Various narrations have been reported regarding the virtue of shaving the head, such as:
The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) prayed for forgiveness for those who shave their heads. The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said:
«اللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِلْمُحَلِّقِينَ قَالُوا وَلِلْمُقَصِّرِينَ، قَالَ اللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِلْمُحَلِّقِينَ، قَالَهَا ثَلاَثًا، قَالُوا وَلِلْمُقَصِّرِينَ، قَالَ وَلِلْمُقَصِّرِينَ»
“O Allah, forgive those who shave their heads.” They said, “And those who shorten their hair as well.” He said, “O Allah, forgive those who shave their heads.” He said this three times. They said, “And those who shorten their hair as well.” He then said, “And forgive those who shorten their hair as well.”[1]
Thus, he prayed three times for those who shave their heads and once for those who shorten their hair.
The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) prayed for mercy for those who shave their heads. It is narrated from Ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said:
«رَحِمَ اللَّهُ الْمُحَلِّقِينَ قَالُوا : وَالْمُقَصِّرِينَ يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ ؟ قَالَ : رَحِمَ اللَّهُ الْمُحَلِّقِينَ قَالُوا : وَالْمُقَصِّرِينَ يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ ؟ قَالَ : رَحِمَ اللَّهُ الْمُحَلِّقِينَ قَالُوا : وَالْمُقَصِّرِينَ يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ ؟ قَالَ : وَالْمُقَصِّرِينَ».
“May Allah have mercy on those who shave their heads.” They said, “O Messenger of Allah, and those who shorten their hair as well?” He said, “May Allah have mercy on those who shave their heads.” They said, “O Messenger of Allah, and those who shorten their hair as well?” He said, “May Allah have mercy on those who shave their heads.” They said, “O Messenger of Allah, and those who shorten their hair as well?” He said, “And those who shorten their hair as well.”[2]
The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) also shaved his own head. It is mentioned in the hadith:
«أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَتَى مِنًى فَأَتَى الْجَمْرَةَ فَرَمَاهَا ثُمَّ أَتَى مَنْزِلَهُ بِمِنًى وَنَحَرَ ثُمَّ قَالَ لِلْحَلاَّقِ خُذْ وَأَشَارَ إِلَى جَانِبِهِ الأَيْمَنِ ثُمَّ الأَيْسَرِ ثُمَّ جَعَلَ يُعْطِيهِ النَّاسَ».
“The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) came to Mina and, upon reaching the Jamarah, threw the pebbles. He then came to his place of stay in Mina and offered the sacrifice. Then he said to the barber, ‘Take it.’ He gestured with his hand toward the right side of his head and then toward the left. Thereafter, he began distributing it among the people.”[3]
And undoubtedly, what the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) did is the best course of action.
For shaving the head, one good deed is recorded and one sin is forgiven for every hair. It is narrated from Ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said:
«وَأَمَّا حَلْقُكَ لِرَأْسِكَ فَإِنَّ لَكَ بِكُلِّ شَعْرَةٍ حَسَنَةٌ وَتَسْقُطُ سَيِّئَةٌ»
“As for shaving your head, for every hair you receive one reward and the forgiveness of one sin.”[4]
It is narrated from Anas ibn Malik (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said:
«وَأَمَّا حِلاقُكَ رَأْسَكَ ، فَلَكَ بِكُلِّ شَعْرَةٍ حَلَقْتَهَا حَسَنَةٌ ، وَتُمْحَى عَنْكَ بِهَا خَطِيئَةٌ " قَالَ : يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ، فَإِنْ كَانَتِ الذُّنُوبُ أَقَلَّ مِنْ ذَلِكَ ؟ قَالَ : " إِذًا يُذْخَرُ لَكَ فِي حَسَنَاتِكَ»
“As a result of shaving your head, for every hair shaved you receive one reward and one sin is erased.” He said, “O Messenger of Allah, what if the sins are fewer than that?” The Messenger of Allah said, “Then it will be stored among your good deeds.”[5]
On the Day of Resurrection, every shaved hair will turn into light. It is narrated from Ubadah ibn Samit (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said:
«وَأَمَّا حَلْقُكَ رَأَسَكَ فَإِنَّهُ لَيْسَ مِنْ شَعْرِكَ شَعْرَةٌ تَقَعُ فِي الأَرْضِ إِلاَّ كَانَتْ لَكَ نُوْرًا يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ».
“As a result of shaving your head, every shaved hair that falls to the ground will become light for you on the Day of Resurrection.”[6]
[1]. Bukhari: 1728.
[2] Ibn Majah: 3044.
[3]. Muslim: 2298.
[4]. Sahih al-Targhib wa al-Tarhib: 1112.
[5]. Kashf al-Astar (Musnad al-Bazzar): 1/411. Sahih al-Targhib, Hadith no. 1113.
[6]. Al-Tabarani fi al-Kabir: 13566.