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Time of Shaving
A pilgrim may shave or cut his hair short right after throwing the first pebbles at Jamarah Al-Aqabah on the Day of Nahr - the 10th of Dhul-Hijjah. If, however, a pilgrim has with him animals to be slaughtered then he can shave or cut his hair short only after having slaughtered these animals.
In a hadith reported by Ma'mar bin Abdullah we read that the Prophet (peace be upon him) slaughtered his sacrificial animal at Mina and said, "He has commanded me to shave (my head)." This was reported by Ahmad and At-Tabarani.
The time to shave or cut one's hair short while performing 'Umrah is right after completing Sa'i - seven rounds - between Safa and Marwah. As for those who bring their sacrifical animals with them, they may shave right after they slaughter them.
At the time of shaving or cutting one' s hair short, according to Abu Hanifah and Malik, one must be in Haram (within the prencincts of the Sacred Mosque) and it must be during the Days of Nahrm - 10th, 11th, 12th and 13th of Dhul-Hijjah. A narration from Ahmad, based on the above hadith, supports this opinion.
Ash-Shafi'i, Mohammad bin Al-Hasan, and, according to his well known position, Ahmad, are of the view that shaving or cutting of one's hair short must be done within the Sacred Precincts of the Haram, but not necessarily during the Days of Nahr. If one delays shaving one's head until after these days one may do so without any harm or incurring any penalty.
Etiquette of Shaving or Cutting Short One's Hair
It is liked that while shaving the head one should first shave the right half, then the left side, while facing the direction of Qiblah, uttering Allahu Akbar, and offering a two rak'ah prayer at the end of it. Waki' said, "Abu Hanifah once told me: 'I was mistaken concerning five rites of Hajj and a cupper taught these to me and corrected me. This happened when I went to a cupper and asked him, "How much will you charge for shaving my head?" The cupper said, "Are you from Iraq?" I said, "Yes." The cupper said to me, "Sit down, this is a rite of Hajj, and on it no conditions must be placed." I sat down with my face slightly away from the direction of Qiblah. At this he said, "Turn your face toward the Qiblah." I turned the left side of my head to him to shave it first whereupon he said, "Turn over the right side of your head (that I may shave it first)." I turned the right side to him and he began shaving while I sat quiet. He again said, "Say takbir" which I did, until when I got up to leave, he said, "Where are you going?" I said, "I am going to my camp." He said, "Offer a two rak'ah prayer first, then leave." I asked him, "Where did you learn all this?" He replied, "I have seen 'Ata bin Abi Rabah doing this."' This was reported by Al-Muhib Al-Tabari.
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