It has been narrated from Ahmad that which suggests it is impure. This is the opinion of al-Shafi'i; because it grows from an animal, so it becomes impure upon its death, like its limbs.

Our evidence is what was narrated from the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace), that he said: "There is no harm in the hide of a dead animal when it is tanned, and its wool and hair when it is washed." Narrated by al-Daraqutni, who said: "It was not brought forth except by Yusuf ibn al-Safar, and he is weak." Furthermore, the purity of a separated part does not depend on the ritual slaughter (dhakah) of its origin, so it does not become impure upon death, like the parts of fish and locusts. Also, death does not make it permissible (i.e., it does not possess life to be invalidated by death), so it does not become impure by the death of the animal, like its eggs. The evidence that it contains no life is that it neither senses nor feels pain, and these are the indicators of life. If it were separated during life, it would be pure; if it contained life, it would become impure upon its separation due to the statement of the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace): "Whatever is severed from a living being is like its carcass (mayyit)." Narrated by Abu Dawud with this meaning. What they mentioned is invalidated by eggs, and it differs from limbs, for limbs contain life and become impure upon being separated during the animal's life. Growth by itself is not evidence of life, for grass and trees grow, yet they do not become impure.

Section: Feathers are like hair regarding what we have mentioned, because they are in the same category. As for the roots of feathers and hair, if they are moist when plucked from a dead animal, they are impure; because they are moist in an impure location. Is it pure after washing it? There are two views: One is that it is pure, like the tips of hair if they become impure. The second is that it is impure; because it is a part of the flesh that has not yet fully developed into hair or a feather.

Section: Human hair is pure, whether attached or separated, during the human's life and after his death. Al-Shafi'i said in one of his two views: "If it is separated, it is impure." [They have two views regarding the hair of the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace); one of them is that it is impure;] because it is a part of a human that separated during his life, so it is impure like his limb.