✦ Question:
When should the hair of a newborn be shaved? Are those hairs impure? And if the baby is weak or ill, is shaving still necessary?
When a baby boy or girl is born, three important acts are performed on the seventh day, and these apply to both genders:
① ʿAqīqah (sacrifice of an animal)
② Naming the child
③ Shaving the head (ḥalāqah) and giving charity in silver equal to the weight of the hair
These actions are proven from the ḥadīth of the Prophet ﷺ:
"كل غلام مرتهن بعقيقته، تذبح عنه يوم سابعه، ويسمى فيه، ويحلق رأسه"
“Every child is pledged against his ʿAqīqah: it is slaughtered on his seventh day, he is named on that day, and his head is shaved.”
[Tirmidhī: 1522 | Authenticated by al-Albānī in Irwāʾ: 4/385]
This is the fourth act, which is specific to boys. If the child is healthy, circumcision on the seventh day is recommended.
If the newborn is weak and cannot endure having their hair shaved on the seventh day, it is permissible to delay it until it becomes safe. The Qur’ān states:
“فَاتَّقُوا اللّٰهَ مَا اسْتَطَعْتُمْ”
“So fear Allah as much as you are able.”
[Al-Taghābun: 16]
“لَا يُكَلِّفُ اللّٰهُ نَفْسًا إِلَّا وُسْعَهَا”
“Allah does not burden a soul beyond its capacity.”
[Al-Baqarah: 286]
There is no authentic Sharʿī evidence stating that the newborn’s birth hair is impure. Hence, these hairs are not considered najis (impure).
Conclusion:
✔ Shaving the head on the 7th day is Sunnah and recommended for both boys and girls.
✔ If the child is weak, shaving can be delayed.
✔ The birth hair is not impure according to Sharʿī rulings.
Wa-Allāhu Aʿlam
When should the hair of a newborn be shaved? Are those hairs impure? And if the baby is weak or ill, is shaving still necessary?
❖ Answer by: Shaykh Khidr Ḥayāt ḥafiẓahullāh
When a baby boy or girl is born, three important acts are performed on the seventh day, and these apply to both genders:
① ʿAqīqah (sacrifice of an animal)
② Naming the child
③ Shaving the head (ḥalāqah) and giving charity in silver equal to the weight of the hair
These actions are proven from the ḥadīth of the Prophet ﷺ:
"كل غلام مرتهن بعقيقته، تذبح عنه يوم سابعه، ويسمى فيه، ويحلق رأسه"
“Every child is pledged against his ʿAqīqah: it is slaughtered on his seventh day, he is named on that day, and his head is shaved.”
[Tirmidhī: 1522 | Authenticated by al-Albānī in Irwāʾ: 4/385]✿ Circumcision (Khatnah)
This is the fourth act, which is specific to boys. If the child is healthy, circumcision on the seventh day is recommended.
✿ Delaying Hair Shaving Due to Weakness
If the newborn is weak and cannot endure having their hair shaved on the seventh day, it is permissible to delay it until it becomes safe. The Qur’ān states:
“فَاتَّقُوا اللّٰهَ مَا اسْتَطَعْتُمْ”
“So fear Allah as much as you are able.”
[Al-Taghābun: 16]“لَا يُكَلِّفُ اللّٰهُ نَفْسًا إِلَّا وُسْعَهَا”
“Allah does not burden a soul beyond its capacity.”
[Al-Baqarah: 286]✿ Are the Birth Hairs Impure?
There is no authentic Sharʿī evidence stating that the newborn’s birth hair is impure. Hence, these hairs are not considered najis (impure).
Conclusion:
✔ Shaving the head on the 7th day is Sunnah and recommended for both boys and girls.
✔ If the child is weak, shaving can be delayed.
✔ The birth hair is not impure according to Sharʿī rulings.
Wa-Allāhu Aʿlam
