Praise be to Allaah.
Firstly:
The fuqaha’
are unanimously agreed that shaving the entire head is preferable to cutting
the hair, because it is proven that the Messenger of Allaah (peace and
blessings of Allaah be upon him) shaved his entire head, and he prayed for
those who shaved their heads three times, and for those who cut their hair
once.
See:
al-Mawsoo’ah al-Fiqhiyyah (18/98).
But they
differed as to the minimum amount that is acceptable in shaving the head and
cutting the hair. The Maalikis and Hanbalis are of the view that it is not
sufficient to shave only part of the head, because the Prophet (peace
and blessings of Allaah be upon him) shaved his entire head, and his action
explained his command to shave.
The Hanafis
are of the view that it is sufficient to shave one quarter of the head, but
if less than one quarter is shaved, that is not sufficient.
The
Shaafa’is said that the minimum that is sufficient is three hairs, whether
it is shaved or cut.
Ibn Qudaamah
(may Allaah have mercy on him) said in al-Mughni (3/196): He must cut
or shave all of his hair, and the same applies to women. This was stated by
Imam Ahmad, and it was the view of Maalik. It was narrated from Ahmad that
part (of the head) is sufficient. Al-Shaafa’i said: It is sufficient to cut
three hairs. Ibn al-Mundhir favoured the view that if a man cuts the hair in
a manner that may be regarded as hair cutting, it is sufficient. But Allaah
says (interpretation of the meaning): “having your heads shaved” [al-Fath
48:27]. This is general in meaning. And the Prophet (peace and
blessings of Allaah be upon him) shaved his entire head, which explains the
command to shave the head. End quote.
It says in
al-Taaj wa’l-Ikleel (4/181), which is a Maaliki book: Whoever shaves
his head or cuts his hair, let him do that to his entire head; it is not
sufficient to limit it to only part of it. End quote.
Undoubtedly
this view is more on the safe side. A person should not limit himself to
removing hair only from the front or the back or the right or the left as
you have done.
Secondly:
If a person
has removed only some of his hair, his case must be examined further.
If he did
that because he was following a scholar who issued a fatwa to that effect,
there is no sin on him.
If he did
that based on his own ideas, then this is not sufficient, and he is still in
ihraam and has not exited it. So he has to remove his sewn garments now, and
shave his entire head or cut his hair all over. Thus he will exit ihraam,
and he does to have to offer any (expiation) for anything that he did during
this time of the things that are forbidden when in ihraam, because he was
unaware of the ruling.
Shaykh Ibn
‘Uthaymeen (may Allaah have mercy on him) was asked about a man who cut his
hair on one side only after doing ‘Umrah, then he went back to his family
and he found out that what he had done was not correct. What should he do?
He replied: If he did this out of ignorance, then he has to take off his
clothes now and put on his ihraam garments, and shave his head completely or
cut his hair, but what he did may be forgiven, because he was unaware.
Shaving or cutting the hair does not necessarily have to be done in Makkah,
rather they may be done in Makkah or elsewhere. But if he did that based on
a fatwa from a scholar, then he does not have to do anything, because Allaah
says (interpretation of the meaning): “So ask of
those who know the Scripture , if you know not” [al-Nahl 16:43].
Some scholars think that cutting hair from part of the head is like cutting
the hair all over the head. End quote from al-Liqa’ al-Shahri, no.
10.
And Allaah knows best.