Riyad as-Salihin · Chapter 295
باب النهي عن القزع وهو حلق بعض الرأس دون بعض وإباحة حلقه كله للرجل دون المرأة
This chapter addresses qaza, shaving only part of the head and leaving the rest, which the Prophet (peace be upon him) discouraged. Behind the grooming detail lies a love of balance and wholeness: either keep the hair or remove it, but do not leave the head patchy and inconsistent.
Read the hadith together and a measured picture emerges. Cutting hair in an uneven, attention seeking way is set aside, while shaving the whole head is shown to be entirely acceptable for men, even done by the Prophet (peace be upon him) himself for grieving children. The lesson is moderation and tidiness in appearance, with the broad guidance differing for men and women; the legal particulars are left to the scholars.
Hadith 1638
Ibn 'Umar (May Allah be pleased with them) said:
عن ابن عمر رضي الله عنهما قال: نهى رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم عن القزع. ((متفق عليه)).
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) forbade shaving a part of the head. [Al-Bukhari and Muslim].
In plain words
The Prophet (peace be upon him) forbade shaving only part of the head and leaving the rest. Keep your grooming balanced rather than patchy.
Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 1638 In-book reference : Book 17, Hadith 128
Hadith 1639
Ibn 'Umar (May Allah be pleased with them) said:
وعنه قال: رأى رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم صبيًا قد حلق بعض شعر رأسه وترك بعضه فنهاهم عن ذلك وقال: "احلقوه كله، أو اتركوه كله" . رواه أبو داود بإسناد صحيح على شرط البخاري ومسلم.
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) saw a boy, some portion of whose head was shaved and some of it was left out. He prohibited them from that and said, "Shave the whole of it or leave the whole of it." [Muslim].
In plain words
Seeing a boy with part of his head shaved and part left, the Prophet (peace be upon him) said to shave it all or leave it all. The guidance is to avoid an uneven, attention-seeking look.
Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 1639 In-book reference : Book 17, Hadith 129
Hadith 1640
'Abdullah bin Ja'far (May Allah be pleased with them) said:
وعن عبد الله بن جعفر رضي الله عنهما أن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم أمهل آل جعفر رضي الله عنه ثلاثًا، ثم أتاهم فقال: "لا تبكوا على أخي بعد اليوم". ثم قال: "ادعوا لي بني أخي" فجيء بنا كأننا أفرخ فقال: "ادعوا لي الحلاق" فأمره، فحلق رءوسنا". رواه أبو داود بإسناد صحيح على شرط البخاري ومسلم.
The Prophet (ﷺ) gave respite for three days to the family of Ja'far (after his martydom). Then he came and said, "Don't weep for my brother after this day." He said, "Bring all of my nephews to me." We were accordingly brought as if we were chickens. Then he said, "Call for me a barber." He directed him to shave our heads which he did. [Abu Dawud].
In plain words
After three days of mourning for the martyred Ja'far, the Prophet (peace be upon him) had the children's heads shaved. Shaving the whole head is shown to be entirely acceptable.
Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 1640 In-book reference : Book 17, Hadith 130
Hadith 1641
'Ali (May Allah be pleased with him) said:
وعن علي قال: نهى رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم أن تحلق المرأة رأسها. ((رواه النسائي)).
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) prohibited a woman from shaving her head. [An- Nasa'i].
In plain words
The Prophet (peace be upon him) forbade a woman from shaving her head. The guidance on hair differs here for women.
Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 1641 In-book reference : Book 17, Hadith 131