Halq

What Does Halq Mean in Detail?

Halq (complete head shaving) and its alternative memotong rambut (hair trimming) mark the jamaah haji's transition out of the sacred state of ihram — a powerful moment of release and renewal. In Haji, this is performed on the 10th of Dzulhijjah, typically after the stoning of Jamrat al-Aqabah and the sacrificial offering (qurbani). In Umrah, it follows the completion of sa'i between Safa and Marwa. With this act, most or all of the ihram restrictions are lifted, and the jamaah haji returns to their normal state. For men, mencukur habis (complete shaving) is strongly preferred over memotong rambut (trimming). Nabi Muhammad (shallallahu alaihi wa sallam) made doa three times for those who shave their heads and only once for those who trim, as narrated in Bukhari and Muslim: 'O Allah, have mercy on the muhalliqin (those who shave).' The companions asked, 'And the muqassirin (those who trim), O Messenger of Allah?' He said, 'And the muqassirin' — but only after repeating his shalat for the shavers three times. For women, mencukur habis is neither required nor sunnah; rather, they cut a fingertip's length (approximately one to two centimeters) from the ends of their hair. The act of mencukur habis carries deep symbolic significance. The removal of hair — something that grows naturally and is often a source of personal pride — represents the shedding of ego, worldly attachment, and vanity. The jamaah haji emerges spiritually 'newborn,' cleansed by the rites of ibadah haji. In the sequence of Haji rites on the 10th, the Hanafi school maintains a strict order (stoning, then sacrifice, then mencukur habis, then tawaf), while other schools allow flexibility in the sequence. The area between Mina and Mekkah is traditionally filled with barbers on the Day of Sacrifice, serving the millions of jamaah haji who require this service.