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Is it permissible to shorten the hair on the sides with a shaving machine, so that the skin does not show, while leaving density in the middle to conceal baldness?

1 min readAlso available in العربية

The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, forbade Al-Qaza', which is shaving part of the head and leaving part of it, whether the shaving is of scattered areas or of one side while leaving the other. Scholars have unanimously agreed on its reprehensibility (karāhat tanzīh), and it includes forms such as shaving the middle and leaving the sides, or shaving the sides and leaving the middle. The reason for the prohibition is that it disfigures creation, or it involves imitation of the Jews or the people of polytheism, immorality, and roguery. As for shortening some hair without shortening other parts, if the disparity is very clear such that it resembles Al-Qaza', then it is prohibited because it is a disfigurement or an action of the immoral. However, if the disparity is not very clear and there is harmony between the middle and the sides, then that is not prohibited.

Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026

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