CLIPPING NAILS ACCORDING TO SUNNAH:

A Muslim has to remain clean and tidy and the time. Growing nails is a detested act and may lead to various diseases. The Holy Prophet (SAW), therefore, urged the Muslims to clip their nails at regular intervals. 

Abu Hurayra (RA) reported that the Glorious Prophet (SAW) said: “Five things are from the traditions of the Prophets of the old: circumcision, removing the hair below the navel, trimming the moustaches, cutting the nails and removing the hair from armpit.” (Bukhari, Muslim).


The Holy Prophet not only prescribed the duration but the mode of cutting nails as well. The glorious Prophet (SAW) and the pious companions (RA) would clip their nails every week. Nail clipping every Friday is desirable if it may be inconvenient, then once in a fortnight. In any case, nails should not be allowed to grow more than forty days at a stretch. (Reported by Muslim and narrated by Anas (RA).

Durr-e- Mukhtar quoting the most revered Prophet (SAW) reports a simple method. “Start cutting the nails from the pointer of the right hand and finish with the little finger. Then start cutting the nails of the left hand beginning from the little finger and finish with the thumb and finally cut the nails of the right thumb.”


A Muslim should not clip his nails when taking a bath has become obligatory for him/her. Similarly a woman should not clip her nails during periods. It is Makrooh (not desirable).

Clipping nails is necessary. Abu Hurayra (RA) reported that the Holy Prophet (SAW) said: “He who does not shave off the hair from the abdomen and does not cut his nails and does not trim his moustaches, is not of us” (Muslim).
This hadith applies to women as well as far as clipping nails is concerned. The women by and large grow their nails. According to them long nails add to their beauty. The hadith must serve as an eye opener for them. Conceding one’s faith for long nails is not a good bargain.
Some people eat their nails. This has been strictly forbidden by the most revered Prophet (SAW). According to Alamgiri it may cause leprosy. It also makes others sick.

However, a person should not clip his nails while in Ahraam or during the first ten days of Dhul Hajj if he intends to offer sacrifice. "Once the ten days start, for those of you who have the intention to sacrifice, let them not cut any of their hair or nails (until they sacrifice)." (Al Muslim). 

Cutting the nails is part of the fitrah and a person may cut his nails whenever he wants, at any time of day or night. Also there is no specific rulings as to bury it or dispose it or throw it away. Perhaps some Muslims Scholars have preferred Friday since this day every Muslim is to take a bath, clean bodies and do most of the fitra activities. (Allah knows best)

Whoever does not cut his nails is going against the fitrah. The reason behind this is cleanliness and hygiene, because dirt can gather under the nails. It also serves the purpose of making us different from those among the kuffaar who allow their nails to grow long, and from animals that have claws and talons.
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