The Sign of the Khawārij and the Ruling on Shaving the Head in Sharī‘ah
Reference: Fatāwā Rashidiyyah, Page 515
❖ The Question
In Sunan Ibn Mājah, under Bāb al-Khawārij, there is a Hadith which mentions that among the signs of the Khawārij is that they shave their heads.
Does this Hadith indicate that shaving the head (or other body hair) is prohibited?
❖ The Answer
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu wa-s-salāmu ‘alā Rasūlillāh, ammā ba‘d!
This Hadith does not establish prohibition of shaving all the hair of the head. It was mentioned only as one of the distinguishing signs of the Khawārij. Something described merely as a sign does not necessarily imply prohibition. In fact, such signs may sometimes also appear among people who are upon the truth. Therefore, prohibition cannot be deduced from this description alone.
✔ Clear Hadith Evidence
A sound narration in Sunan Abī Dāwūd states:
((عن ابن عمر رضى الله عنه أن النبى صلى الله عليه وسلم رأى صبيّاً قد حلق بعض رأسه وترك بعضه فنهاهم عن ذالك فقال: أحلقوه كله أو أتركوه كله))
Abū Dāwūd, Kitāb al-Tarajjul, Bāb fī al-Dhaby, with narration
Meaning: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ saw a child whose head was partly shaved while some hair was left. He ﷺ forbade this and said:
“Either shave the head completely or leave it completely.”
This makes it clear that shaving the entire head is not impermissible. What is forbidden is partial shaving, where some hair is shaved and some is left.
✔ Shaving in the Rituals of Hajj
Moreover, in Ḥajj, shaving the head completely is prescribed and brings great reward. If shaving were prohibited, then it would not have been legislated within an act of worship like Hajj — since nothing prohibited is ever made part of worship.
✔ The Sunnah
However, it is more virtuous to keep the hair, because the Prophet ﷺ did not shave his head on any occasion other than Hajj. Thus, keeping the hair is Sunnah.
✿ Conclusion
➤ Shaving the head is not prohibited in Islam.
➤ Partial shaving (leaving some hair and removing some) is prohibited.
➤ Keeping hair is Sunnah, while shaving the entire head is permissible, and in Hajj, it is a highly rewarded act.
ھذا ما عندی، واللہ أعلم بالصواب
