Ruling on Cutting Hair Out of Ignorance During Hajj and Shar‘i Guidance
Extracted from: Fatāwā Arkān-e-Islām
If a pilgrim unknowingly gets some of his hair cut and then exits the state of Iḥrām, what is the ruling in such a case?
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu was-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh, ammā baʿd...
If a pilgrim, due to ignorance (jahālah), gets only some of his hair cut and subsequently exits the state of Iḥrām, no expiation (kaffārah) or penalty is due upon him.
This is because the act was committed without knowledge.
However, as soon as possible, he should:
❀ Shave or shorten the remaining hair of his head to ensure that the process of exiting Iḥrām is properly completed.
At this point, it is essential to offer sincere advice to all those intending to perform acts of worship:
✿ Whenever a person wishes to carry out an act of worship, he should not begin it until he fully understands the rules and boundaries set by Allah ﷻ regarding that act.
✿ Entering into an act of worship without proper knowledge poses the risk of unintentionally committing something that may invalidate or diminish the act.
Allah ﷻ instructed His noble Prophet ﷺ:
﴿قُلۡ هَٰذِهِۦ سَبِيلِيٓ أَدۡعُوٓاْ إِلَى ٱللَّهِۚ عَلَىٰ بَصِيرَةٍ أَنَا۠ وَمَنِ ٱتَّبَعَنِيۖ وَسُبۡحَٰنَ ٱللَّهِ وَمَآ أَنَا۠ مِنَ ٱلۡمُشۡرِكِينَ﴾
— Sūrah Yūsuf: 108
“Say: This is my way; I invite to Allah with clear insight — I and those who follow me. And Exalted is Allah, and I am not of those who associate others with Him.”
And He also says:
﴿قُل هَل يَستَوِى الَّذينَ يَعلَمونَ وَالَّذينَ لا يَعلَمونَ إِنَّما يَتَذَكَّرُ أُولُوا الأَلبـبِ﴾
— Sūrah al-Zumar: 9
“Say: Are those who know equal to those who do not know? Only those who possess understanding take heed.”
✿ A person who worships with knowledge and clear understanding is in a far better position than one who performs worship merely based on ignorance or blind following.
✿ Worship done without knowledge is more prone to error and deficiency.
ھذا ما عندي والله أعلم بالصواب
Extracted from: Fatāwā Arkān-e-Islām
❖ Question:
If a pilgrim unknowingly gets some of his hair cut and then exits the state of Iḥrām, what is the ruling in such a case?
❖ Answer:
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu was-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh, ammā baʿd...
If a pilgrim, due to ignorance (jahālah), gets only some of his hair cut and subsequently exits the state of Iḥrām, no expiation (kaffārah) or penalty is due upon him.
This is because the act was committed without knowledge.
However, as soon as possible, he should:
❀ Shave or shorten the remaining hair of his head to ensure that the process of exiting Iḥrām is properly completed.
❖ A Valuable Reminder for All Pilgrims and Muslims
At this point, it is essential to offer sincere advice to all those intending to perform acts of worship:
✿ Whenever a person wishes to carry out an act of worship, he should not begin it until he fully understands the rules and boundaries set by Allah ﷻ regarding that act.
✿ Entering into an act of worship without proper knowledge poses the risk of unintentionally committing something that may invalidate or diminish the act.
❖ Guidance from the Qur’an
Allah ﷻ instructed His noble Prophet ﷺ:
﴿قُلۡ هَٰذِهِۦ سَبِيلِيٓ أَدۡعُوٓاْ إِلَى ٱللَّهِۚ عَلَىٰ بَصِيرَةٍ أَنَا۠ وَمَنِ ٱتَّبَعَنِيۖ وَسُبۡحَٰنَ ٱللَّهِ وَمَآ أَنَا۠ مِنَ ٱلۡمُشۡرِكِينَ﴾
— Sūrah Yūsuf: 108
“Say: This is my way; I invite to Allah with clear insight — I and those who follow me. And Exalted is Allah, and I am not of those who associate others with Him.”
And He also says:
﴿قُل هَل يَستَوِى الَّذينَ يَعلَمونَ وَالَّذينَ لا يَعلَمونَ إِنَّما يَتَذَكَّرُ أُولُوا الأَلبـبِ﴾
— Sūrah al-Zumar: 9
“Say: Are those who know equal to those who do not know? Only those who possess understanding take heed.”
❖ The Status of Worship Performed with Knowledge and Insight
✿ A person who worships with knowledge and clear understanding is in a far better position than one who performs worship merely based on ignorance or blind following.
✿ Worship done without knowledge is more prone to error and deficiency.
ھذا ما عندي والله أعلم بالصواب
