Question:
Assalamu Alaykum dear shaykh,
What is the correct way of cutting nails according to fiqhi teachings. I heard that you should begin with index finger and end with the thumb. please advise.
Jazakallah Khair
W’salam
Answer:
Bismillahi ‘r-Rahmani ‘r-Raheem
There is no exact way of cutting nails, to be specific. However we learnt from al-Nawawi, al-Ghazali and Ibn Hajar that it is Mustahabb or preferred that we clip in the following manner:
Right hand first starting with the index finger, continuing with the middle finger, ring finger and then pinky finger;
Then left hand starting with the pinky finger, then ring finger, middle finger, index finger, left thumb, and finally ending with the right thumb.
For the toes, start with the right pinky toe and move leftwards ending with the left pinky toe.
Clipping the finger nails should precede the toenails.
W ‘allahu `Alam.
Abdul Shakur Hadi