her head.” (1)

Imam Ahmad used to say, “She should shorten every braid by the length of a fingertip,” and this is also the view of Ibn ʿUmar, al-Shafiʿi, Ishaq, and Abu Thawr. Abu Dawud said, “I heard Ahmad asked about a woman—does she trim from all of her hair?” He replied, “Yes: she gathers her hair to the front of her head and then cuts from the ends of it the measure of a fingertip.” End quote.

Imam al-Nawawi stated in al-Majmuʿ (8/150, 154): “The scholars are unanimously agreed that a woman is not instructed to shave; rather, her duty is to shorten her hair… for shaving is an innovation in their case and entails disfigurement.”

[A menstruating woman exits ihram after stoning Jamrat al-ʿAqabah and shortening her hair]

14 – Once a menstruating woman has pelted Jamrat al-ʿAqabah and trimmed her hair, she exits the state of ihram and all that was forbidden to her because of ihram becomes lawful, except that she is still not permissible for her husband. She must not allow him intimacy until she has circumambulated the House for Tawaf al-Ifadah. Should he have intercourse with her before that, she is liable for a penalty: the sacrifice of a sheep in Mecca, whose meat is distributed among the poor of the Sanctuary, because this occurs after the first release from ihram.

[If a woman menstruates after Tawaf al-Ifadah, the Farewell Tawaf is waived]

15 – If a woman begins menstruating after completing Tawaf al-Ifadah, she may depart whenever she wishes and the Farewell Tawaf is no longer required of her, on the strength of the report of ʿAʾishah, may Allah be pleased with her, who said: “Safiyyah bint Huyayy began menstruating after she had performed the Ifadah; so I mentioned…"