Support IslamQA

Please contribute generously in order to ensure the continuity of our website InshaAllah.

Where to Throw Cut Nails in Islam?

24-09-1998

Question 1179

Is it correct that throwing away one’s nail clippings is prohibited and that they should be buried?

Summary of answer:

In Islam, there is nothing wrong with throwing cut nails in the garbage or burying them. But if one is afraid that they may fall into the hands of a practitioner of Sihr, then he should bury them or throw them somewhere where such people will not be able to get their hands on them.

Answer

Praise be to Allah.

Islam tells us to trim our nails , because this is one of the five qualities dictated by the Fitrah (natural inclination of man). If one throws them in the garbage or buries them , there is nothing wrong with doing either. (Fatawa Al-Lajnah Ad-Da’imah, 5/174). 

But if one is afraid that they may fall into the hands of a practitioner of Sihr (witchcraft), then he should bury them or throw them somewhere where such people will not be able to get their hands on them. 

For more details, please refer to the following answers: 11993 and 26266 .

And Allah knows best.

Natural character and instinct of the human creation
Show on Islam Q&A website.