Is it haram to shave part of your head?
Mostly yes, if it leaves bald patches beside long hair. The Prophet ﷺ forbade qaza', which means shaving some parts of the head and leaving others. Most scholars call this disliked (makruh) and some call it forbidden (haram). A blended fade, where the hair shortens gradually, is treated differently.
What the hadith says
Ibn Umar said that the Prophet ﷺ forbade qaza' (Sahih al-Bukhari 5921). The narrator Nafi' explained it as when a boy has his head shaved "leaving a tuft of hair here and a tuft of hair there." He added that leaving hair on the temples and the back of the head was no problem (Sahih al-Bukhari 5920).
Another report says the Prophet ﷺ saw a boy with part of his head shaved and part left unshaven, and said: "Shave it all or leave it all" (Sunan Abi Dawud 4195). The examples mention boys, but scholars apply the same principle to men. See Can Muslim men shave their heads bald?
Why scholars discouraged it
Scholars mention that it looks uneven and treats part of the head differently from the rest. Some also point out that it can be a way of copying groups known for the style. The hadith gives two clean options, all shaved or all left, and that is the safest model to follow.
How this applies to modern styles
- Mohawk or faux hawk: bare sides with a long strip in the middle is the closest to the style described, so scholars advise avoiding it.
- Undercut: bare sides with a long top. Scholars differ: many say it falls under qaza', while others allow it because the cut is even on each side. The more contrast between bare and long hair, the more caution is advised.
- Fade or taper: the hair shortens gradually with no clear bald patch, so most scholars allow it.
- Shaved lines and patterns: closer to the forbidden style.
For more on these, see Is a fade haircut haram? and Can Muslim men get designs shaved into their hair?
What to do
You have simple choices: keep your hair one length, cut it all short, or ask for a gradual blend. If you already had an undercut or a mohawk, especially before becoming Muslim, there is no sin in the past. Just choose differently next time. If you aren't sure about a particular cut, ask a trusted local imam from your own school of thought.
Remember that this is a question of detail in grooming. Don't let a haircut make you anxious about your faith or your place in the community.
- Qaza' means shaving part of the head and leaving the rest.
- The Prophet ﷺ said: "Shave it all or leave it all."
- Most scholars call it disliked, and some call it forbidden.
- Blended fades are fine; mohawks and sharp contrasts are best avoided.
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