A Woman Who Performed Umrah but Did Not Cut Her Hair: What Is the Ruling?

QUESTION ❓

Assalamu Alaikum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuh.

May Allah strengthen you, grant you good health and bless you with a long life.

My question is: What is the ruling concerning a woman who performed Umrah but did not cut or shorten her hair after completing the rites of Umrah?

ANSWER ❗️

Wa Alaikumussalam Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuh.

May Allah reward you for your question.

The principal rites of Umrah include entering into iḥrām, performing ṭawāf around the Kaʿbah, performing saʿy between Ṣafā and Marwah, and then completing the Umrah by shaving or shortening the hair, thereby leaving the state of iḥrām (taḥallul).

Allah says:

مُحَلِّقِينَ رُءُوسَكُمْ وَمُقَصِّرِينَ لَا تَخَافُونَ

Transliteration:
Muḥalliqīna ru’ūsakum wa muqaṣṣirīna lā takhāfūn.

Translation:
“Having your heads shaved or your hair shortened, without fear.”

Qur’an 48:27

The Prophet ﷺ also supplicated for those who shaved their heads and then included those who shortened their hair.

He ﷺ said:

«اللَّهُمَّ ارْحَمِ الْمُحَلِّقِينَ»

The Companions asked, “And those who shorten their hair, O Messenger of Allah?” He ﷺ repeated his supplication for those who shaved. When they asked again about those who shortened their hair, he ﷺ said:

«وَالْمُقَصِّرِينَ»

Translation:
“O Allah, have mercy on those who shave their heads… and those who shorten their hair.”

Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 1727; Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 1301.

1. What If a Woman Completes Ṭawāf and Saʿy but Does Not Cut Her Hair?

A woman does not shave her entire head as a man may do. Rather, she shortens some of her hair to complete her Umrah and leave the state of iḥrām.

Therefore, if she has completed ṭawāf and saʿy but has not yet shortened her hair, she has not completed the taḥallul of her Umrah.

If she remembers before doing anything that requires her to have left iḥrām, she should shorten her hair and complete the taḥallul.

The exact amount to be shortened is a matter on which the scholars have discussed different details. Therefore, a woman should follow the guidance of a reliable scholar or the established practice of the qualified scholars accompanying her Umrah group.

2. What If She Forgot or Did Not Know?

If she genuinely forgot or did not know that she needed to shorten her hair, she should not immediately panic.

Once she remembers, she should shorten her hair and complete the taḥallul.

Allah says:

رَبَّنَا لَا تُؤَاخِذْنَا إِن نَّسِينَا أَوْ أَخْطَأْنَا

Transliteration:
Rabbanā lā tu’ākhidhnā in nasīnā aw akhṭa’nā.

Translation:
“Our Lord, do not hold us accountable if we forget or make a mistake.”

Qur’an 2:286

The Prophet ﷺ also reported that Allah has pardoned the believers for mistakes, forgetfulness and what they are compelled to do. Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 126.

Nevertheless, the specific legal consequences should be determined according to the circumstances.

3. What If She Has Already Returned Home?

If she completed her Umrah, returned home and only later discovered that she had never shortened her hair, she should not assume that the entire Umrah is automatically invalid.

Rather, she should promptly consult a qualified scholar who specializes in the rulings of Hajj and Umrah.

She should explain:

• what exactly she did during the Umrah;
• whether she deliberately omitted the hair-cutting or simply forgot;
• when she remembered;
• how much time has passed;
• and what she did after completing the saʿy.

The scholar can then determine what she needs to do to complete the taḥallul and whether anything else is required.

4. What If She Did Things Prohibited During Iḥrām?

This is particularly important.

If she did not shorten her hair and subsequently used perfume, entered into a marriage contract, engaged in other prohibited acts of iḥrām, or otherwise acted on the assumption that she had already completed her Umrah, the ruling may depend on what she did, whether she knew the ruling, whether she had forgotten, and when she became aware of the situation.

Therefore, it would be incorrect to give exactly the same ruling to every woman in every such case.

She should seek a specific ruling from a qualified scholar and provide the complete details rather than trying to determine the consequences herself.

Conclusion

A woman who performs Umrah must shorten her hair in order to complete her taḥallul. She does not shave her entire head like a man.

If she forgets or does not know and later remembers, she should shorten her hair as soon as she becomes aware of the omission and seek appropriate guidance if other circumstances are involved.

If she has already returned home or has done acts that are prohibited for someone still in iḥrām, she should consult a qualified scholar experienced in Hajj and Umrah, because the ruling may depend on the precise circumstances.

There is therefore no need for her to panic, but she should not simply ignore the matter either. She should complete what is required and obtain a specific ruling where necessary.

May Allah accept the Umrah of all those who perform it, forgive our shortcomings, and grant us the ability to worship Him according to the Qur’an and authentic Sunnah.

Wallāhu Taʿālā Aʿlam — And Allah knows best.

Zauren Fatawoyi Bisa Al-Qur’ani da Sunnah

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