The Ijmaa On Dislike Of Qaza, It’s Wisdom & Contemporary Scholars Ruling On Fade Haircut

Definition Of Qaza In The Language

Qaza in the language has several meanings.

Scattered pieces of clouds in the sky, and a single one is called qaz‘a (Jamhara al-Lugha 2/815, Mu‘jam Matn al-Lugha 4/558, al-‘Ayn 1/132, Tahdhib al-Lugha 1/127, Mujmal al-Lugha 1/752, Mukhtar al-Sihah 1/253, al-Misbah al-Munir 2/502, Taj al-‘Arus 22/5, Lisan al-‘Arab 8/274).

A man who is mutaqazzi‘ is one whose hair on his head is thin and scattered (Mu‘jam Matn al-Lugha 4/558, al-‘Ayn 1/132, Tahdhib al-Lugha 1/127, Mujmal al-Lugha 1/752, Maqayis al-Lugha 5/84, al-Sihah 3/1265).

Al-qaz‘ah is a lock of hair left on a someone’s head like braids in different parts of the head, or a small amount of hair in the middle of the head (al-Durr al-Mukhtar 6/407, al-Dhakheerah 13/278, Rawdat al-Talibin 3/234, Kashshaf al-Qina‘ 1/79, al-Muhalla 5/231, al-Mawsu‘ah al-Fiqhiyyah al-Islamiyyah 1/466, al-Sunan al-Kubra by al-Bayhaqi 10/364).

The intended meaning here of qaza in the language is: shaving the head and leaving scattered patches of hair (Taj al-‘Arus 22/5, Tahdhib al-Lugha 1/127, Lisan al-‘Arab 8/272, Mu‘jam Matn al-Lugha 4/558, al-Sihah 3/1264, Mujmal al-Lugha 1/752, Maqayis al-Lugha 5/84).

Definition Of Qaza In Terminology

The definition of qaza by the jurists does not go beyond its linguistic meaning.

The Hanafis defined it as shaving some parts and leaving other parts in patches, the size of three fingers.

قال ابن عابدين
ويكره القزع وهو أن يحلق البعض ويترك البعض قطعا مقدار ثلاثة أصابع. كذا في الغرائب

(al-Durr al-Mukhtar 6/407).

The Malikis defined it as shaving some parts and leaving other parts, likening it to scattered clouds.

ويكره القزع أن يحلق البعض ويترك البعض تشبها بقزع السحاب

(al-Dhakheerah 13/278).

The Shafi‘is defined it as shaving part of the head, whether scattered or from one spot.

يكره القزع، وهو حلق بعض الرأس، سواء كان متفرقا أو من موضع واحد

(Rawdat al-Talibin 3/234).

The Hanbalis defined it as shaving part of the head and leaving part of it.

ويكره القزع وهو حلق بعض شعر الرأس وترك بعضه

(Kashshaf al-Qina‘ 1/79).

The Dhahiris defined it as shaving the head of a boy and leaving parts of it unshaved, likening it to scattered clouds (al-Muhalla 5/231).

Hair on the head, when some of it is shaved and some is left, was named “far‘” in resemblance to scattered clouds (al-Sunan al-Kubra by al-Bayhaqi 10/364).

From what has been mentioned of the definitions by the jurists, the following can be clarified:

1. Agreement of the jurists and linguists that qaza is shaving some of the head and leaving the rest.
2. The Hanafis specified the distance between them as three fingers’ width, while the rest of the jurists did not specify this.
3. The terminological definitions, except that of the Dhahiris, did not specify whether it is shaving the boy’s head or a man’s head, although most of the linguistic definitions specified the shaving of a boy, and perhaps they took the general meaning of the term, which is shaving.
4. Those intended by the prohibition are boys, as most of the linguistic definitions specified them, and I see that adults should be included by analogy, and I will explain that in its proper place.

Types of Qaza, its Interpretation, and the Wisdom behind its Dislike

As for shaving part of the head and leaving part of it, it is of levels.

• The most severe of them is to shave the middle of the head and leave its sides, as is done by the deacons of the Christians.
• Next is to shave the sides of the head and leave the middle, as is done by many of the low and disgraceful people.
• Next is to shave the front of the head and leave the back.

These three forms are included in qaza which the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, forbade, and some of them are worse than others (al-Bukhari in his Sahih 10/363–364, Muslim 14/100–101, from the hadith of Ibn Umar, may Allah be pleased with them both, who said: I heard the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, forbidding qaza. Ubayd Allah said: I said, “What is al-far‘?” Ubayd Allah explained to us: “When a boy’s head is shaved and a lock is left here, and here, and here,” and he pointed to the front and the sides of his head. It was said to Ubayd Allah: “What about a girl and a boy?” He said: “I do not know, he said ‘the boy’.” Ubayd Allah said: I asked him again, and he said: “As for the qissah and qafaa for a boy, there is nothing wrong with them, but qaza is that hair is left on the forelock while there is no other hair on the head, and likewise splitting the head here and here”).

Ahkam Ahl al-Dhimmah by Ibn Al Qayyim 3/1294

Interpretation of Qaza

Al-Far‘ with the fatha on the qaf and the zay, which is what Nafi‘ or ‘Ubayd Allah interpreted it as: shaving part of a boy’s head and leaving part of it. In another narration, this addition is from the words of ‘Ubayd Allah.

Some said: it is shaving scattered patches of the head, and this does not contradict the apparent meaning, so it is obligatory to act upon it (Sharh Sahih Muslim 14/101, Sahih Ibn Hibban 12/316, ‘Umdat al-Qari 22/58, Nayl al-Awtar 1/160).

This is what the Shafi‘is took in the correct view of their madhhab, and Ahmad, and the majority of his companions, that shaving part of the head in any way is included, because it is the explanation of the narrator.

It was said: rather, it is shaving the middle of the head.
It was said: rather, it is shaving certain spots of the head.

The Ruling & Wisdom on Dislike Of Qaza

It is disliked. The jurists agreed on the dislike of qaza, and this is the madhhab of the Hanafis, Malikis, Shafi‘is, Hanbalis, and Dhahiris (Sharh Sahih Muslim 14/101, Nayl al-Awtar 1/160, al-Bayan wa al-Tahsil 9/371).

An Nawawi said: The scholars agreed on the dislike of qaza when it is in scattered spots, unless it is done for treatment or something similar, in which case it is a tanzih dislike. Malik disliked it for both a girl and a boy absolutely, while some of his companions said there is nothing wrong with it in the qissah and qafaa for a boy. Our madhhab is to dislike it absolutely for both men and women due to the generality of the hadith.

The scholars said the wisdom in disliking it is that it disfigures the creation. It was said because it is from the ways of the people of corruption and showing off. It was also said that it is the style of the Jews, and this has come in a narration of Abu Dawud. And Allah knows best.

(Sharh Sahih Muslim 14/101)

This is indicated by what Abu Dawud narrated that al-Hajjaj ibn Hassan said: We entered upon Anas ibn Malik, and my sister al-Mughira told me: “You were a boy that day and had two locks or two braids, so he stroked your head, blessed you, and said: ‘Shave these or cut them, for this is the style of the Jews’” (Sunan Abi Dawud 6/262).

Ash-Shawkani said in Nayl al-Awtar (1/160):

وَالْحَدِيثُ يَدُلُّ عَلَى الْمَنْعِ مِنْ الْقَزَعِ قَالَ النَّوَوِيُّ: وَأَجْمَعَ الْعُلَمَاءُ عَلَى كَرَاهَةِ الْقَزَعِ كَرَاهَةَ تَنْزِيهٍ، وَكَرِهَهُ مَالِكٌ فِي الْجَارِيَةِ وَالْغُلَامِ مُطْلَقًا، وَقَالَ بَعْضُ أَصْحَابِهِ: لَا بَأْسَ بِهِ لِلْغُلَامِ، وَمَذْهَبُنَا كَرَاهَتُهُ مُطْلَقًا لِلرَّجُلِ وَالْمَرْأَةِ لِعُمُومِ الْحَدِيثِ

The hadith indicates the prohibition of qaza. Al-Nawawi said: the scholars are agreed that qaza is disliked with a tanzih dislike. Imam Malik disliked it for both a girl and a boy absolutely, while some of his companions said there is nothing wrong with it for a boy. Our madhhab is to dislike it absolutely for both men and women due to the generality of the hadith.

There is no difference between a boy, a man, or a woman in this, and Ibn Hibban (d. 354 AH) mentioned that there is no difference, and titled a chapter in his Sahih: “Mention of the prohibition of qaza being done on the heads of boys and men together” (Sahih Ibn Hibban 12/316).

It is recommended for one who shortens the hair of his head to do so evenly.

As for shortening the sides of the head more than the middle, this falls under the prohibited practice of al-qazaʿ.  Sahih Al-Bukhari (5921) and Sahih Muslim (2120) narrated from Ibn ʿUmar (may Allah be pleased with them both) that the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, “forbade al-qazaʿ.” Nafiʿ, one of the narrators of the hadith, explained al-qazaʿ as shaving part of a boy’s head and leaving part of it.

Sunan An-Nasa’i (5048) and Abu Dawud (4195) narrated from Ibn ʿUmar (may Allah be pleased with them both) that the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, saw a boy who had part of his head shaved and part left, and he forbade that and said: “Shave it all or leave it all”. This includes shortening part of the head without the rest.

In Fatawa al-Lajnah al-Da’imah (5/176) it says: “What is the ruling on one who leaves some of the hair of the head longer than some (such as in certain modern styles)?” The answer: Abu Dawud narrated from Abdullah ibn ʿUmar (may Allah be pleased with them both)

That the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, forbade al-qazaʿ and said: ‘Shave it all or leave it all.’ In Sharh al-Iqnaʿ it is stated: al-qazaʿ includes shaving places from the sides of the head, or shaving its middle and leaving the sides as is done by many Christians, or shaving the sides and leaving the middle as is done by many of the foolish, or shaving the front and leaving the back.

Imam Ahmad was asked about shaving the nape, and he said: ‘It is from the practice of the Magians, and whoever imitates a people is one of them.’ From this it is understood that it is not permissible to leave some hair of the head longer than some.” Fatwa agreed on by Abdullah ibn Ghudayyan, Abdul-Razzaq ʿAfifi, Ibrahim ibn Muhammad Al al-Shaykh.

Question 28 Shayk Jibreen’s Website

Shaykh Ibn Jibreen (may Allah preserve him) was asked:

انتشر بين النساء والرجال ظاهرة قص الشعر بحيث يكون له فروة طولها 10سم أو 13سم ثم تقص حواف شعر الرأس فقط من جهة اليمين إلى الخلف ثم إلى الشمال بالكلية أو حلاقتها باستثناء جهة الأمام. فما حكم ذلك وما دليله؟ وهل هو من القزع أم لا؟ ولماذا؟

“Among men and women there has spread the practice of cutting the hair so that it has a crown of hair of about 10 or 13 cm, then cutting the edges of the hair from the right side to the back and then to the left entirely, or shaving them except for the front. What is the ruling on this, and what is the evidence? Is it considered al-qazaʿ or not, and why?”

ا شك أن هذا الفعل من المنكر ومن التقليد الأعمى، وأنه داخل في القزع فقد ورد أن النبي – صلى الله عليه وسلم – نهى عن القزع  ورأى صبيا قد حلق بعض رأسه فقال:   ثم إن هذا الفعل ليس فيه زينة ولا جمال للرجل ولا للمرأة، بل هو تغيير لخلق الله وتشويه للمنظر، وتقليد للغرب بما لا فائدة فيه مع ما به من التكلفة والشغل الشاغل، وكثرة العمل وصرف المال فيما فيه مضرة بما هو معروف، فننصح الرجل أن لا يعتاد مثل هذا التقليد الغربي، والمرأة أن تتوقف على ما كانت عليه أمها وجداتها من توفير الشعر وتضفيره فهو الغاية في الجمال والله المستعان وصلى الله على محمد وآله وصحبه وسلم.

He replied: “There is no doubt that this act is reprehensible and blind imitation, and that it falls under al-qazaʿ. It has been reported that the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, forbade al-qazaʿ, and he saw a boy who had part of his head shaved and said: ‘Shave it all or leave it all.’ Furthermore, this act has no adornment or beauty for a man or a woman; rather it is altering the creation of Allah and disfiguring the appearance, and imitating the West in what has no benefit, along with the cost, preoccupation, repeated work, and wasting money on what is harmful and well-known.

We advise the man not to accustom himself to such Western imitation, and the woman to remain upon what her mother and grandmothers used to do of keeping the hair long and braiding it, for that is the utmost in beauty. Allah is the One sought for help, and may Allah send peace and blessings upon Muhammad, his family, and his companions” (Fatawa Shaykh Ibn Jibreen, Click Here To See Fatwa).

Shaykh Salih Al Uthaymeen (may allah have mercy on him) said: Qazaʿ is disliked.”

Qazaʿ is shaving part of the head and leaving part, and it has several types:

• That it is shaved in an unarranged way, such as shaving from the right side, and from the left side, and from the front hairline, and from the nape.
• That the middle is shaved and the sides are left.
• That the sides are shaved and the middle is left. Ibn al-Qayyim (may Allah have mercy on him) said: “As is done by the lowly.”
• That only the front hairline is shaved and the rest is left.

Al-qazaʿ is disliked because the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, saw a boy who had part of his hair shaved and part left, so he forbade them from that and said: “Shave it all, or leave it all,” except if it involves imitation of the disbelievers, in which case it is prohibited, because imitation of the disbelievers is prohibited.

The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said: “Whoever imitates a people is one of them” (narrated by Abu Dawud). Based on this, if we see someone who has shaved his head in this manner, we instruct him to shave all of it, and then he is to be instructed to either shave it all or leave it all.

Sharh Al Mumti By Ibn Uthaymeen (1/167-168)

Shayk Fawzan was asked: We see today many, or some, young men shaving their heads on the sides and at the back in imitation of disbelievers. What is the ruling on this?

The Shayk responded by saying: This is the qaza’ that is prohibited.

The Prophet, peace be upon him, said: “Shave it all or leave it all.” (Sunan An Nasai 5048)

Shaving some parts and leaving others is prohibited, and that is qaza’. It also involves imitation of Christians. The Prophet, peace be upon him, said: “Whoever imitates a people is one of them.”