Q 2: My father performed Hajj three times, but he never shaved off or shortened his hair completely. He would cut some hairs from the sides of his head with scissors. Is his Hajj valid? Is he committed to something? May Allah reward you with the best and protect you! A 2: It is obligatory on a pilgrim who wishes to remove the ritual state of `Umrah (lesser pilgrimage) or Hajj to shorten all the hair of his head. Allah (Exalted be He) says: (some) having your heads shaved, and (some) having your head hair cut short We are ordered to follow the example of the Prophet (peace be upon him). It was authentically reported that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said in Farewell Hajj: Take your (Hajj) rites from me. He ordered shaving off or shortening the hair. As for what your father did, it is forgiven, in sha’a-Allah (if Allah wills) due to the well-known dispute among the people of knowledge in this regard. However, in the future, he should shorten his hair completely whether in Hajj or `Umrah; but shaving (Part No. 10; Page No. 208

A 2: It is obligatory on a pilgrim who wishes to remove the ritual state of `Umrah (lesser pilgrimage) or Hajj to shorten all the hair of his head. Allah (Exalted be He) says: (some) having your heads shaved, and (some) having your head hair cut short We are ordered to follow the example of the Prophet (peace be upon him). It was authentically reported that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said in Farewell Hajj: Take your (Hajj) rites from me. He ordered shaving off or shortening the hair. As for what your father did, it is forgiven, in sha’a-Allah (if Allah wills) due to the well-known dispute among the people of knowledge in this regard. However, in the future, he should shorten his hair completely whether in Hajj or `Umrah; but shaving (Part No. 10; Page No. 208) is best according to what was authentically reported in the Two Sahih (authentic) Books of Hadith (i.e. Al-Bukhari and Muslim) that the Prophet (peace be upon him) supplicated for those who shave off their hair three times and said after that: And those who shorten. May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.