ihyaus sunnah

Halq or taqsir

What is the difference between halq and taqsir?

مُحَلِّقِينَ رُءُوسَكُمْ وَمُقَصِّرِينَ

al-Fath 48:27

Halq is shaving the whole head and taqsir is shortening the hair. Both bring you out of ihram. For brothers shaving is best, and sisters never shave.

The Kaaba and the Masjid al-Haram in Makkah
Pilgrims at tawaf around the Kaaba

Halq and taqsir

The last act of Umrah is to shave or shorten the hair. It is necessary (wajib), and it is how you come out of ihram. The Prophet ﷺ prayed three times for those who shave their heads and then once for those who shorten (Bukhari and Muslim).

Which is better for brothers

Shaving the whole head is best, and it is sunnah to face the qiblah and begin from the right side. Shortening is also allowed. See how much hair to cut.

For sisters

Sisters never shave. See hair cutting for women.

More questions

Is halq or taqsir wajib?

Yes. It is necessary, and leaving it without an excuse calls for a sacrifice in the Haram.

Where is it done?

After Sa'i and within the boundary of the Haram, which includes all of central Makkah and your hotel.

Am I still in ihram until I cut?

Yes. Until it is done you are still in ihram.

Perform your Umrah with confidence

Follow every rite in order, with counters and duas in Arabic, in our step by step Umrah guide. To study the Hanafi rulings behind it with qualified teachers, see our courses, or explore our apps. Ihya us Sunnah is sustained by its community, so please consider supporting our work.

This guide follows the Hanafi method and is based on Shaykh Mufti Wajid Iqbal's Umrah book, Essential Islam. For your own situation, ask a qualified scholar.