Does that mean it's haram or discouraged to shave your head of?
Reply:
There is a difference of opinion amongst the scholars about shaving the head without a valid reason. The obvious exceptions being hajj, and if it needs to be shaved for a medical reason.
Some regard it as makrooh under certain conditions, and others regard as permissible under any condition.
Those that say it is permissible under any circumstances quote the following hadith: Abu Dawood narrated (4195) that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) saw a child who had part of his head shaved and not other parts. He said: “Shave it all or leave it all.” Al-Nawawi (may Allaah have mercy on him) said: “This clearly shows that it is permissible to shave the head, and it cannot be interpreted in any other way.” (Sharh Muslim).
Moulana Ashraf Ali Thanvi (ra) has stated in Behishti Zewar: It is sunnah to grow one’s hair on the entire head till the ear lobes or slightly below them. If a person wishes to shave his head, it is sunnah to shave the entire head. It is also permissible to merely clip the hair. However, it is not permissible to clip all the hair and leave the front portion long, as is the fashion today. Similarly, it is also not permissible to shave a portion and leave another portion long. From this we deduce that it is not permissible to sport the babri hairstyle (or to cut the hair in the shape of a cap or to shape the front part of the hair).
One should also bare in mind, that to fashion ones hair in such a style which is immitating the non Muslims, is not allowed. The Noble Prophet (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) said: "Whoever immitates a people is one of them." (Abu Dawud, 4031)
Seifeddine wrote on 19/07/2011:
Shaving the beard is Haraam, but how about the hair of the head?
Shaykh ul Hadeeth Hadhrat Maulana Fadlur Rahman Azmi states (in his book titled 'Laws of the beard and the hair, in the light of the Ahadeeth'): It is also permissible to shave the head, besides the time of Hajj and Umrah, although it is preferable and Sunnah to keep hair in accordance to the practise of the Nabi (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam). However, it is not even makrooh to shave all of the hair as this Sunnah of Nabi (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) is from amongst the Sunan-e-Zawaaid. As a habit Nabi (sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam) used to keep his hair not as an Ibaadat, hence it is not makrooh (detestable) to omit this Sunnah. (Fataawaa Imdaadiyah, Volume 4, Page 299)
Hadhrat Ali (radiallaahu 'anh) states that Nabi (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) forbade women from shaving their hair. (Mishkaat, Page 384). Whilst explaning this hadeeth, Mullah Ali Qaari (rahmatullaahi 'alaih) states that this hadeeth indicates that it is permissible for men to shave thier heads by taking the opposite meaning (i.e. If it is not permissible for women then it will be permissible for men who are the opposite sex).
There is no difference of opinion regarding the permissibility for men to shave their heads. However, there is a difference of opinion regarding whether the shaving of the head is Sunnah or not. Hadhrat Ali (radiallaahu 'anh) shaved all his hair and Nabi (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) condoned it by not forbidding him. Nabi (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) states: "Hold fast to my way, and the way of my Khulafaa'"
On the other hand, Nabi (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) as well as all the other Sahabah (radiallaahu 'anhum) never used to shave their heads besided at the time of Hajj and Umrah. This shows that to shave is just permissible. This view is correct. (Mirqaat)
Nabi (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) ordered that the hair of Hadhrat Ja'far (radiallaahu 'anh)'s children be shaved after his demise. (Abu Dawood, Volume 1, Page 577) This Hadeeth proves that it is permissible to shave the head. Similarly, this hadeeth indicates that children may also keep long hair. (The reason why Rasulullaah (sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam) instructed that the hair of Hadhrat Ja'far (radiallaahu 'anh)'s children should be shaved is that their mother was in gried and sorrow due to the martyrdom of her husband. Hence, she will be unable to tend to their hair. Thus, this compassion was shown to save them from having dishevelled hair and lice, etc.)
Just as it is permissible to shave off all the hair, similarly it is permissible to shorted the hair on condition that it is shortened equally. The proof of this is the word 'Muqassireen' in the Qur'aan which means 'to shorten'. However, to cut off only some hair, and to keep some hair at the front of the head which is in fashion nowadays is not permissible. (Bahishti Zewar, Part 11, Page 967)
Prohibition Of Qaza' (i.e. To cut a portion of the hair, and leave the rest)
This is prohibited, Its prohibition is proven from an authentic hadeeth: Sayyiduna Ibn 'Umar (radiallaahu 'anhuma) states that a child was brought to Nabi (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) whose hair was partly cut and the rest uncut. Nabi (sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam) said: 'Either cut it completely or leave it completely.' (Saheeh Muslim, and Mishkaat Page 380)
End quote.
Moulana Ashraf Ali Thanvi (ra) has stated in Behishti Zewar: It is sunnah to grow one’s hair on the entire head till the ear lobes or slightly below them. If a person wishes to shave his head, it is sunnah to shave the entire head. It is also permissible to merely clip the hair. However, it is not permissible to clip all the hair and leave the front portion long, as is the fashion today. Similarly, it is also not permissible to shave a portion and leave another portion long. From this we deduce that it is not permissible to sport the babri hairstyle (or to cut the hair in the shape of a cap or to shape the front part of the hair).
One should also bare in mind, that to fashion ones hair in such a style which is immitating the non Muslims, is not allowed. The Noble Prophet (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) said: "Whoever immitates a people is one of them." (Abu Dawud, 4031)
Anon wrote on 14/07/2011:
Seifeddine wrote on 19/07/2011:
Shaykh ul Hadeeth Hadhrat Maulana Fadlur Rahman Azmi states (in his book titled 'Laws of the beard and the hair, in the light of the Ahadeeth'): It is also permissible to shave the head, besides the time of Hajj and Umrah, although it is preferable and Sunnah to keep hair in accordance to the practise of the Nabi (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam). However, it is not even makrooh to shave all of the hair as this Sunnah of Nabi (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) is from amongst the Sunan-e-Zawaaid. As a habit Nabi (sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam) used to keep his hair not as an Ibaadat, hence it is not makrooh (detestable) to omit this Sunnah. (Fataawaa Imdaadiyah, Volume 4, Page 299)
Hadhrat Ali (radiallaahu 'anh) states that Nabi (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) forbade women from shaving their hair. (Mishkaat, Page 384). Whilst explaning this hadeeth, Mullah Ali Qaari (rahmatullaahi 'alaih) states that this hadeeth indicates that it is permissible for men to shave thier heads by taking the opposite meaning (i.e. If it is not permissible for women then it will be permissible for men who are the opposite sex).
There is no difference of opinion regarding the permissibility for men to shave their heads. However, there is a difference of opinion regarding whether the shaving of the head is Sunnah or not. Hadhrat Ali (radiallaahu 'anh) shaved all his hair and Nabi (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) condoned it by not forbidding him. Nabi (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) states: "Hold fast to my way, and the way of my Khulafaa'"
On the other hand, Nabi (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) as well as all the other Sahabah (radiallaahu 'anhum) never used to shave their heads besided at the time of Hajj and Umrah. This shows that to shave is just permissible. This view is correct. (Mirqaat)
Nabi (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) ordered that the hair of Hadhrat Ja'far (radiallaahu 'anh)'s children be shaved after his demise. (Abu Dawood, Volume 1, Page 577) This Hadeeth proves that it is permissible to shave the head. Similarly, this hadeeth indicates that children may also keep long hair. (The reason why Rasulullaah (sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam) instructed that the hair of Hadhrat Ja'far (radiallaahu 'anh)'s children should be shaved is that their mother was in gried and sorrow due to the martyrdom of her husband. Hence, she will be unable to tend to their hair. Thus, this compassion was shown to save them from having dishevelled hair and lice, etc.)
Just as it is permissible to shave off all the hair, similarly it is permissible to shorted the hair on condition that it is shortened equally. The proof of this is the word 'Muqassireen' in the Qur'aan which means 'to shorten'. However, to cut off only some hair, and to keep some hair at the front of the head which is in fashion nowadays is not permissible. (Bahishti Zewar, Part 11, Page 967)
Prohibition Of Qaza' (i.e. To cut a portion of the hair, and leave the rest)
This is prohibited, Its prohibition is proven from an authentic hadeeth: Sayyiduna Ibn 'Umar (radiallaahu 'anhuma) states that a child was brought to Nabi (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) whose hair was partly cut and the rest uncut. Nabi (sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam) said: 'Either cut it completely or leave it completely.' (Saheeh Muslim, and Mishkaat Page 380)
End quote.
Moulana Ashraf Ali Thanvi (ra) has stated in Behishti Zewar: It is sunnah to grow one’s hair on the entire head till the ear lobes or slightly below them. If a person wishes to shave his head, it is sunnah to shave the entire head. It is also permissible to merely clip the hair. However, it is not permissible to clip all the hair and leave the front portion long, as is the fashion today. Similarly, it is also not permissible to shave a portion and leave another portion long. From this we deduce that it is not permissible to sport the babri hairstyle (or to cut the hair in the shape of a cap or to shape the front part of the hair).
One should also bare in mind, that to fashion ones hair in such a style which is immitating the non Muslims, is not allowed. The Noble Prophet (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) said: "Whoever immitates a people is one of them." (Abu Dawud, 4031)