“When the last ten days of Dhul-Ḥijjah begin, and one of you intends to offer a sacrifice, he should not cut any of his hair or trim his nails.”

Narrated by Muslim (no. 1977) from the ḥadīth of Umm Salamah (may Allah be pleased with her).
In his wording (no. 1977): “When you see the crescent of Dhul-Ḥijjah…, let him refrain from cutting his hair and nails.”

Brief Explanation of the Hadith

The sacrificial offering (uḍḥiyyah) is a confirmed Sunnah, legislated as a means of drawing near to Allah on the Day of Sacrifice and the days of Tashrīq, reviving the practice of Abraham (peace be upon him) and manifesting gratitude for Allah’s blessings. The Lawgiver has prescribed etiquettes and rulings for it, which it is recommended for the one offering the sacrifice to observe, so that his act may attain the fullest reward and greatest merit.
Among these rulings is what the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) informed in this ḥadīth: when the last ten days of Dhul-Ḥijjah begin and a Muslim intends to offer a sacrifice, he must refrain from removing anything from his hair or nails, whether a little or a lot, whether it is underarm hair, pubic hair, mustache, hair of the head, beard, or other body hair, and by any means, whether plucking, cutting, or shaving.
It has been said that the wisdom behind this prohibition is to resemble the one in a state of ihrām; for just as the person in ihrām for Hajj or ʿUmrah is prohibited from cutting his hair or nails until he completes his rites, so too the one offering a sacrifice is prohibited from cutting his hair or nails until he performs the sacrifice. It has also been said that the sacrificial offering is a means of forgiveness and protection from the Fire, so it is recommended that the one offering remain physically intact, hoping that all parts of his body will be saved from the Fire.
The ḥadīth indicates the virtue of the sacrificial offering (uḍḥiyyah) and the ruling to refrain from cutting hair and nails at the start of the last ten days of Dhul-Ḥijjah, which underscores the special status and great significance of these days.

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Related Hadiths

The Sunnah for the one in iʿtikāf is that he does not visit the sick, nor attend a funeral, nor touch a woman or have intercourse with her.

Whenever the last ten [nights of Ramadān] began, he would tighten his waist-wrapper, spend the nights in worship, and awaken his family.

Seek it in the last ten nights of Ramaḍān —Laylat al-Qadr—.

(The Prophet) left the iʿtikāf during Ramadān, and later observed iʿtikāf during the first ten days of Shawwāl.

He used to observe iʿtikāf (spiritual retreat) during the last ten days of Ramadān until Allah, the Almighty, took his soul. Then, his wives observed iʿtikāf after him.

“No deeds are more virtuous during the ten days than the righteous deeds done in them.” They said, “Not even Jihad in the cause of Allah?” He said, “Not even Jihad.”

“When the last ten days of Dhul-Ḥijjah begin, and one of you intends to offer a sacrifice, he should not cut any of his hair or trim his nails.”

Brief Explanation of the Hadith

Related Hadiths

The Sunnah for the one in iʿtikāf is that he does not visit the sick, nor attend a funeral, nor touch a woman or have intercourse with her.

Whenever the last ten [nights of Ramadān] began, he would tighten his waist-wrapper, spend the nights in worship, and awaken his family.

Seek it in the last ten nights of Ramaḍān —Laylat al-Qadr—.

(The Prophet) left the iʿtikāf during Ramadān, and later observed iʿtikāf during the first ten days of Shawwāl.

He used to observe iʿtikāf (spiritual retreat) during the last ten days of Ramadān until Allah, the Almighty, took his soul. Then, his wives observed iʿtikāf after him.

“No deeds are more virtuous during the ten days than the righteous deeds done in them.” They said, “Not even Jihad in the cause of Allah?” He said, “Not even Jihad.”

I see that your dreams (coincide) regarding the last ten nights, so seek it (Laylat al-Qadr) during the odd nights among them.

If one hears the call to prayer while holding a vessel, he must not set it down until he has discharged its contents.

The pre-dawn meal (suḥūr) is all blessing, so do not abandon it — even if one of you were to take only a single sip of water.

(He) would not perform anything before ‘Īd (prayer). However, when he returned to his home, he would perform two units of prayer.