Saturday, February 13, 2016

Brief Comments on Riyaadh al-Saaliheen #97

It is disliked to shave only a part of the head

Shaikh Ibn al-`Uthaymeen رحمه الله covers three points under this chapter:
1. The disapproval of shaving (or trimming) only a part of the head.
2. Letting the hair grow longer is not a Sunnah but only a part of the customs.
3. The impermissibility of shaving the head for the women and young girls. 


بسم الله والحمد لله والصلاة والسلام على رسول الله ، وبعد

Chapter: On disapproval of shaving a part of the head and permissibility of shaving the complete head for the man but not for the women

1638 - Narrated (`Abdullaah) bin `Umar رضي الله عنهما: “Allaah’s Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم forbade Al-Qaza` (shaving a part of the head).”
[Saheeh al-Bukhaaree (5920, 5921) and Saheeh Muslim (5289)]

1639 - Ibn `Umar رضي الله عنهما  said: The Messenger of Allaah صلى الله عليه وسلم saw a boy, some portion of whose head was shaved and some of it was left out. He prohibited them from that and said: “Shave the whole of it or leave the whole of it.”
[Sunan Abu Dawood (4195) and Sunan al-Nasaa’ee (5048) and graded as “Saheeh” by Shaikh al-Albaanee]

1640 - `Abdullaah bin Ja`far رضي الله عنهما said: The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم gave respite for three days to the family of Ja`far (after his martyrdom). Then he صلى الله عليه وسلم came and said: “Don’t weep for my brother after this day.” He صلى الله عليه وسلم said: “Bring all of my nephews to me.” We were accordingly brought as if we were chickens. Then he صلى الله عليه وسلم said: “Call a barber for me.” He صلى الله عليه وسلم then directed the barber to shave our heads which he did.
[Sunan Abu Dawood (4192) and Sunan al-Nasaa’ee (5227) and graded as “Saheeh” by Shaikh al-Albaanee]

1641 - `Alee رضي الله عنه said: “The Messenger of Allaah صلى الله عليه وسلم prohibited a woman from shaving her head.”
[Sunan al-Nasaa’ee (5049) and Sunan al-Tirmidhee (914) and graded as “Dha`eef” by Shaikh al-Albaanee with this chain.

Note: But there is another Hadeeth to support it. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said: “The women should not shave; rather, they are only required to trim (their hair).”
[Sunan Abu Dawood (1984, 1985) and graded as “Saheeh” by Shaikh al-Albaanee]]


Shaikh Muhammad Ibn Saaleh al-`Uthaymeen رحمه الله said:
In his book, “Riyaadh al-Saaliheen”, the author (Imaam al-Nawawee رحمه الله) mentioned this chapter in which he mentioned about the ruling on al-Qaza` (القزع). He mentioned in it a few Ahaadeeth, one of them is the Hadeeth of Ibn `Umar رضي الله عنهما who said: “The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم forbade al-Qaza`.” And al-Qaza` is to shave (or trim) a part of the head and leave the other part unshaven, irrespective of whether it on one side of the head, or from all the sides, or (some) from the top part and (some) from the right side and left side and (little) from the back side and (little) from the front. What is important to know is that whenever a person shaves only a part of the head (in whatever way) and leaves the other part unshaven, then this is Qaza`, which the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم forbade.

(The word is also described in) the statement of Anas رضي الله عنه, who said: “we did not see any cloud in the sky or Qaza`ah (any patch of it).”
[Saheeh al-Bukhaaree (1013, 1014) and Saheeh Muslim (1955) and Sunan al-Nasaa’ee (1517, 1518)]

He (Imaam al-Nawawee) also mentioned another Hadeeth of Ibn `Umar رضي الله عنهما that a child was brought to the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم and part of his head was shaved and the other part was unshaved, so he صلى الله عليه وسلم said: “Shave the whole of it or leave the whole of it.”

Thereafter, the author mentioned the Hadeeth of the Children of Ja`far Ibn Abee Taalib رضي الله عنه; when he was martyred (in a battle), the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم gave them three days’ time for mourning. Then he صلى الله عليه وسلم came to them (after the third day) and said: “Don’t weep for my brother after this day.” He صلى الله عليه وسلم gave them three days’ time so that they (get time to) recuperate and get rid of their sorrow and depression. After three days he صلى الله عليه وسلم forbade them to weep for Ja`far’s and he then called for his small children and instructed that their heads be shaved. Their heads were shaved so that they don’t get dirty; because the children, as it is known, tend to dirty their (clothes), bodies and hair. So, because of this the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم had their heads shaved. Shaving the head is only done when the children are boys, but if they are girls, then the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم forbade the women from having their heads shaved. This is why, if a newborn is a boy, then his head is shaved and his `Aqeeqah is done on the seventh day, but if it is a girl then her head is not to be shaved.

And in these Ahaadeeth there is evidence that letting the hair grow longer is not from the Sunnah; meaning: a person lets his hair grow till it gets longer and he is able to put it into braids. This was from the tradition and customs (of the Arabs of that time). If it was from the Sunnah (to let the hair grow longer), he صلى الله عليه وسلم would have (instead) instructed to let the hair of the child to grow longer and that it should not be shaved; or when he instructed that the hair of the children of Ja`far رضي الله عنه to be shaved. So, to let the hair grow longer is only a part of the customs and traditions. If the people follow this custom, then one can do so (and there is no problem with that); but if the people do not follow this custom, then one should not do it (and differ with them). As for those scholars who have said that it is a Sunnah, then this is only their Ijtihaad (judgment), but the correct opinion is that this is not a Sunnah and we do not instruct the people to let their hair grow longer. Rather, we say, if it is a custom of the people to let the hair grow longer, then one can follow the customs so that he is not at odds with the people. And if they do not consider it as a norm, as it well known today in our societies, then one should not do so. This is why our Major scholars did not let their hair grow longer, like Shaikh `Abdul Rahmaan al-Sa`dee, and Shaikh Muhammad Ibn Ibraaheem, and Shaikh Ibn Baaz and other than them رحمهم الله, because it is not a Sunnah, rather, only a tradition and Allaah is the One Who grants success.

The girls – either small or big (in age) – their hair should never be shaved except when there is a need. Example, if there is some injury on her head and it needs medical treatment then there is no problem in having her head shaved. The evidence for this is that due to a need for Hijaamah (cupping), the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم had his head shaved and Hijaamah performed on him while he was in the state of Ihraam – while shaving (or trimming) of the hair for the Muhrim is Haraam. But when there is a need, then this is something else.

[Sharh Riyaadh al-Saaliheen (6/381-383)]


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Shaikh Ibn al-`Uthaymeen رحمه الله also said:
Al-Qaza` is Makrooh (disliked), because the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم saw a boy, part of whose hair had been shaved and part had been left. He told them not to do that and said: “Shave it all or leave it all.” But if it is done in imitation of the Kuffaar then it is Haraam, because imitating the Kuffaar is Haraam. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Whoever imitates a people is one of them.”

[Al-Sharh al-Mumti` (1/167)]

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