The Messenger of Allah ﷺhas explained the rituals of Hajj with his statements and actions. Thereafter, the noble Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) transmitted them to us in full detail, so that the people are fully and evidently acquainted about their worship. In this hadeeth, Ibn ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) reports that the Prophet ﷺrepeated the supplication for those who shave their hair off in their rituals of Hajj that Allah bestows His mercy upon them. This happened during the Farewell Hajj in the tenth year of the Hijrah or during the year of al-Hudaibiyah or during both occasions. The Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) asked him to supplicate for those who shorten their hair just as he supplicates for those who shave their hair. He, thereafter, responded to them by adding [in his supplication], “And also those who shorten their hair,” either during the second, third or fourth time. Shaving the head entails the complete removal of hair on the head, whereas shortening means cutting parts of the hair on the head. This statement is indicative of the legality of both the acts, but however, shaving the head is better than shortening the hair for the men. This is because it is that act of the Messenger of Allah and it is because Allah mentioned it first in His Book. He Almighty stated, {You will surely enter the Sacred Mosque in safety with your heads shaved or [hair] shortened.} [Quran 48:27]. This act [shaving the head] is more effective in terms of worship, is more revealing of the devotion and humility and more demonstrates the truthfulness of the intention. As for the one who shortens his hair, there is something left upon him by which he beautifies himself, unlike the one who gets his head shaved off. The latter feels that he has left all that for the sake of Allah. It also contains the meaning of complete dedication to Allah, the Mighty and Majestic. Shaving the head is prescribed only for men while women are ordered to cut from their hair, so they exit their Ihraam. The acts of shaving and cutting the hair are from the rites of Hajj with which the pilgrim exits his Ihraam. It takes place after throwing the Jamrah of ‘Aqabah, after slaughtering his Hady, if he had it, and before the Tawaaf of Ifaadah. It takes place in ‘Umarh after completing the ritual walking between al-Safaa and al-Marwah. This hadeeth shows that it is permissible to ask Allah to invoke His mercy upon the living just like it is allowed to do it for the dead..