Shaving the Head and Cutting the Hair Short
Question :
Which is better, shaving the head or cutting the hair short after performing the rites of 'Umrah or Hajj? And does it suffice to cut some of the hair of the head?
Answer:
It is better to shave the head for 'Umrah and Hajj both, because the Messenger ﷺ supplicated three times for forgiveness and mercy for those who shave their heads, and he supplicated once for those who cut their hair. Therefore, shaving the head is better. But if the 'Umrah is close to Hajj, it is better to cut the hair short for the 'Umrah so that there will be hair to shave for Hajj. This is because the Hajj is more perfect than the "Umrah, thus this (shaving) will be more perfect for that which is more perfect (Hajj). However, if the Umrah is far from the Hajj, for example, during Shawwal, and the hair of the head will grow back long (before Hajj), then the person shaves his head so that he can acquire the virtue of shaving the head. Cutting the hair of part of the head is not sufficient, nor is shaving part of the head, according to the most correct opinion from the views of the scholars. Rather, it is obligatory to shave all of the head or cut all of it (evenly). Also, it is better to start with cutting the right side in shaving the head and cutting the hair.
Source:
Ash-Shaykh Ibn Baz
Fatawa Islamiyah, Vol. 4 Pages 206-207
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