Q: How do you TRIM your hair to exit ihraam?

[Visitor]

I’ve had my hair shaved off completely on previous umrahs but I’m also thinking of doing the ‘trim’ option.
How much hair and in what way/style should the trim be carried out in order for one to have exited the ihram conditions?

i.e. I’ve read/seen people saying you either have to cut a quarter of the head’s hair OR trim every single hair at least an inch.
These two options are completely different to each other! And what if your head hair is less than an inch in length in some areas?

It’s confusing!


p.s. please no wise cracks of do the complete shave option bcos thats less complicated. i'm specifically asking about the 'trim' option here for a reason.

[abuhajira]

:salam:

The best and most virtuous for a male muhrim to shave the whole head following the practice of Rasulullah :saw:

The minimum requirement is to trim the hair equal to one's finger tip (i.e one joint of the finger where every finger has three joints) of atleast quarter of the head.

Some Fuqaha have mentioned that whilst the minimum is what has been mentioned, it is better to trim that much from all over the head. If on is restricting the trimming to a quarter head then one should increase the amount of hair being trimmed more than the finger tip to compensate the different size of the hair at the sides.

If the issue above remains confusing, I advise you to opt for the best option of shaving and attaining the most reward.

Wallahu A'lam

:ws:


الدر المختار وحاشية ابن عابدين (رد المحتار) -2/ 515
(قوله بأن يأخذ إلخ) قال في البحر: والمراد بالتقصير أن يأخذ الرجل والمرأة من رءوس شعر ربع الرأس مقدار الأنملة كذا ذكره الزيلعي، ومراده أن يأخذ من كل شعرة مقدار الأنملة كما صرح به في المحيط. وفي البدائع قالوا: يجب أن يزيد في التقصير على قدر الأنملة حتى يستوفي قدر الأنملة من كل شعرة برأسه لأن أطراف الشعر غير متساوية عادة.
قال الحلبي في مناسكه وهو حسن اهـ وفي الشرنبلالية: يظهر لي أن المراد بكل شعرة أي من شعر الربع على وجه اللزوم ومن الكل على سبيل الأولوية فلا مخالفة في الأجزاء لأن الربع كالكل كما في الحلق اهـ فقول الشارح من كل شعرة أي من الربع لا من الكل وإلا ناقض ما بعده، وقوله: وجوبا قيد لقدر الأنملة فلا يتكرر مع قوله: والربع واجب والأنملة بفتح الهمزة والميم وضم الميم لغة مشهورة، ومن خطأ راويها فقد أخطأ واحدة الأنامل بحر. وفي تهذيب اللغات للنووي الأنامل أطراف الأصابع. وقال أبو عمر الشيباني والسجستاني والجري لكل أصبع ثلاث أنملات

[Visitor]

Jazakallah kahir for the clear reply.

The only other question i have is does "quarter of the head" relate to a quarter of the hair's coverage on ones head?
i.e. the minimum for head masah in wuzu is also 1/4 of head right? So in both wuzu and qasr, "1/4" could be from hairline on forehead back to say the crown of the head?
You just estimate a 1/4 of the area that hair would usually grow on and wipe over/trim that?

[abuhajira]

Jazakallah kahir for the clear reply.

The only other question i have is does "quarter of the head" relate to a quarter of the hair's coverage on ones head?
i.e. the minimum for head masah in wuzu is also 1/4 of head right? So in both wuzu and qasr, "1/4" could be from hairline on forehead back to say the crown of the head?
You just estimate a 1/4 of the area that hair would usually grow on and wipe over/trim that?

:salam:

The 1/4 of the head can be from any sides in all Masah, qasr or halq. The forehead method is used for calculation. So ones you have calculated, lets say one width of your palm, then that much widh of masah in the back of the head also fulfills the requirement. The same would go for Qasr or halq as well. But I suggest you rather not make halq of mere 1/4, instead go for the full.

Also note, simply because this is the minimum, does not mean that one has to try it out once. This is thinking low of the benefit and rewards one would attain otherwise. So the minimum requirement is kept for only "need" or "uzr".

:ws:

[Visitor]

And I suppose if a man has hair on his head that is less than a finger tip in length on all sides.... then he has no choice. He HAS to do a complete halaq shave? Is that right?

Or can he just cut ALL of it really, really short?


(one of the main reasons I am asking to understand this topic is bcos i work in an office where we cant wear topi. so when we come back from hajj or umra with complete bald heads and big bushy beards we look quite aggressive. also if one has a small head and a big beard it can look weird without topi. so to get around this it is important to understand the rulings for trimming too) Sometimes short, short hair looks less aggressive than complete bald with big beard. if only i could wear topi at work!! make dua for me plzz!!!

[abuhajira]

:salam:

If a person is opting for halq then the minimum is same 1/4th.

I will make dua for you inshAllah, however, please keep in mind that it is from the concepts of organizational behaviour that a religious tolerance is kept in between cultures. Tomorrow if a hindu shows up with a bald head except a patch or hair, or a jew with his payot (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Payot), it should not make a difference to a well structured organization.

If you are living in a western country like UK or US, a maltreatment towards your from colleagues because of this can also be seen as religious discrimination and reportable abuse.

:ws:

[Visitor]

They won't discriminate against me if i walk in with a bald head and a sunnah beard. What i mean to say is that we have a dress code at work that does not allow hats. they will allow 'recognised' hats like sikh turbans bcos even non-sikhs know its part of their religion. but as muslims we ourselves know that to wear topi is a sunnah and is not wajib so thats why not all muslims wear one and then the companies dont take us seriously when we say topi is islamic dress. bcos our own muslim colleagues dont help either. u have bakr with a clean shave and zaid with a trim beard. then u have me with sunnah beard and umrah shave head wanting to wear topi. there is too much variation there for them to take us seriously!


jzk khair for ur answers mufti sahib. i have learnt alot.
ur last answer made me curiosu tho...if it is also 'acceptable' to only shave/baldy a 1/4 of the head to leave ihram then doesn't that contradict the hadith teaching to either shave all the head or keep all the head. i think its that hadith when nabi paak /saw/ saw a boy with half shaved head!

[abuhajira]

They won't discriminate against me if i walk in with a bald head and a sunnah beard. What i mean to say is that we have a dress code at work that does not allow hats. they will allow 'recognised' hats like sikh turbans bcos even non-sikhs know its part of their religion. but as muslims we ourselves know that to wear topi is a sunnah and is not wajib so thats why not all muslims wear one and then the companies dont take us seriously when we say topi is islamic dress. bcos our own muslim colleagues dont help either. u have bakr with a clean shave and zaid with a trim beard. then u have me with sunnah beard and umrah shave head wanting to wear topi. there is too much variation there for them to take us seriously!


jzk khair for ur answers mufti sahib. i have learnt alot.
ur last answer made me curiosu tho...if it is also 'acceptable' to only shave/baldy a 1/4 of the head to leave ihram then doesn't that contradict the hadith teaching to either shave all the head or keep all the head. i think its that hadith when nabi paak /saw/ saw a boy with half shaved head!

:salam:

a. It is not for the work people to take you seriously. It is for the HR/OB (Human Rescource / Organizational Behaviour) offices to recognize your right. It doesnt matter if one of the people does not act upon his right, but the one who does act is "right"ful to do so. And that is what will constitute ill treatment as discrimination.

b. Yes, it would hence that will only suffice for fulfiling the minimum for one to come out of ihram.

[Visitor]

I think it might be different where you live.
in the UK there are some companies who have a very clearly-defined dress code.
when you sign ur work contract u also indirectly sign up to the dress code.
so everyone must wear a collar and tie and black shoes etc.
the HR will allow 'recognised' religious wear like sikh turbans and jewish skull caps....but if they dont recognise muslim topis then u have no right. it is their company it is their policy. if u dont like it u can work somewhere else. for example in mcdonalds burger restaurants they have a no facial hair policy. so they will only allow small moustaches...no beards. thats their prerogative.

the other option is to take them to court and argue it out.

i think that might be counter-productive to dawa and good relations with non-muslims.
of course i would argue over farz and wajib things....but taking to court over things like topi is a bit over the top right?



Q. alhamdulillah ur answers have got me thinking. is the "cut finger tip length off at least 1/4 of head" ruling merely a measure of hair? i.e. volume of hair to be cut as a minimum? for example could someone cut half a finger tip from 1/2 the head? or 2 finger tips from 1/8 of the head? do u see my reasoning here?
cutting less than a finger tip but over a greater portion of the head.

[abuhajira]

I think it might be different where you live.
in the UK there are some companies who have a very clearly-defined dress code.
when you sign ur work contract u also indirectly sign up to the dress code.
so everyone must wear a collar and tie and black shoes etc.
the HR will allow 'recognised' religious wear like sikh turbans and jewish skull caps....but if they dont recognise muslim topis then u have no right. it is their company it is their policy. if u dont like it u can work somewhere else. for example in mcdonalds burger restaurants they have a no facial hair policy. so they will only allow small moustaches...no beards. thats their prerogative.

:salam:

My advice is not in particular to topi or kurta etc. Rather your concern that fist long beard with a bald head looks aggressive. It should not be seen as aggressive. Even if it is seen as agressive by some one at your job, it is shortcoming on his part and not you.


the other option is to take them to court and argue it out.


In a longer run, someone should. There are millions of sikhs who do not wear Kirpan, Pagri etc. yet they took their time out to have it accepted as their religious wear. Muslims can do so as well. Once it is approved in a court , it becomes a precedence for future cases as well. Quite frankly our topi is slightly less offensive than a sikh wearing a dagger at all times.


i think that might be counter-productive to dawa and good relations with non-muslims.
of course i would argue over farz and wajib things....but taking to court over things like topi is a bit over the top right?


This is talbees ilblees (ploy of shaytan). I still cannot see how being bald and big bushy fist length beard is counter productive to da'wah.
The pride and honour which the business corporate world attaches to a three piece suit is so emphasized that we choose to incline towards their view of what is honourable. Da'wah is towards Islam as a whole which includes all the shi'aar (salient features) of deen. Yes, it is permissible to wear those pants and shirts as per the requirement of the company so no one is forcing you to wear a jubbah, but that is a different issue.


Q. alhamdulillah ur answers have got me thinking. is the "cut finger tip length off at least 1/4 of head" ruling merely a measure of hair? i.e. volume of hair to be cut as a minimum? for example could someone cut half a finger tip from 1/2 the head? or 2 finger tips from 1/8 of the head? do u see my reasoning here?
cutting less than a finger tip but over a greater portion of the head.

No, the minimum remains 1/4th. The suggestion of cutting more than finger tip was by way of caution. The text does not mention about volume.

[al_Zayn]

:salam:

Topis (and in some places Tawbs / Jubbahs) are accepted attires in some companies in the UK. Definitely topis.

[Visitor]

This is talbees ilblees (ploy of shaytan). I still cannot see how being bald and big bushy fist length beard is counter productive to da'wah.
The pride and honour which the business corporate world attaches to a three piece suit is so emphasized that we choose to incline towards their view of what is honourable. Da'wah is towards Islam as a whole which includes all the shi'aar (salient features) of deen. Yes, it is permissible to wear those pants and shirts as per the requirement of the company so no one is forcing you to wear a jubbah, but that is a different issue.
I will illustrate how it may be counter-productive.
We believe that the Prophet (saaw) came with the best way in everything. Even his (saaw) dress etc.
As far as I know it was his (saaw) continuous practice to wear imamah on his Mubarak head. He (saaw) has a splendid Mubarak beard too.
But naozubillah he (saaw) never walked around for long periods with shaven head and big beard bcos for one it was not beautiful. The sunnah libas (white, turban, loose clothes etc.) IS beautiful and even non-muslims say this. NO ONE complements bald head and bushy beards…not even muslims. That look is only good-looking in jihad, in ihram, or by non-muslim groups like Hells Angels Biker gang.
You have to understand that I spend 40 hours + in the office environment with a big beard and bald head. People don’t look at me and think he must be muslim bcos I don’t look like a typical muslim….i look more like a Hells Angel biker….which is an aggressive look. No one can argue that bald head and big beard looks beautiful in public environment without a head covering bcos the sunnah is to cover head in public.

No, the minimum remains 1/4th. The suggestion of cutting more than finger tip was by way of caution. The text does not mention about volume.
Which text is this? And how do they arrive at the ¼ figure? I find this really interesting. I wish I studied to be a mufti so I could find all this out!

[abuhajira]

I will illustrate how it may be counter-productive.
We believe that the Prophet (saaw) came with the best way in everything. Even his (saaw) dress etc.
As far as I know it was his (saaw) continuous practice to wear imamah on his Mubarak head. He (saaw) has a splendid Mubarak beard too.
But naozubillah he (saaw) never walked around for long periods with shaven head and big beard bcos for one it was not beautiful. The sunnah libas (white, turban, loose clothes etc.) IS beautiful and even non-muslims say this. NO ONE complements bald head and bushy beards…not even muslims. That look is only good-looking in jihad, in ihram, or by non-muslim groups like Hells Angels Biker gang.
You have to understand that I spend 40 hours + in the office environment with a big beard and bald head. People don’t look at me and think he must be muslim bcos I don’t look like a typical muslim….i look more like a Hells Angel biker….which is an aggressive look. No one can argue that bald head and big beard looks beautiful in public environment without a head covering bcos the sunnah is to cover head in public.

Which text is this? And how do they arrive at the ¼ figure? I find this really interesting. I wish I studied to be a mufti so I could find all this out!

:salam: brother,

a. All that I have mentioned is from the same ibarah of Shaami which I quoted in the first answer.

b. Rasulullah :saw: did shave his head, Fuqaha termed it Afdhal. It was normal habit of Ali :rad: to shave his head, while he was also known to have a thick beard. One hadeeth in shamail mentions Rasulullah :saw:'s beard to cover the breadth of his mubarak chest. Imagine how that must be. The fact is, what you are suggesting is from your own perception and is not sufficient opt for some rukhsas and leeways. Many of us have spent years with bushy beard in the company of non muslims. But if you choose to forgo the rewards of complete halq based on your assessments, then that is your choice. I do not see it a big problem working in 3 piece suit and no topi with big bushy beard even if it is in the thick of Wall Street.

You may further discuss these issues of da'wah in the general section inshAllah.

:ws:

[Visitor]

Aslam alekum

Mufti sahib, I understand ur angle completely.
I hope u understand mine.
I am not denying shaved head is from the sunnah and I am not denying that it is afzal.
What I am saying is that all those with shaved heads would not then walk around for 40+ hours a week without headgear….why? bcos it is not in our custom/social etiquette and it is not beautiful. Imamah is beautiful hence the shaved heads were covered with this. All our social etiquette comes from the sunnah.
Hazrat Ali (raa) no doubt emulated Nabi paak (saaw) and also wore headgear over his shaved head.

I am only exploring the flexibility in the sunnah with regards to cutting hair to leave ihram.
After all nabi paak (saaw) did not make it fard to shave completely so we owe it to ourselves to explore the other variants of leaving ihram.
And there are A LOT of people (especially in Pakistan) who go on umra and who only take the trim option. But what they need to be educated on if they do take that option is how much exactly should be trimmed off…or else they would not have technically left ihram! The barbers in Haram are also responsible in knowing the rulings. It is actually a very important issue and I hope my questions have helped others inshallah.

I thank u for ur patience and ilm. Jzk khair.

Have you ever been taught where the author(s) of Shaami derived the “1/4” ruling from? Why a ¼? Why not less why not more? It’s intriguing.

[abuhajira]

:salam:

The 1/4 of the head is taken from the Mas'ala of making masah of the head for wudu'.

:ws:

[Visitor]

How do the ulama arrive at the ¼ figure for wudhu? And why and how do they then apply the same figure for halq?

This is a very interesting topic! I would have loved to have been in darul uloom and been able to ask all these questions from the ustads!