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Before starting to cut nails, prepare the tool first which is a nail clipper or scissors. It is better to use a specially designed nail clipper so that it is safer and easier.
The sunnah is to follow the way that is in the Book of Almajmu, which is:
FEED THE POOR
Feeding the poor and needy is an act that draws us closer to Allah. We earn His forgiveness, mercies and blessings through this act of charity.
“Anyone who looks after and works for a widow and a poor person is like a warrior fighting for Allah?s cause, or like a person who fasts during the day and prays all night. (Bukhari)
ويستحب ان يبدأ باليد اليمني ثم اليسرى ثم الرجل اليمني ثم اليسرى
“It is suggested to start from the right hand then the left hand, from the right foot then the left foot.”
How to Cut Nails In Islam
According to Imam Nawawi, the sunnah in cutting nails is started from the right hand which is the index finger, middle finger, ring finger, little finger and thumb. Then, it is continued to the left finger, starting from the little finger, ring finger, middle finger, index finger and thumb.
Next is toenails, the sunnah is started from the right little toe to big toe. Then, the left toenails which is started from big toe to little toe.
It is stated in the Book of Fathul Bari, Imam Ibn Hajar said:
وَلَمْ يَثْبُتْ فِي تَرْتِيبِ الْأَصَابِعِ عِنْدَ الْقَصِّ شَيْءٌ مِنَ الْأَحَادِيثِ لَكِنْ جَزَمَ النَّوَوِيُّ فِي شَرْحِ مُسْلِمٍ بِأَنَّهُ يُسْتَحَبُّ الْبَدْاَءةُ بِمُسَبِّحَةِ الْيُمْنَي ثُمَّ بِالْوُسْطَى ثُمَّ الْبِنْصِرِ ثُمَّ الْخِنْصِرِ ثُمَّ الْإِبْهَامِ وَفِي الْيُسْرَى بِالْبَدْاَءةِ بِخِنْصِرِهَا ثُمَّ بِالْبِنْصِرِ إِلَى الْإِبْهَامِ وَيُبْدَأُ فِي الرِّجْلَيْنِ بِخِنْصِرِ الْيُمْنَى إِلَى الْإِبْهَامِ وَفِي الْيُسْرَى بِإِبْهَامِهَا إِلَى الْخِنْصِرِ
“None of the hadiths that explain about the order of cutting nails. However, Imam Nawawi emphasized in the book of Syarh Muslim, that it is suggested to start from the right index finger, middle finger, ring finger, little finger, and thumb. For the left fingernails, it is started from the little finger, ring finger to thumb. For toenails, it is started from the right little toe to big toe, and the left toenails are started from big toe to little toe.”
The Time of Cutting Nails
The law of maintaining long nails in Islam is not more than 40 days. As it is in the verse below.
From Anas bin Malik radhiyallahu ‘anhu,
وُقِّتَ لَنَا فِى قَصِّ الشَّارِبِ وَتَقْلِيمِ الأَظْفَارِ وَنَتْفِ الإِبْطِ وَحَلْقِ الْعَانَةِ أَنْ لاَ نَتْرُكَ أَكْثَرَ مِنْ أَرْبَعِينَ لَيْلَةً
“We are given a limitation in shortening the mustache, cutting nails, plucking armpit hair, shaving pubic hair, which it is not left for more than 40 nights.” (Hadith Muslim no. 258). What is meant by this hadith is not to let the nails and hairs that are mentioned in the hadith be long for more than 40 days (See Syarh Shahih Muslim, 3: 133)
Cutting nails before doing the Friday prayer
“According to Imam asy-Syafi’e and the asy-Syafi’eyah theologians, the sunnah of cutting nails is before doing the Friday prayer, as it is suggested to take a bath, brush teeth, wear a fragrance, dress neatly before going to the mosque to do the Friday prayer.” (Hadith Muslim)
Those were the how to cut nails in Islam. Hopefully we can practice it in accordance with the provision in Islam. So that the faith in ourselves increases because of keeping the virtues of cleanliness in Islam. Aamiin Insha Allah.