Is there an obligation of Fidyah upon the Muhrim (person in Ihram) for removing fingernails?
Chapter on Ransom (Fidyah) and Penalty for Hunting
Al-Mughni
Book of Hajj
Primary text
The majority opinion dictates that the Muhrim is prohibited from cutting their nails and is required to pay Fidyah for doing so. This view is held by Hammad, Malik, Al-Shafi'i, Abu Thawr, and the Ashab al-Ra'y (Hanafi school). The justification is that removing the nails constitutes removing something prohibited for the sake of comfort, thus requiring Fidyah, similar to shaving hair. The lack of specific textual mention regarding nails does not prevent analogy with hair, just as the ruling regarding body hair parallels that of head hair.
Supporting text
A narration from 'Ata states that no Fidyah is due because the divine law did not explicitly mention a penalty for this act. Furthermore, Al-Shafi'i and Abu Thawr hold that the Fidyah for nails is similar to that for hair, involving a sacrifice (Dam) for four nails, while another narration suggests a sacrifice for three nails. For a single nail, the Fidyah is one Mudd of food, and for two, two Mudd, following established details and differences of opinion.