Shaving in Umrah: Halq and Taqsir, and How Women Cut Their Hair

Shaving in Umrah is the final step, performed after tawaf and sa’y, that takes a person out of ihram. For men it is possible either to shave the head completely (halq) or to shorten the hair (taqsir); women only shorten their hair by cutting from the ends. In this article, we explain the ruling on shaving, how much hair must be cut, where and when it is done and the common mistakes, on the basis of the Hajj and Umrah manual of the Presidency of Religious Affairs of Türkiye (Diyanet).

The Ruling on Shaving

The fard acts of Umrah are ihram and tawaf; sa’y and shaving are wajib according to the Hanafi school. In the Qur’an, verse 27 of Surah al-Fath states that the believers will enter Masjid al-Haram “with their heads shaved and their hair shortened”; this verse shows that both halq and taqsir are legitimate.

According to the narration found in al-Bukhari and Muslim, the Prophet (peace be upon him) prayed for mercy three times for those who shaved their heads and, the fourth time, included those who shortened their hair in his prayer. For this reason, shaving is more virtuous for men, while shortening is sufficient.

What Are Halq and Taqsir?

Shaving or shortening the hair of the whole head is sunnah; doing only a quarter is sufficient, but it has been regarded as disliked (makruh).

How Do Women Cut Their Hair in Umrah?

Women do not shave their heads. They cut a finger joint’s length from the ends of their hair, preferably from all of the hair and from at least a quarter of it. This can be done at the hotel, among women or by a mahram; as the headscarf has to be removed, it should not be done in a crowded place. For other details about women’s Umrah, see our article on how women go on Umrah.

When and Where Is the Shaving Done?

Shaving is the last step of Umrah: first tawaf, then sa’y between Safa and Marwa, and finally shaving. A person who shaves before the sa’y has committed an ihram violation, and a penalty is required.

According to Abu Hanifah, the shaving of Umrah must be done inside the Haram area; if it is done outside the Haram, a dam (sacrifice) is required as a penalty. The hotels in Makkah and the barbers around Masjid al-Haram are inside the Haram. There are many barbers near the exits on the Marwa side.

Can a Person in Ihram Shave Someone Else?

A person for whom the time of shaving has come, that is, who has finished the tawaf and sa’y, may cut their own hair or someone else’s hair first. For a person in ihram who has not yet finished the sa’y, however, shaving someone else is an ihram violation.

Those With No Hair or Very Short Hair

A person with no hair on their head passes the razor over the head; this takes the place of shaving. A man whose hair is shorter than a finger joint cannot shorten it, so he shaves.

Common Mistakes

• Cutting a few hairs: Cutting a few hairs is not sufficient according to the Hanafi school; the measure of at least a quarter is required.
• Leaving ihram before shaving: Wearing stitched clothing or applying perfume before shaving is an ihram violation. The list of restrictions is in our article on ihram restrictions.
• Leaving the shaving until Jeddah or Madinah: Shaving done outside the Haram requires a penalty according to the Hanafi school.
• Trimming the beard: The shaving of Umrah concerns the hair of the head; trimming the beard does not take the place of shaving.

Frequently Asked Questions

References

1. Presidency of Religious Affairs of Türkiye (Diyanet), General Directorate of Hajj and Umrah Services, Hac ve Umre Rehberi (Hajj and Umrah Guide). hac.diyanet.gov.tr. Accessed: 29.10.2026.
2. Presidency of Religious Affairs of Türkiye (Diyanet), Kur’an-ı Kerim Meali (Translation of the Qur’an), al-Fath 48/27. kuran.diyanet.gov.tr. Accessed: 29.10.2026.