MAKKAH: Five stations have been set up in the courtyard of Makkah’s Grand Mosque for pilgrims to have their heads shaved in the Islamic practice of exiting from the state of ihram.
The new service allows pilgrims to shave their head or cut their hair at designated locations.
The initiative was introduced for the first time this Ramadan by the General Authority for the Affairs of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet’s Mosque.
These stations can be relocated as needed during periods of high congestion and are staffed by experienced specialists using sterilized equipment.
Mohammed Asiri, a Hajj and Umrah affairs specialist and religious researcher, said that exiting from ihram after completing the Umrah rituals is an essential final step in completing Umrah, where pilgrims shave their heads or trim their hair after completing the Sa’i walk between the hills of Safa and Marwa.
“This practice follows the Prophetic Sunnah, as Prophet Mohammed instructed his companions to shave or trim their hair after performing Umrah,” Asiri said.
He added that men typically prefer complete shaving, while women need only trim a small portion of their hair.
The ritual symbolizes purification and renewal after worship and marks the end of ihram restrictions that began when pilgrims entered the miqat, or boundary, where ihram is required.
Fahd Al-Hamidi, who used the service at the Grand Mosque, said the initiative was “an extension of Saudi Arabia’s significant efforts to serve pilgrims from around the world.”
He said that the service is just one of thousands provided by Saudi Arabia to simplify the rituals of Umrah performers.
Al-Hamidi described the exit from ihram as a joyful moment that brings a sense of relief and spiritual closeness to Allah.
He said that this simple procedure carries deep spiritual meaning, symbolizing renewal and purification from sins and beginning a new page full of faith and piety.
The ritual is “a profound spiritual symbol of submission to Allah’s commands and the Prophet’s Sunnah,” Al-Hamidi said.
“With these modern solutions, like mobile barbershop units, this important final step of Umrah has become more convenient and efficient for pilgrims.”
