Is it haram for men to have short hair?

- I heard a hadith. When Umar (ra) was the caliph, he saw a Muslim wearing a turban and it was as if he had no hair; then Umar (ra) went to that man and removed his turban from his head; the man’s hair fell off completely and Umar (ra) said, “If all of your hair had not come off, I would have cut your head off.” said.
- According to this hadith, is it haram for a man to cut his hair short?
- If not, how will this incident be interpreted?

Dear Brother / Sister,

No, it is not haram for men to have short hair.

However, the information given in the details of the question is not about shortening the hair on the head, but about eliminating the disorder of belief in the head. (1)

Therefore, we consider it appropriate to answer the question of shortening the hair first and then explain the issue mentioned in the question:

Shortening or Shaving Hair

Our Prophet (pbuh) stated that appearance was important along with moral characteristics, and in this context, he encouraged clean and well-groomed hair. (2)

The Prophet (pbuh) himself
- applied the oils and fragrances used at that time to his hair, trying to keep his hair clean. (3)

- According to strong narrations, he did not dye his hair, which was not bleached enough to make him feel the need to dye it. (4)

It is stated that the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) sometimes grew his hair over his ears and down to his shoulders, that he sometimes braided it (5), that he sometimes cut it short, and that he started to comb it beginning from the right part by parting it in the middle or the side; it is understood that trying to be different from the members of other religions was also effective in his preferences regarding the issue. (6)

The Prophet (pbuh) did not find it appropriate to cut some hair of the children and leave some of them in bangs, fearing that they would resemble Jews. (7)

On the other hand, the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) did not tolerate excessive fondness for adornment and recommended us not to be too busy with combing hair. (8)

The Prophet (pbuh), who wanted women and men to maintain their differences peculiar to them, did not regarded it as objectionable for women to shorten their hair in line with social acceptance but he did not find it appropriate for them to shave their hair. (9)

In another hadith, it is stated that women who wear their hair in a bun “like a camel’s hump” in order to attract attention will be subjected to otherworldly punishment even though they seem to comply with hijab. (10)

In conclusion, it is permissible for men to cut or shave their hair. Although it is appropriate for women to shorten their hair, it is not appropriate for them to shave their hair.

Eliminating the Wrong Ideas in the Head

The issue is mentioned in the details of the question is about a man named Sabigh.

According to the narration, a man named Sabigh came to Madinah, made interpretations on mutashabih verses and started to confuse people. Umar (ra) summoned the man and questioned him. Seeing the bad intentions of Sabigh, Umar (ra) punished him. (11)

In fact, that person was a rebellious agitator raising ambiguous questions; he also caused mischief, cast doubt on the meaning of the Quran, and hence weakened its authority.

In short, Sabigh was arrogant and conceited and a phony. (12)

As the head of state, Umar’s responsibility to prevent mischief and turmoil in the society made it necessary for him to take a tough stance against those who wanted to underestimate and distort religious values, including the Quran. Umar’s precautionary attitudes when he sensed a diversion purpose or noticed a deed that might lead to misunderstanding will enable us to understand his attitude toward Sabigh better.

Sabigh realized his mistake and said, “O Leader of the Believers! I swear by Allah that all the previous disorders in my head have disappeared now.” He repented by admitting his mistake. (13)

Footnotes:

1) see Darimi, Muqaddima 19, nu: 146.
2) Abu Dawud, Tarajjul, 3.
3) Bukhari, Libas, 74.
4) Ibn Majah, Libas, 35.
5) Tirmidhi, Libas, 39.
6) Bukhari, Libas, 70; Muslim, Fadail, 90.
7) Bukhari, Libas, 72; Abu Dawud, Tarajjul, 14-15.
8) Abu Dawud, Tarajjul, 1.
9) Muslim, Hayd, 42; Tirmidhi, Hajj, 75.
10) Muslim, Libas, 125.
11) Darimi, Muqaddima 19, nu: 146.
12) see Ibn Durayd, al-Ishtiqaq, Cairo, 1378/1958, 228; cf. al-Jahiz, al-Bayan wat-Tabyin (Cairo, 1968), 2/259.
13), Qurtubi, al-Jami’ li Ahkamil-Quran, Egypt 1967, 4/15; Suyuti, ad-Durrul-Manthur, 3/462.

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