Will Passing A Machine Over Hair Shorter Than A Finger Digit Suffice To Exit Ihram?

Darulifta Ahlesunnat

(Dawateislami)

Question

   What do the respected Ulama say regarding the following: If one has hair shorter than the length of one finger digit, and rather than shaving his head, he passes a machine over his head, will this become equivalent to shaving the head? Furthermore, what will be the ruling in this case if one passes a machine over the head and later uses a blade?

بِسْمِ اللہِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِیْمِ

اَلْجَوَابُ بِعَوْنِ الْمَلِکِ الْوَھَّابِ اَللّٰھُمَّ ھِدَایَۃَ الْحَقِّ وَالصَّوَابِ

   If a person has hair shorter than the length of a finger digit, he must perform Halq to lift the restrictions of Ihram. In this situation, using a machine won’t be sufficient, even if it is used without a guard, nor will it be considered equivalent to Halq as Halq is completely removing the hair from the surface of the head. As for machines, they don't remove the hair from the surface of the head, rather they leave very short hairs. Furthermore, it is known from experience that after using a machine, some hairs are left on the head, and if a blade is used afterward, more hairs will be cut, making it evident that the ruling for a machine and blade can't be the same. Therefore, if the hairs of the one in the state of Ihram are less than the length of one finger digit, using a machine without a guard won't be sufficient, and such a person will remain in Ihram. If a person in Ihram still uses a machine, but later shaves at least a fourth of his head with a blade, the Halq will be complete, and the restrictions of Ihram will be lifted.

   The word “Halq” refers to removing hair from one-fourth of the head and “Taqsir” refers to cutting the hair at least the length of a finger digit from one-fourth of the head.

   It is stated in Bahr al-Raiq:

والمراد بالحلق إزالة شعر ربع الرأس۔۔۔والمراد بالتقصير أن يأخذ الرجل أو المرأة من رءوس شعر ربع الرأس مقدار الأنملة

(Bahr al-Raiq, Vol. 2, Chapter of Ihram, p. 372, Dar al-Kutub al-Islami, Beirut)

   If the hairs are shorter than the length of one finger digit, due to which Taqsir no longer remains possible, Halq will become necessary. Mentioning this, it is stated in Lubab al-Manasik and its Explanation:

)ولو تعذر  التقصیر )أی تعذر لکون الشعر  قصیرا(تعین الحلق(

(Lubab al-Manasik Ma’a Sharhihi, Topic of Halq and Taqsir, p. 324, Publ. Makah al-Mukarramah)

   In the simple and comprehensive book by the name “27 Wajibat-e-Hajj,” it is stated:

   Commonly, Halq means shaving the head and that usually done with a blade. If one completely removes the hair like Halq without using a blade, such as by using a powder or a rock, or by plucking the hair, these all suffice for Halq. However, using a machine to remove hair will not count as Halq because the definition given for Halq isn’t found here. But if such a machine is used which plucks the hair, that is a separate matter, and the ruling for plucking hair has been mentioned.(Wajibat-e-Hajj Aur Tafseeli Ahkam, p, 94, Publ. Maktaba-tul-Madinah, Karachi)

وَاللہُ اَعْلَمُ عَزَّوَجَلَّ وَرَسُوْلُہ اَعْلَم صَلَّی اللّٰہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم

(Allah Almighty knows best and His Messenger صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم knows best.)

Answered By: Mufti Muhammad Qasim Attari

Ref No: FAM-0237

Date: 12th Jumad al-Ukhra 1445 AH/ 26th December 2023