Question # 44: What is the acceptable extent of hair shortening on completing Hajj and ‘Umrah for men as well as women?


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: The fuqaha’ are unanimously agreed that shaving the entire head is preferable to cutting the hair; however, shortening of hair is permitted for men. All schools of thoughts (Madhahib) have different opinions, from cutting a minimum of three hairs, to shortening at least one-fourth hair of the head, to shortening all the hair of the head. As for female pilgrim, she should only shorten her hair by cutting a small part equivalent to a fingertip.

Long Answer:  The fuqaha’ are unanimously agreed that shaving the entire head is preferable to cutting the hair, because it is proven that the Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه و سلم) shaved his entire head, and he prayed for those who shaved their heads three times, and for those who cut their hair once.  It was narrated from Ibn ‘Umar that the Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه و سلم) said: “May Allah have mercy on those who shave (their heads).” They said: “And those who cut (their hair), O Messenger of Allah!” He said: “May Allah have mercy on those who shave (their heads).” They said: “And those who cut (their hair), O Messenger of Allah!” He said: “May Allah have mercy on those who shave (their heads).” They said: “And those who cut (their hair), O Messenger of Allah!” He said: “And those who cut (their hair).” (Sunan Ibn Majah – graded Sahih)

But fuqaha’ differed as to the minimum amount that is acceptable in shaving the head and cutting the hair. Ash-Shafi’i says that the minimum of it is three hairs, whereas Abu Hanifah asserts that the minimum part that is to be shaved or shortened is one fourth of the head. Malik, however, maintains that all the hair of the head is to be shaved or shortened, proving this with the Qur’anic words, “…(some) having your heads shaved, and (some) having your head hair cut short …” (Soorah Al-Fath 48: 27) This is because, he says, the words “your heads” and “your head hair” require that all the hair is to be shaved or shortened. (‘Al-Fiqhul-Muyassaru minal-Qur’ani was-Sunnah’ by Muhammad M. ‘Abdul-Fattah)

As for a female pilgrim, she should only shorten her hair by cutting a small part equivalent to a fingertip of each hair braid (or of the tips of her hair). This is because it was narrated by Ibn Abbas that the Prophet (صلى الله عليه و سلم) said: “Shaving (the hair) is not a duty laid on (pilgrim) women; only clipping their hair is incumbent on them.” (Related by Abu Dawud, At-Tabarani and Ad-Daraqutni) Another reason is that shaving a woman’s head is in fact a sort of disfigurement for her. It is worth mentioning that if a female pilgrim does not have her hair braided, she may gather it and clip a part equivalent to a fingertip. (‘AI-Mulakhkhas AI-Fiqhi’ by Dr. Salih AI-Fawzan)

Ibn ‘Umar said, “When a woman (pilgrim) wants to cut off her hair, she may hold her hair at the front and cut it off about the length of the tip of a finger.” In ‘Ata’s opinion, while cutting her hair, a woman should cut it off her sides, of the long hair as well as the short ones… Others hold that there is no limit as to how much a woman may cut off her hair. The Shafi’i school holds that cutting as much as three hairs is enough for a female pilgrim. (‘Fiqh Us-Sunnah’ by As-Sayyid Sabiq)

Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen (may Allah have mercy on him) said in ash-Sharh al-Mumti‘: “A woman should cut a fingertip’s length from her hair” refers to the top of the finger. In other words, a woman should take hold of her braids, if she has braids, or the ends of her hair, if she does not have braids, and trim the length of a fingertip from it. That is approximately two centimeters. With regard to what is common among women, which is wrapping the end of the hair around the finger then cutting it, that is not correct. (Sheikh Muhammed Salih Al-Munajjid)

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