What Islam says about growing hair

CONCERNING GROWING HAIR IN ISLAM

Question: One of the students of knowledge asked: Many school students ask one another concerning the ruling on leaving one's hair to grow and shaving it off. They are confused about this issue because of what the school presses on them from the obligation of shaving all of the head or cutting it very short and because of what the students see from some practicing teachers who let their hair grow and do not cut it, but they maintain and groom it.

So therefore I say– seeking assistance from Allaah – that leaving the hair is Sunnah, as Ahmad Ibn Hanbal (rahimahullaah) said: "It is sunnah. If we were able to manage and control it, we would keep it. But there is discomfort and trouble with keeping it long." And Ibn Al-Qayyim (rahimahullaah) said in Zaad Al-Ma'aad: "And it was not preserved from him, sallAllaahu 'alayhi wa sallam, that he used to shave his head except during the sacrificial ceremonies of Hajj (nusuk)."

There are many authentic ahaadeeth that clarify the description of the Prophet's sallAllaahu 'alayhi wa sallam hair. It is stated in Al-Mughnee: "It is recommended that a person's hair be according to the description of the Prophet's hair. If it is long, then it should go to his shoulders and if it is short, then to the earlobes. And if it grows longer than that, then there is no harm in that. This has been reported on Ahmad."

Indeed, keeping one's hair and leaving it to grow must meet certain requirements, among which are:

1. There must be sincerity to Allaah, the Most High and following of the guidance of the Prophet, sallAllaahu 'alayhi wa sallam, in order to attain reward and merit.

2. There should be no imitation of women in his leaving of the hair to grow, such that he does with his hair what the women do with their hair, from the aspects of beautification that is specific to them.

3. He should not desire by it to imitate the People of the Book or anyone else among the idol worshipers. Or in imitation of the haircuts and hairstyles of sinful Muslims, such as music and film artists or whoever treads their way, such as the shameless ones among the sports figures.

4. One should clean it and groom it every other day. And it is recommended to oil it, perfume it and split it down the middle of the head. And if it grows long, then one can put it in locks.

As for shaving the hair off, then Shaikh-ul-Islaam Ibn Taimiyyah has written a detailed discussion on this subject and divided it into four types. A summary of what he said is as follows:

If the shaving of the head is done for (1) Hajj or 'Umrah or (2) for a necessity such as medical treatment, then this is established and prescribed in the Qur'aan and the Sunnah, and there is no doubt about its allowance (under these circumstances). As for it being done for any other reason besides those mentioned above, then it falls into being one of two types:

(3) First: That he shaves it with the intention of making worship to Allaah (ta'abbud), to practice his Religion (tadayyun) and to abstain from the worldly affairs (zuhd) and not for Hajj or 'Umrah. An example of this is such as his making the shaving of the head a trademark of the people of piety and Religion or from the highest level of abstinence and worship. Or that he places those who shave their heads as being better or more practicing or more pious than those who don't shave it. Shaikh-ul-Islaam Ibn Taimiyyah said: "This is an innovation that neither Allaah nor His Messenger sallAllaahu 'alayhi wa sallam commanded. It is neither obligatory nor recommended according to any of the Imaams of the Religion. Nor was it done by the Companions and those who followed them in Righteousness, nor by the scholars who were well known for their piety and their worship, whether From the Companions, the Taabi'een, those who followed them or those that came after them."

(4) Second: That he shaves his head for a reason other than the sacrifice of Hajj or 'Umrah, and for other than a necessity, and not for trying to please or get closer to Allaah. The scholars have two

Opinions concerning this:

The first opinion: The dislike of it: This is the madh-hab of Maalik and others and it is found in one of the reports on Ahmad, may Allaah have mercy on them all.

Ahmad said: "They used to dislike that." The proof used by those who hold this opinion is that shaving the head is a trademark of the people of innovation, for the Khawaarij used to shave their heads. And the Prophet, sallAllaahu 'alayhi wa sallam, said: "Their sign is the shaving of the head."

Also, some of the Khawaarij consider the shaving of the head as the completion of repentance and religious sacrifices. It is established in the Saheeh that: "When the Prophet, sallAllaahu 'alayhi wa

sallam was distributing the war booty on the Day of the Conquest, a man with a thick beard and a shaved head came to him…" And it is stated in the Musnad of Imaam Ahmad that the Prophet, sallAllaahu 'alayhi wa sallam, said: "He is not from us who shaves his head." Ibn 'Abbaas said: "The one who shaves his head persistently is a devil."

The second opinion: Its allowance: This is the most known opinion with the followers of Abu Haneefah and Ash-Shaafi'ee and it is found in a report from Ahmad also. And their proof is what Ahmad, Abu Dawood and An-Nasaa'ee have reported with an authentic chain, as has been stated by the author of Muntaqaa Al-Akhbaar, on the authority of Ibn 'Umar, rady Allaahu 'anhumaa, that: "The Prophet sallAllaahu 'alayhi wa sallam saw a young boy who had shaved part of his head and left the rest of it, so he forbade them from that. And he said to them: '(Either) shave all of it or leave all of it.'" Afterwards, three small children were brought to him and he, sallAllaahu 'alayhi wa sallam, shaved their heads.

Because he forbade al-qaz', and that is to have some of the head shaved, then this provides evidence for the allowance of shaving all of it. Ash-Shawkaanee said in Nail-ul-Awtaar commenting on the hadeeth that the author of Al-Muntaqaa mentioned: "In it is proof for the allowance of shaving all of the head. Al-Ghazaalee said: 'There is no harm in it for the one who desires cleanliness.' And in this is a refutation against those who hold that it is disliked." Furthermore, it is stated in Al-Mughnee: "Hanbal said: 'My father and I used to shave our heads during the lifetime of Abu 'Abdillaah. So he would see us while we had our heads shaved and he would not forbid us from it." Ibn 'Abd-il-Barr said: "The scholars have unanimously agreed upon the allowance of shaving the head. And this is sufficient as a proof."

{Compiled by Muhammad Malumfashi from Fatwa of Sheikh Nasir-Deen Al-Bany}