Does cutting hair on the sides of the head only come under the heading of qaza‘?

Dear Brothers & Sisters,
As-Salaamu-Alaikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh. (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)
One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:
I read about qaza‘, but all the answers I have read said that it refers to shaving part of the head and leaving part of it. Does this mean that cutting the hair on some parts of the head and leaving other parts in a clear manner like qaza‘ is not regarded as qaza‘? For example, someone may cut hair on the sides of the head so that the hair in that area will be 1 cm long, and he leave it 7 or 8 cm long on the top. Does this come under the heading of qaza‘, because it is not shaving the hair, rather it is only cutting it?
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Answer:

Praise be to Allah

Yes, qaza‘ refers to shaving part of the hair and leaving part of it.

As for cutting part of the hair, for example on the sides, and leaving the top, this does not come under the definition of qaza‘, but if it is cut very short, then it is also disallowed, because it resembles qaza‘.

And because cutting the hair in this manner, nowadays, is one of the characteristics of disbelievers and evildoers; it is not one of the characteristics of people of dignity and good character, so it is not appropriate for the Muslim to resemble those evildoers.

We asked Shaykh ‘Abd ar-Rahmaan al-Barraak (may Allah preserve him) about what is mentioned in the question, and he replied:

This resembles qaza‘ even though it is not qaza‘.

In some cases it is one of the ways of imitating the disbelievers that has been introduced among the Muslims. End quote.

This has been explained in some detail in the answer to question no. 110209.

And Allah knows best.

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah's Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.
Your brother and well wisher in Islam

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