Halq (Shaving the Head)
Halq (shaving the head) and Taqsir (shortening the hair) are the final acts of exiting Ihram in Hajj and ‘Umrah. For men, Halq is better than Taqsir. For women, only trimming is allowed.
Qur’anic Reference
Section titled “Qur’anic Reference”لَتَدْخُلُنَّ الْمَسْجِدَ الْحَرَامَ إِن شَاءَ اللَّهُ آمِنِينَ مُحَلِّقِينَ رُءُوسَكُمْ وَمُقَصِّرِينَ
Latadkhulunna al-Masjid al-Ḥarām in shā’ Allāhu āminīn muḥalliqīna ru’ūsakum wa muqaṣṣirīn
You will surely enter al-Masjid al-Haram, if Allah wills, with your heads shaved and [hair] shortened...
When to Perform It
Section titled “When to Perform It”- For ‘Umrah: After Tawaf + Sa’ee, Halq/Taqsir ends the Umrah.
- For Hajj:
- On 10th Dhul Hijjah (after Rami and Sacrifice).
- Halq or Taqsir completes the partial exit from Ihram.
Preference for Halq Over Taqsir
Section titled “Preference for Halq Over Taqsir”The Prophet ﷺ said:
O Allah, forgive those who shave their heads. They said: 'And those who cut their hair short, O Messenger of Allah?' He said: 'O Allah, forgive those who shave their heads.' They repeated it, and on the fourth time, he said: 'And those who cut their hair short.'
For Men
Section titled “For Men”- Halq: Full head shaving with a razor or clippers.
- Taqsir: Shorten all sides of the head (not just a patch).
For Women
Section titled “For Women”- Shaving is prohibited.
- Must cut roughly a fingertip’s length (~1–2 cm) from the end of all hair.
If Missed or Delayed
Section titled “If Missed or Delayed”- Delaying shaving after Rami and sacrifice is allowed if due to logistics.
- If completely skipped without excuse, Hajj or Umrah may be invalid.
Tools and Cleanliness
Section titled “Tools and Cleanliness”- You may bring your own clippers.
- If using a barber, ensure blades are clean or new to avoid infections.
- In crowded areas, confirm the barber is licensed.