Healthy nails are an indication of good health. The color and condition of nails has been used by doctors to diagnose illnesses.

Clipping of the nails is part of Taharat. Shariat directs that:

• A mumin should trim his nails every Friday. This will result in shifa of the fingers.



• Islam instructs men to trim their nails short; and women to grow their nails a little longer. The manicured nails of a woman, are aesthetically pleasing. At the same time, the nails should not be long enough to obstruct everyday tasks.

The use of nail-polish is forbidden in namaaz, because it is impure (napaak). A mumina must apply mehndi on the nails for namaaz.

Here are some of the benefits of trimming the nails:

• The nail plate bends or breaks when stressed. A little pressure during daily work can cause an overgrown nail to separate from the nail bed, thus creating a moist, warm space under the nail where bacteria or fungus can grow.



• Dirt particles hidden in overgrown nails can play host to Bacterium like Campylobacter which even in small amounts can cause severe abdominal pains.