shaving a head of taqseer

shaving a head of taqseer

It is the sixth obligation in the obligatory Hajj and it is necessary that the intention (niyyah) in carrying it out should be to attain nearness to Allah. It is not permissible to perform this obligation before the Idd day or even on its eve except for those who are fearful. As a matter of caution, it should be done during day time and after the throwing of pebbles and the making of sacrifce but if it precedes them or either of them by oversight or ignorance of the rule, then there is need to repeat it.

Shaving of the head is not permissible for ladies and Taqseer is specified for them.

Men have the option between shaving of the head and Taqseer but shaving of the head is preferred. However, if one applies glue, honey or the like in the hair of the head because of lice or gathers the hair to one side of the head and ties them together, as a matter of caution, he must prefer shaving the head. If it is the first Hajj of the pilgrim, as a matter of caution, he too should prefer to shave the head.

If a pilgrim opts for shaving his head but fears that the barber will injure his head, it is not permissible for him to shave but he should have a crop by a machine or he must perform the Taqseer and then have his head shaved.

If it is doubtful whether a person is a male or a female or a hermaphrodite is obliged to perform Taqseer unless he has applied glue or honey in the hair or has gathered and tied them, in which case, he should perform both but, as a matter of caution, he should first perform Taqseer and then have the head shaven.

After the shaving of head or Taqseer, all the matters which had been forbidden during ihram become permissible except intimacy to the wife, perfume and hunting. It is apparent that intimacy to ladies is not exclusively intercourse but applies to all types of enjoyments which are forbidden during ihram. However, a pilgrim can attend the nikah and be a witness at it after shaving his head.

If a pilgrim forgets to perform Taqseer or have the head shaven or omits to do so out of ignorance of the rule and departs from Mina, he should return and perform either of them but if it becomes difficult to return, he should perform either of them from wherever he is and, if it is possible, send the hair to Mina. However, if the pilgrim shaves his head somewhere other than Mina, even though deliberately, it is sufficient but, if possible, he must send the hair to Mina

If a person forgets to perform Taqseer or have his head shaved or omits to do so out of ignorance of the rule and recalls or learns the rule after completion of all the ceremonies of Hajj and then performs either of them, it is not necessary to repeat the Tawaaf and Saee, although, as a matter of caution, one should repeat the Tawaaf and Saee if he recalls or learns the rule while still in Makkah.