Chapter: It is permissible for a Muhrim to shave his head if there is a problem, but it is obligatory to offer a Fidyah for shaving it, and Clarifying what the Fidyah is

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) came to me on the occasion of Hudaibiya and I was kindling fire under my cooking pot and lice were creeping on my face. Thereupon he (the Holy Prophet) said: Do the vermins harm your head? I said: Yes. He said: Get your head shaved and (in lieu of it) observe fasts for three days or feed six needy persons, or offer sacrifice (of an animal). Ayyub said: I do not know with what (type of expiation) did he commence (the statement).

This hadith is narrated on the authority of Ayyub.

It was I for whom this verse was revealed (to the Holy Prophet):" Whoever among you is sick or has an ail- ment of the head, he (may effect) a compensation by lasting or alms or a sacrifice" He said: I came to him (the Holy Prophet) and he said: Come Dear. So I went near. He (again) said: Come near. So I went near. Thereupon the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: Do the vermins trouble you? Ibn Aun (one of the narrators) said: I think he (Ka'b b. Ujra) replied in the affirmative. He (the Holy Prophet) then commanded to do compensation by fasting or by giving sadaqa (feeding six needy persons) or by sacrifice (of a animal) that is available.

Do these vermins trouble you? I said: Yes. Thereupon he said: Then shave your head; and it was in connection with me that this verse was revealed:" Whoever among you is sick or has an ailment of the head, he (may effect) a compensation by fasting or alms or a sacrifice". He (the Holy Prophet, therefore) said to me: Observe fast for three days or give a quantity of alms enough to feed six needy persons or offer sacrifice (of an animal) that is available.

Do these vermin trouble you? He (Ka'b) said: Yes. The Messenger of Allah (way peace be upon him) said: Shave your head and give some quantity of food enough to feed six needy persons (faraq is equal to three sa's), or observe fast for three days or offer sacrifice of a sacrificial animal. Ibn Najih (one of the narrators) said:" Or sacrifice a goat."

Do these vermins trouble your head? He said: Yes. Thereupon he (the Holy Prophet) said: Shave your head. Then sacrifice a goat or observe fasts for three days or give three sits of dates to feed six needy persons.

I sat with Ka'b (Allah be pleased with him) and he was in the mosque. I asked him about this verse:" Compensation in (the form of) fasting, or Sadaqa or sacrifice." Ka'b (Allah be pleased with him) said: It was reveal- ed In my case. There was some trouble in my head. I was taken to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) and lice were creeping upon my face. Thereupon he said: I did not think that your trouble had become so unbearable as I see. Would you be able to afford (the sacrificing) of a goat? I (Ka'b) said: Then this verse was revealed:" Com- pensation (in the form of) fasting or alms or a sacrifice." He (the Holy Prophet) said: (It Implies) fasting for three days, or feeding six needy perscins, half sa' of food for every needy person. This verse was revealed particularly for me and (now) Its applica- tion is general for all of you.

I cannot afford it. He then commanded him to observe fasts for three days or feed six needy persons, one sa' for every two needy persons. And Allah the Exalted and Majestic revealed this (verse) particular with regard to him:" So whosoever among you is sick and has an ailment of the head.." ; then (its application) became general for the Muslims.