Question # 124: Wish to ask during 10 days leading to Eid ul Adha, Anybody who is doing a Qurbani is not allowed to cut Nails, hair etc. What if somebody is traveling and needs to meet people and keep his beard in shape and needs to Shave the sides to keep it clean as his usual habit, Is there is an exemption for that person? Jazak k Sheikh for your help.

bismi-llahi r-raḥmani r-raḥīm,

Assalamu ‘laikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh,

All praise and thanks are due to Allah (سبحانه و تعالى), and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger (صلى الله عليه و سلم).

Dear questioner,

First of all, we implore Allah (سبحانه و تعالى) to help us serve His cause and render our work for His sake.

Shorter Answer: If the person who wants to offer sacrifice intentionally removes anything from his hair, nails, or skin, he has to repent to Allah and not repeat the act again during the remaining days of Dhu’l-Hijjah; however, he does not have to offer any expiation, and also, he is not prevented from offering the sacrifice. Also, Refer Question # 415: Removing hair during ten days of Dhul-Hijjah for the Family.

Long Answer: Shaykh ‘Abd al-‘Azeez ibn Baaz (may Allah have mercy on him) said: “If anyone wants to offer a sacrifice, and the month of Dhu’l-Hijjah has begun, either because the new moon has been sighted or because thirty days of Dhu’l-Qa’dah have passed, then it is haram for him to remove anything of his hair or nails or skin until he has slaughtered the sacrifice, because of the hadith of Umm Salamah (رضي الله عنها), according to which the Prophet (صلى الله عليه و سلم) said: “When you see the new moon of Dhu’l-Hijjah – according to another version, When the ten days (of Dhu’l-Hijjah) begin – and any one of you wants to offer a sacrifice, let him refrain (from cutting) his hair and nails.” (Narrated by Ahmad and Muslim) According to another version, “Let him not remove anything from his hair and nails until he has offered the sacrifice.” And according to yet another version, “He should not touch his hair or skin.”

If he forms the intention to offer the sacrifice during the first ten days of Dhu’l-Hijjah, then he should refrain from that from the moment he forms that intention, and there is no sin on him for anything he may have done before forming the intention.

…If the person who wants to offer the sacrifice does remove anything from his hair, nails, or skin, then he has to repent to Allah and not do it again, but he does not have to offer any expiation, and that does not prevent him from offering the sacrifice as some of the common people think. If he does any of those things out of forgetfulness or ignorance, or some hair falls unintentionally, then there is no sin on him. If he needs to remove it, then he may do so, and there is no blame on him, such as if a nail breaks and it annoys him, so he cuts it, or if a hair gets in his eye and he removes it, or he needs to cut his hair in order to treat a wound and the like.” (Fataawa Islamiyyah)

Ibn Qudamah (may Allah have mercy on him) said: “Once this is established, then he should forego cutting his hair or clipping his nails. If he does that, he should ask Allah for forgiveness, but he does not have to offer any fidyah, according to scholarly consensus, whether he did that deliberately or out of forgetfulness.” (Al-Mughni)

(The above reply is based on various answers by Islamqa.info on the topic)

Allahu A’lam (Allah (سبحانه و تعالى) knows best) and all Perfections belong to Allah, and all mistakes belong to me alone. May Allah (سبحانه و تعالى) forgive me, Ameen.

Wassalaam