The Hajj is the fifth pillar of Islam, and the Messenger of Allah ﷺexplained its rituals with his words and actions, and the honourable Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) transmitted them to us. In this hadeeth, ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) reports that the Prophet ﷺand a group of his Companions shaved their heads, while some others shortened their hair and did not shave their heads. This happened in the Farewell Hajj in the tenth year of the Hijrah. This is indicative of the legality of both actions, however, shaving the head is better than shortening the hair for the men. This is because it is the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah ﷺand it is because Allah placed first in His Book. He Almighty stated, “You will surely enter al-Masjid al-Haraam (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..