Shaving and Trimming One’s Nails or Hair

“When a believing person shaves his head and buries his hairs in Mina, on the Day of Judgment every hair comes with a clear tongue, saying Talbiyah (here I am, O Lord, to obey Your command) for the one to whom they belonged.”

“I once asked abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), about a person who wants to wash his head with marshmallow. He (the Imam) said, ‘He should shorten his hair, then wash.”’

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘The Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, on the day of al-Nahr (slaughtering the offering, 10th of Dhu al-Hajjah) shaved his head, cut his finger nails, trimmed his mustache and the sides (edges) of his beard.’”

“Abu al-Hassan ‘Alayhi al-Salam, has said, ‘When you buy your offering animal, measure its price and it becomes as part of your luggage, the offering now has reached its destination, and if you like you can shave your head.’”

“I once asked him (the Imam) (a.s.), about a man who because of ignorance does not do Taqsir (cutting some hair or finger nails and so on) or does not shave his head until he leaves Mina’. He (the Imam) said, ‘He must return to Mina’ to shave his hair or do Taqsir (cutting some hair or finger nails and so on) and a Sarurah (first time performing al-Hajj) man must shave his head.’”

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘It is proper for al-Sarura (one who performs al-Hajj for the first time) to shave his head, but if he has already performed al-Hajj he then may shave or do Taqsir (cutting some hair or fingernails and so on).’ He (the Imam) has said that if one has felted or braided his hairs, he must shave.’”

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Al-Sarura (one who performs al-Hajj for the first time) must shave his head and must not do Taqsir (cutting some hair or finger nails and so on); it is for those who have already performed Hajjahta al-Islam.’”

“I once asked abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), about a man who forgets to do Taqsir (cutting some hair or finger nails and so on) and he is for al-Hajj, until he leaves Mina He (the Imam) said, ’I do not like throwing the hairs in places other than MinaV About the words of Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, . . thereafter they must spruce up themselves . . .’(22:29) he (the Imam) said that it refers to shaving and things on a man’s skin.’”

“About a man who shaves in Makkah abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘He must return (take) his hairs to Mina’.’”

“Ja‘far (a.s.), has narrated from his ancestors, ‘Alayhim al-Salam, who have said, ‘The sunnah about shaving is that it must reach the two bones (down to both temple bones).”’

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that Taqsir (cutting some hair or finger nails and so on) in the case of women is from her hairs of the size of a finger tip.’”

“I once asked abu al-Hassan, al-Rida’ (a.s.), about our case of leaving Mina’ and staying several days, then shaving my head for pleasure that raised a question in my mind. He (the Imam) said that when abu al-Hassan ‘Alayhi al-Salam, left Makkah, his clothes were brought to him and he shaved his head and said that in the words of Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, ‘. . . then they must spruce up and fulfill their vows. . .’ (22:29) ‘Tafath’ means cutting the finger nails, removing dirt and (clothes of) Ihram.’”

“Once a man from Khurasan came for al-Hajj, his head had baldness and could not pronounce Talbiyah correctly. A fatwa was requested about it from abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), and he (the Imam) said that Talbiyah must be said on his behalf, and he must pass the blade over his head. It will be sufficient for him.’” NOTE: Fatwa best explains Hadith 3-13 of this and all of the following Chapters.