Umrah is one of the two worships in Islam that require traveling. Also known as lesser or minor pilgrimage, Umrah requires Muslims to perform different rituals in Masjid al Haram in the holy city of Makkah. One of these rituals is shaving heads after performing Umrah or Shaving the Head After Umrah or cutting hair up to a certain length.
Many high-end Umrah Deals come with the services of a guide who explains the importance of all the Umrah rituals to pilgrims. However, not everyone can afford such Umrah packages. In such a case, you have to gather information from various online and print sources. In this article, we will discuss why shaving the head after performing Umrah or Shaving the Head After Umrah is important and its rules for men & women.
The Religious Importance of Shaving One’s Head
Shaving one’s head or cutting one’s hair after performing Umrah is mandatory for all pilgrims. Before entering the state of Ihram, it is recommended to cut nails and remove unwanted hair from your body, as such things are not allowed once you wear Ihram.
After performing Umrah, pilgrims are required to either shave their heads or cut a portion of hair to come out of the state of Ihram. Also known as Halq or Taqseer, it is the fourth ritual of performing Umrah, and Umrah is not complete without it.
The hair are dear to everyone and are a part of one’s physical appearance. Many people are very conscious about their hairstyle. By letting the hair go, pilgrims show their submission towards Allah Almighty.
For men, shaving the head (Halq) holds far more rewards than cutting a portion of it. Let us quote a hadith about the importance of shaving heads for men.
Holy Prophet (PBUH) said, “O Allah! Be merciful to those who have their head shaved.” His companions asked, “O Allah’s Messenger! And (invoke Allah for) those who get their hair cut short.” The Prophet (PBUH) said, “O Allah! Be merciful to those who have their heads shaved.” The people said, “O Allah’s Messenger! And those who get their hair cut short.” The Prophet said (the third time), “And to those who get their hair cut short.” Nafi said that the Prophet had said twice or thrice, “O Allah! Be merciful to those who get their head shaved,” and on the fourth time he added, “And to those who have their hair cut short.”
The above hadith clearly mentions the significance of shaving the head completely for men over cutting a portion of the hair. Islam is a very logical religion, and this is why the rules for cutting hair after Umrah are different for both genders. Let’s check them out.
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Rules for Cutting Hair for Men and Women after Performing Umrah
The act of cutting hair must be performed immediately after Sai, the ritual of running (for men) and walking (for women) between the hills of Safa and Marwa.
Rules for Men
As already explained, Halq (completely shaving the head) is recommended and preferred as it comes with greater rewards.
The alternative is Taqseer, which means to cut your hair evenly on all sides of the head. There are varied opinions about the length of hair to be cut among different schools of thought. For example, Hanafis suggest cutting at least 1/4 of the hair on the head. Shāfi‘īs, on the other hand, go with cutting at least three hairs from the head. The general opinion, which is commonly accepted by almost all the schools of thought, is that at least a fingertip’s length, or about 1 centimeter, is accepted.
Another important thing to note here is that a partial or patchy cut, for example, having only the sides, is not acceptable. If you follow such a practice, your Umrah will not be accepted. Hence, you must shave or cut the hair uniformly.
There are plenty of barber shops around Masjid al Haram that offer shaving and cutting services at highly affordable rates. It won’t affect the overall Umrah cost.
Rules for Women
For women pilgrims, shaving their heads is not allowed, and women must only trim their hair. Women can cut the hair themselves, as all they have to do is gather all the hair at the end and cut around 1 to 2 centimeters from the edges. Moreover, hair must be cut from all sides and not just a few strands.
As far as the cutting place for women is concerned, it must be done at a private and secluded place. Women can go straight to their hotel room, a women’s restroom in the mosque, or a special women-only area near the hills of Safa and Marwah.
Many Umrah Family Deals offer assistance to females in this regard as well. They come with female guides that perform Umrah with pilgrims and ensure that all the rituals are timely performed.
Umrah Rituals Other than Halq or Taqseer
There are 4 rituals that make up Umrah. Shaving or cutting hair is the last. Let us now explain the other 3 briefly.
Ihram
It is the process of wearing two unstitched sheets of white cloth for men and modest clothes for women with an abaya. Ihram is worn at Miqat (designated spots) around the holy city of Makkah. Once you wear Ihram, you are not allowed to engage in worldly affairs or even pluck your hair.
Tawaf
Tawaf involves walking around the Kaabah 7 times in an anti-clockwise direction. The first round starts near the Black stone and the seventh ends at the same place. During the circles, pilgrims make different prayers. After all seven rounds are complete, two rakat nafal prayers are offered by pilgrims.
Sai
The third ritual is Sai. Pilgrims run or walk between the hills of Safa and Marwa while performing this ritual. Sai signifies the hardship of Hazrat Hajra’s efforts in search of water for her son.
Final Words
Now that you have an idea about all the Umrah rituals, it is much easier to perform Umrah. If you are looking for a reliable tour operator for performing Umrah, contact Muslims Holy Travel. They offer all inclusive Umrah packages UK at highly affordable rates.
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