Question Summary:
Can you please explain the significance of not cutting your hair or nails in the first 10 days of Zul Hajj until Qurbani has been made?

Question Detail:

 
1. Can you please explain the significance of not cutting your hair or nails in the first 10 days of Zul Hajj until Qurbani has been made?
 
2. What is the reason for the husband not being allowed to bury the wife? what if the female janazaa has no boys or male family, who would bury the body?
 

Answer :

1.      In regards to not cutting one’s hair and pairing one’s nails, Rasūlullah صلى الله عليه و سلم has mentioned, “When the ten days (of Dhul Hijjah) commence and a person has a sacrificial animal, which he intends to slaughter, then let him not cut his hair or pare his nails.” (Muslim)
قال إذا دخل العشر وعنده أضحية يريد أن يضحي فلا يأخذن شعرا ولا يقلمن ظفرا
(مسلم رقم الحديث 1977, دار إحياء التراث العربي)
Rasūlullah صلى الله عليه و سلم did not mention the exact reason why a person should not cut his hair or nails; therefore, any explanation for its underlying reason is mere conjecture. Nevertheless, some ‘Ulamā and commentators of Hadīth state various possible reasons for this instruction. Imām Nawawī رحمه الله states that the wisdom behind not cutting the hair and trimming the nails is to include these body parts in the emancipation from the fire after the sacrifice of the animal along with the remainder of the body. This understanding is possibly based on the following narration quoted in al-Targhīb wa al-Tarhīb, “Whoever offers a sacrifice with a contented heart anticipating reward for his sacrifice, it will serve as a veil for him from the fire.”
وروي عن الحسين بن علي رضي الله عنهما قال قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه و سلم من ضحى طيبة نفسه محتسبا لاضحيته كانت له حجابا من النار (الترغيب والترهيب رقم الحديث 1664, دار الكتب العلمية)
Other commentators of Hadīth such as Ibn Qayyim رحمه الله state that it constitutes part of the completion of the sacrificial rite of the Qurbānī. He presents the following narration of Rasūlullah صلى الله عليه و سلم as evidence for this claim, “Cut your hair and nails, trim your mustache and shave your pubic hairs for verily that constitutes the completion of your sacrifice by Allah, the Most-Honored and Sublime”
تأخذ من شعرك وأظفارك وتقص شاربك وتحلق عانتك فتلك تمام أضحيتك عند الله عزوجل
 (ابو داود رقم الحديث 2789 , دار الفكر)
Imām Suyūtī رحمه الله mentions that some ‘Ulamā are of the opinion that the wisdom behind not cutting one’s hair and nails is to resemble, in some way or the other, the pilgrims of Hajj.
 
Despite the various possible wisdoms, the main underlying reason for a Muslim should be to carry out the instructions and desires of our beloved Nabī صلى الله عليه و سلم . In the realm of love, worship and obedience, one’s logic has no stake.  Allah and His Nabī  صلى الله عليه و سلم know best why we were instructed to refrain from cutting our hair and nails. Therefore, as dutiful slaves we should carry out the instruction in a spirit of undying devotion.
 
2.      Generally, the question that arises after the demise of a wife is not the impermissibility of the husband burying his wife; rather, it is the impermissibility of him performing the ghusl (bathing) before enshrouding her. The reason that the Fuqahā mention for this is that the nikāh between the husband and wife terminates with the demise of the wife; therefore, it will not be permissible for the ex-husband to look at the dead body of his ex-wife. In the same light, at the time of burying the deceased, there is a possibility of part of the body becoming exposed, or there might be a need to touch the body; therefore, it is preferable to have a mahram bury the body. However, if there are no mahrams to fulfill this task, it will be permissible for a pious non-mahram male, such as the husband, to bury the body. (Fatāwā Mahmūdiyyah, vol. 9 pg. 64, Farūqiyyah)
And Allah Ta'ala Knows Best
Ml. Yusuf bin Yaqub,
Student Darul Iftaa
Darul Iftaa, Madrassah In'aamiyyah