلْهَدْىِ ۚ فَمَن لَّمْ يَجِدْ فَصِيَامُ ثَلَٰثَةِ أَيَّامٍۢ فِى ٱلْحَجِّ وَسَبْعَةٍ إِذَا رَجَعْتُمْ ۗ تِلْكَ عَشَرَةٌۭ كَامِلَةٌۭ ۗ ذَٰلِكَ لِمَن لَّمْ يَكُنْ أَهْلُهُۥ حَاضِرِى ٱلْمَسْجِدِ ٱلْحَرَامِ ۚ وَٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ وَٱعْلَمُوٓا۟ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ شَدِيدُ ٱلْعِقَابِ ﴿١٩٦﴾
And complete the Hajj and 'umrah for Allah. But if you are prevented, then [offer] what can be obtained with ease of sacrificial animals. And do not shave your heads until the sacrificial animal has reached its place of slaughter. And whoever among you is ill or has an ailment of the head [making shaving necessary must offer] a ransom of fasting [three days] or charity or sacrifice. And when you are secure, then whoever performs 'umrah [during the Hajj months] followed by Hajj [offers] what can be obtained with ease of sacrificial animals. And whoever cannot find [or afford such an animal] - then a fast of three days during Hajj and of seven when you have returned [home]. Those are ten complete [days]. This is for those whose family is not in the area of al-Masjid al-Haram. And fear Allah and know that Allah is severe in penalty.
Removing hair is forbidden in ihram, with a ransom if done out of need.
Sahih al-Bukhari 1814
Sahih... احلق رأسك وصم ثلاثة أيام أو أطعم ستة مساكين ...
"Shave your head, then fast three days, or feed six poor people, or sacrifice a sheep."
The choice of ransom for someone who removes hair out of need.
Where the ruling is recorded
- al-Hidaya, Kitab al-Hajj, bab al-jinayat, on shaving and nails. The dam for a quarter of the head and for five nails of one limb.
- al-Fatawa al-Hindiyya, Kitab al-Manasik, chapter on violations. Sittings, single nails and falling hair.
- Nur al-Idah with Maraqi al-Falah, Kitab al-Hajj, chapter on violations. A short summary of the penalties.
This answer is pending review by the scholars on our team. Quran translation by Sahih International. Hadith Arabic from the standard editions of the six books and the Muwatta, with gradings as recorded there; the English is our own rendering. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.