Qaza' Haircuts in the Maliki Madhab

Fatwa from Shaykh Sufyan ibn Uwaydah al-Tunisi al-Zaytuni al-Maliki on Qaza; Haircuts in the Maliki Madhab

Question:

السلام عليكم ورحمة الله

I have a question, what is the ruling of Shaving a portion of the hair on my head and leaving another portion of my hair – (meaning can I shave certain portions of the hair on my head) in the view of Imam Malik, his companions and the scholars of the Maliki Madhab?

Answer:

وعليكم السلام ورحمة الله وبركاته

In relation to your question, the answer to it is what follows: All praise is due to Allah, the lord of the worlds, and peace and blessings upon our master Muhammad, his family, and his companions.

What is understood from your question is that you intend Qaza’. Qaza’ is to cut one portion of the hair of the head while leaving the rest of it. Imam Muhammad ibn Abdullah al-Taibi al-Andalusi says, “This is the best definition because it is the definition of the transmitter himself, so it is necessary to take this meaning.”

Abdullah ibn Umar relates from the Prophet (May peace & blessings be upon him)that he Prohibited Qaza’. The transmitter said to Imam Nafi’, “What is Qaza’?” He said, “It is cutting one portion of the hair of the head of a boy, and leaving the rest.”

Imam Muhammad ibn Ali al-Maziri al-Maliki said, “If the Qaza’ is in a large area or many areas then it is prohibited with no difference of opinion (in the other 3 madhabs as well). If it is in areas, such as the hair close to the hairline of the forehead and similar to that, then there is a difference of opinion (in the other 3 madhabs). Doing this is Makruh in the Maliki Madhab.”

1.Makruh (Disliked) - What there is reward in for leaving and no punishment for perpetrating

Shaykh Sufyan ibn Uwaydah al-Tunisi al-Zaytuni al-Maliki