and he gave it to Umm Sulaym. This does not contradict his giving it to Abū Talha, for she was his wife.

In another wording (1), he began with the right side and distributed the hair among the people, one or two hairs at a time. Then he turned to the left side and did the same. He then asked, “Is Abū Talha here?” and handed it to him.

In a third wording (2): “He gave Abū Talha the hair from the left side of his head, then clipped his nails and distributed the clippings among the people.”

As related (3) by Imam Ahmad (4), Muhammad [ibn ‘Abd Allāh] (5) ibn Zayd reported that his father told him that he and a man from Quraysh were present with the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, at the place of sacrifice while he was distributing sacrificial animals. Neither he nor his companion received anything. Allah’s Messenger, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, then had his head shaved into his garment and gave him the hair, some of which he distributed among several men. He also clipped his nails and gave the clippings to his companion. He said, “It is still with us, dyed with henna and katam,” meaning the Prophet’s hair.

He prayed three times for forgiveness for those who shaved their heads, and once for those who shortened their hair (6). Many of the Companions—indeed, most of them—shaved their heads, while some shortened their hair. This, together with the words of Allah Most High:

“You will surely enter the Sacred Mosque, if Allah wills, in safety, with your heads shaved or your hair shortened” [al-Fath: 27]

and the statement of