to encompass the entire head, such that anyone who sees him would recognize that he has shortened his hair. It is not necessary to shorten every individual hair. The author mentions this in opposition to the view of some scholars who say that it is sufficient to shorten three hairs, or a quarter of the head, or the like. Rather, the correct view is that stated by the author: he must shorten hair from all of his head.

His statement, “A woman shortens it by the length of a fingertip”: that is, the length of a finger joint. A woman gathers the braids of her hair, if she has braids, or gathers its ends if she does not, and cuts off the length of a fingertip—approximately two centimeters. As for the common notion among women that a fingertip means that a woman folds the end of her hair over her finger, and that the required amount is reached when the two ends meet, this is incorrect.

Women are prescribed to shorten their hair because they need adornment and beautification, and hair is an adornment and a source of beauty. The required amount is only a fingertip’s length so that it does not excessively diminish her hair. This shows that Islamic law takes people’s needs and inclinations into consideration, and that it never imposes anything involving hardship or undue difficulty—praise be to Allah.

Then everything becomes lawful for him except women. Shaving and shortening the hair are ritual acts, for whose delay no sacrificial expiation is required, nor is one required for performing them before stoning the pillars and sacrifice.

His statement, “Then everything becomes lawful for him except women”: that is, after shaving, preceded by stoning the pillars and sacrifice, everything becomes lawful for him except women, due to the Prophet’s statement, peace and blessings be upon him: “When you have stoned and shaved, everything becomes lawful for you except women.” (1) Thus, we have three matters: