This is supported by the Prophet’s saying: “Circumcision is a sunnah for men and an honour for women” (1). However, this hadith is weak; had it been authentic, it would have been decisive.
Partial shaving of the head is disliked.
His statement, “Partial shaving of the head is disliked”: this means shaving part of the head and leaving part of it. It takes several forms:
-
To shave it irregularly—shaving from the right side, the left side, the forelock, and the nape.
-
To shave the middle of the head and leave its sides.
-
To shave its sides and leave its middle. Ibn al-Qayyim, may Allah have mercy on him, said: “As the lowly people do” (2).
-
To shave only the forelock and leave the rest.
Partial shaving of the head is disliked (3), because the Prophet ﷺ saw a boy whose hair had been partly shaved and partly left, so he forbade them from doing so and said: “Shave all of it, or leave all of it” (4). However, if it entails imitating the disbelievers, then it is prohibited,