the Prophet (may the peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) shaved his entire head, which serves as an interpretation of the absolute command regarding it (23), so it is necessary to refer to it. Furthermore, it is a ritual related to the head, so it is necessary to encompass it, just like wiping in purification. If the hair is braided, she should shorten the tips of her braids. Malik said the same: the woman should shorten from all her locks. It is not necessary to shorten from every single hair, because that cannot be known except by shaving it.
Section: Any amount one shortens from it is sufficient, because the command regarding it is absolute and thus encompasses even the least amount. Ahmad said: One should shorten the length of a fingertip (unmula). This is the opinion of Ibn Umar, al-Shafi'i, Ishaq, and Abu Thawr. This is understood as being recommendatory, because Ibn Umar said: "By whatever means he shortens (24) the hair, it is sufficient." Similarly, if he plucks it out, or removes it with depilatory paste (nura), it is sufficient; because the intention is its removal, and the command for it is absolute, thus it encompasses what the term applies to. However, the Sunnah is shaving or shortening, following the example of the Messenger of Allah (may the peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) and his companions. It is recommended to begin with the right side. He stated this explicitly, based on what Anas narrated, that the Messenger of Allah (may the peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said to the barber: "Take." And he pointed to his right side, then the left, and then he began giving it to the people. Narrated by Muslim (25). The Prophet (may the peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) used to love to start with the right in all his affairs. Muttafaqun 'alayh (agreed upon) (26). Ahmad said: He begins with the right side until he passes the two temples (27). If he shortens from his head hair what has grown below the limit of the head, or from what is adjacent to it, it is permissible; because the objective is shortening, and it has been achieved, unlike wiping in wudu (ablution), for the obligation is wiping the head, which is what is elevated and atop the head.
(23) In (A): "in it". (24) In (A), (B), and (M): "Qass". (25) In: Chapter of explaining that the Sunnah on the day of Sacrifice is to cast pebbles, then to slaughter... from the Book of Hajj. Sahih Muslim 2/947. It was also documented by Abu Dawud, in: Chapter of Shaving and Shortening, from the Book of Rituals. Sunan Abi Dawud 1/457. And al-Tirmidhi, in: Chapter of which side of the head one begins with in shaving, from the Chapters of Hajj. 'Aridat al-Ahwadhi 4/145, 146. (26) Its documentation was provided previously in: 1/136. (27) In the original: "the two bones".
