Is the intention behind shaving and shortening the hair for exiting the state of Ihram only the hair of the head, or does it include the hair of the rest of the body? And is it obligatory to shorten all the hair of the head for one who chooses to shorten, or is it sufficient to shorten three hairs from anywhere on the head? And is shortening permissible only for those with excuses, or is it permissible without a reason?

The shaving or shortening by which one exits the state of ihram is specific to the hair of the head, based on the Almighty's saying: "shaving your heads and shortening [your hair]," and the Almighty's saying: "And do not shave your heads until the sacrificial animal has reached its place of slaughter." Scholars differed concerning the sufficient amount of head hair [to be removed]. Al-Shafi'i and Abu Thawr said it is three hairs, while Malik and Ahmad said it is most of the head, Abu Hanifa said it is a quarter, and Abu Yusuf said it is half. The more cautious approach is to act upon the opinion of Malik and Ahmad, which states the obligation of shaving or shortening most of the head. Shaving is better, except for the mutamatti' (one performing tamattu' Hajj) when exiting ihram from 'Umrah. As for women, shaving is not legislated for them by scholarly consensus; rather, they shorten their hair. It is preferable for them to cut from each braid a fingertip's length.