Question: This
is regarding verse 196 of Surah Baqarah. I’ve shaved my head because
of dandruff (an ailment). In the verse, it says that due to shaving of
the head we must either fast or feed the poor or give a sacrifice. Are
we supposed to do one of these things every time we shave our head due
to an ailment or not? Also, could you give an explanation of the rest of
the verse.
Answer: The mention of shaving of head in the relevant
verse is meant to be applicable in the case of those doing Hajj alone.
It has nothing to do with shaving of head in the normal routine. The verse
is telling the pilgrims that on the 10th of Dhu’l-Hajj they should
first get their animals sacrificed and then get their heads shaved. In
case a pilgrim wants to get his head shaved before the animal sacrifice,
he should either fast for three days or pay Sadaqah or do animal
sacrifice in expiation for changing the desired sequence. If you read the
relevant portion of the verse along with the part that has been omitted
because it was obvious from the context, the full expression would appear
somewhat like this (the omitted part is in parentheses):
And whosoever of you is ill or has an ailment
in his scalp [necessitating shaving and he therefore shaves it before his
animal is sacrificed] he must pay ransom or either fast ... (2:196)
There are two other things mentioned in
the verse. The one mentioned before the issue of shaving of head states
that ordinarily a person who intends to do Hajj and ‘Umrah should
complete both. However, if he is prevented from doing it and the intending
pilgrim had taken animals along for sacrifice, he should sacrifice them.
In other words since Hajj couldn’t be done, animal sacrifice should
be made wherever it is possible.
The later part of the verse is requiring
those pilgrims who avail the privilege of doing Hajj and ‘Umrah
together to make an animal sacrifice; but if they can’t afford to do
so, they should keep fasts for ten days, three of them during the Hajj
period and the other seven, when they return home. However, the residents
of Makkah would fast all ten in Makkah because that is their place of residence.
I hope the verses are slightly more
clear than before. May the Almighty enable you and me to do Hajj and
experience for ourselves what the practical significance of the contents
of this verse are. Amen.
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