This excerpt is taken from the book published by Maktaba Darussalam's Department of Authorship and Compilation, Dictionary of Names and Rulings and Issues of Newborns.
Shaving the baby's head on the seventh day after birth and then distributing silver equal to the weight of the hair among the poor and needy is an established ruling of the Shariah of Muhammad.
✿ Wisdoms of Shaving the Head:
There are great wisdoms revealed in shaving a child's head:
Restoration of health, caring for the poor
First wisdom: From a natural point of view, it is understood that shaving a child's head restores their health, physically strengthens them, opens the pores of the head, and also increases the senses of the body such as sight, touch, and smell.
Second wisdom: It also has a collective benefit. Shaving the head and giving silver equal to the weight of the hair as charity and distributing it among the poor and needy is a manifestation and source of caring for the poor. This helps in the support and care of the poor, orphans, and needy. It also makes clear that all households affiliated with the Islamic society cooperate with each other, show mutual compassion and mercy, and especially actively participate in the care of the poor class.
✿ Proof from Ahadith:
Shaving a child's head and then giving silver equal to the weight of the hair as charity is established from many blessed Ahadith, some of which are as follows:
Hazrat Muhammad Baqir bin Ali (may Allah have mercy on him) says:
وزنت فاطمة بنت رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم شعر حسن وحسين وزينب وأم كلثوم فتصدقت بزنة ذلك فضة
The beloved daughter of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), Lady Fatimah (may Allah be pleased with her), had the heads of her children Hasan, Husain, Zainab, and Umm Kulthum (may Allah be pleased with them) shaved, weighed their hair, and then gave silver equal to that weight as charity.
Reference: Muwatta Imam Malik Al-Aqiqah, Chapter on what has been mentioned about Aqiqah, Hadith: 1110 and the hadith is mursal
Hazrat Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) says:
عق رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم عن الحسن بشاة وقال: يا فاطمة احلقي رأسه وتصدقي بزنة شعره فضة، فوزنته، فكان وزنه درهما أو بعض درهم
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) performed the Aqiqah of a goat on behalf of Hazrat Hasan (may Allah be pleased with him) and said: "O Fatimah! Shave his head and give silver equal to the weight of his hair as charity." They weighed the hair and it was one dirham or less.
Reference: Jami' at-Tirmidhi Al-Adahi, Chapter on Aqiqah with a sheep, Hadith: 1519 and the hadith is hasan, see: Al-Irwa, Hadith: 175
Hazrat Anas bin Malik (may Allah be pleased with him) says:
أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم أمر برأس الحسن والحسين ابني على بن أبى طالب يوم سابعهما، فحلق، ثم تصدق بوزنه فضة
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) ordered the shaving of the heads of his beloved Hasan and Husain (may Allah be pleased with them) on the seventh day of their birth. Their heads were shaved and then silver equal to the weight of their hair was given as charity.
Reference: Al-Mu'jam al-Awsat by Al-Tabarani 50/1 and the hadith is hasan, see Al-Irwa: 405/4
✿ The Issue of Qaza:
An important issue related to the hair on the head is "Qaza."
Definition of Qaza:
Qaza means shaving some hair on the child's head and leaving the rest. Doing this is forbidden, and its prohibition has been clearly explained in the noble hadiths. Hazrat Abdullah bin Umar (may Allah be pleased with them) narrates:
أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم نهى عن القزع
Undoubtedly, the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) forbade Qaza.
Reference: Sahih al-Bukhari, Clothing, Chapter on Qaza, Hadith: 5921 and Sahih Muslim, Clothing and Adornment, Chapter on Dislike of Qaza, Hadith: 2120
Types of Qaza:
The Qaza that is prohibited has four types: shaving hair from different parts of the head; shaving the middle and leaving the sides; shaving the sides and leaving the middle; shaving the front part and leaving the back part.
Wisdoms behind the prohibition of Qaza:
Allama Ibn Qayyim (may Allah have mercy on him) states that prohibiting shaving in patches is evidence that our Shariah is based on justice and fairness. This clearly shows how deeply Allah Almighty and the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) loved justice and fairness, to the extent that a person is commanded to be just even with himself. Accordingly, a person is warned that if he shaves some parts of his head and leaves other parts with hair, it is oppression and injustice because some parts of the head become bare while others remain covered.
As the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) forbade sitting in such a way in the sun that some parts of the body are in sunlight and others in shade.
Reference: Sunan Ibn Majah, Adab, Chapter on sitting between shade and sun, Hadith: 3722, and Musnad Ahmad: 414/3
because this is oppression on the body. Similarly, the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) forbade walking wearing a shoe on only one foot.
Reference: Sahih al-Bukhari, Clothing, Chapter: Not to walk with one shoe, Hadith: 5855 and Sahih Muslim, Clothing and Adornment, Chapter: Recommendation to wear shoes, Hadith: 2097
because this is oppression on the foot, and he (peace be upon him) said: either wear shoes on both feet or on neither.
Reference: Tuhfat al-Mawdud, p. 101
The Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) had a strong desire and wish that every devoted Muslim who believes in him should appear in society and environment in such a manner that every eye that sees him considers him a dignified and honorable person, and every believer should do deeds befitting his status and in accordance with his moderate nature.
Having some parts of the head bare and some parts with hair is not only a sign of disorder and ugliness and contrary to Islamic adornment, dignity, and beauty, but it is also against Islamic identity.
It is extremely regrettable that most parents and guardians have no knowledge of these Shariah rulings. When these issues are mentioned before them, they express great surprise and astonishment and show strange reactions. Only a few out of thousands will be found who have knowledge of these matters and, by the special grace, mercy, and guidance of their Lord, will act upon them.
Ignorance of these issues is not an acceptable excuse in Islamic Shariah. It is necessary for a Muslim living in an Islamic environment to understand these matters. If he does not become acquainted with them, then on the Day of Judgment, showing himself ignorant and unaware will not benefit him.
It is obligatory upon every Muslim to acquire knowledge of all religious matters and issues related to the upbringing of children. Whoever neglects or is careless in these matters will stand on the Day of Judgment like the criminals, while all people will be present before Allah’s court to be held accountable. May Allah protect us from the horrors of that Day. Ameen!
✿ The Terrible Consequences of Misconduct:
The rulings and issues we have mentioned, although it is recommended and desirable for every individual to know and act upon them, it is collectively necessary for the entire society to have them. According to these rulings, it is not only extremely important to nurture and raise one's own children, but one should also encourage their family members, relatives, and friends in this regard. Because if leniency and negligence are shown in recommended and permissible actions, then certainly there will be shortcomings and carelessness in obligatory duties as well, resulting in the Islamic society falling into misguidance, laziness, and indulgence in selfish desires, wandering lost in the labyrinth of negligence. Ultimately, Muslims will step outside the limits of Islam and enter into clear and explicit disbelief. Despite verbal claims of Islam, Muslims will remain bewildered and confused in the fields of open misguidance and will eventually distance themselves from their best religion and way of life, Islam.
Warning: It is obligatory upon every parent and guardian who is responsible for upbringing to personally follow these rulings and to habituate their children to recommended actions one after another so that they may benefit from the blessing of Allah’s pleasure and satisfaction, and shape their words and deeds according to Islam to be honored with the blessing of obedience to Allah.
By acting upon these matters, Allah, the Lord of Glory, will be pleased with us and will grant us success by bestowing His help, enabling Muslims to overcome their enemies with victory and triumph. He will restore the lost greatness, rise, and honor to the followers of Islam, and doing so is not difficult or burdensome for Allah. He is certainly capable of everything.
