Ruling on Shaving or Trimming Hair in Umrah and Which Is Preferable
Source: Fatāwā Arkān al-Islām
What is the Shariah ruling regarding shaving (ḥalq) or trimming (taqṣīr) the hair during ʿUmrah? Which of the two is preferable?
Alḥamdulillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu was-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh, Ammā Baʿd!
✿ Shaving or trimming the hair is an obligatory act in the rites of ʿUmrah.
✿ Evidence for this is that during the Farewell Hajj, when the Prophet ﷺ arrived in Makkah, performed Tawaf and Saʿi, he commanded all those who did not have sacrificial animals with them to trim their hair and exit Ihram.
✿ Since this command was in the form of an imperative, and in principle an imperative denotes obligation, it proves that shaving or trimming after ʿUmrah is necessary.
Another clear proof is from the incident of the Treaty of Hudaybiyyah:
❀ When the Companions (RA) were prevented from entering Makkah, the Prophet ﷺ commanded them to shave their heads.
❀ When there was some delay in their compliance, the Prophet ﷺ expressed displeasure.
❀ This event is clear evidence that shaving or trimming in ʿUmrah is not just optional, but a Sharʿi requirement.
✿ Shaving (ḥalq) is preferable to trimming (taqṣīr).
❀ However, for a pilgrim performing Tamattuʿ (Umrah followed by Hajj in the same journey) who arrives late, trimming is preferable so that he may shave completely during Hajj.
ھذا ما عندي والله أعلم بالصواب
(This is my opinion, and Allah knows best what is correct.)
Source: Fatāwā Arkān al-Islām
Question
What is the Shariah ruling regarding shaving (ḥalq) or trimming (taqṣīr) the hair during ʿUmrah? Which of the two is preferable?
Answer
Alḥamdulillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu was-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh, Ammā Baʿd!
✿ Shaving or trimming the hair is an obligatory act in the rites of ʿUmrah.
✿ Evidence for this is that during the Farewell Hajj, when the Prophet ﷺ arrived in Makkah, performed Tawaf and Saʿi, he commanded all those who did not have sacrificial animals with them to trim their hair and exit Ihram.
✿ Since this command was in the form of an imperative, and in principle an imperative denotes obligation, it proves that shaving or trimming after ʿUmrah is necessary.
Further Clarification
Another clear proof is from the incident of the Treaty of Hudaybiyyah:
❀ When the Companions (RA) were prevented from entering Makkah, the Prophet ﷺ commanded them to shave their heads.
❀ When there was some delay in their compliance, the Prophet ﷺ expressed displeasure.
❀ This event is clear evidence that shaving or trimming in ʿUmrah is not just optional, but a Sharʿi requirement.
Which Is Preferable?
✿ Shaving (ḥalq) is preferable to trimming (taqṣīr).
❀ However, for a pilgrim performing Tamattuʿ (Umrah followed by Hajj in the same journey) who arrives late, trimming is preferable so that he may shave completely during Hajj.
ھذا ما عندي والله أعلم بالصواب
(This is my opinion, and Allah knows best what is correct.)
