they venerate, regarding this as an act of devotion and worship: is this Sunnah or a religious innovation? Is shaving the head in general Sunnah or a religious innovation? Please give us your ruling, may you be rewarded.

Shaykh al-Islām replied:

All praise is due to Allah, Lord of the worlds.

Shaving the head is of four kinds.

The first is shaving it during Hajj and ‘umrah. This is something Allah and His Messenger have commanded, and its prescription is established by the Quran, the Sunnah, and the consensus of the Muslim community. Allah Most High says:

“You will surely enter the Sacred Mosque, if Allah wills, in safety, with your heads shaved or your hair shortened, without fear.”

Mass-transmitted reports establish that the Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—shaved his head during his Hajj and ‘umrah pilgrimages. Likewise, some of his Companions shaved their heads, while others shortened their hair. Shaving is better than shortening, which is why he—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—said:

“O Allah, forgive those who have shaved their heads.”
They said, “O Messenger of Allah, and those who have shortened their hair?”
He said, “O Allah, forgive those who have shaved their heads.”
They said, “O Messenger of Allah, and those who have shortened their hair?”
He said, “O Allah, forgive those who have shaved their heads.”
They said, “O Messenger of Allah, and those who have shortened their hair?”
He said, “And those who have shortened their hair.”

During the Farewell Pilgrimage, he instructed the Companions who had not brought sacrificial animals with them to shorten their hair for ‘umrah after circumambulating the House and going between al-Safā and al-Marwah, and then to shave their heads after completing Hajj. Thus, he combined for them shortening the hair first and shaving it afterward.