Some people shave their heads when they finish the Umrah, but others cut only a small portion of their hair. Which way is correct one?

A.A. Javeed

Both are correct. However, to shave is much better. God says in the Qur’an: “you shall enter the Sacred Mosque, if God so wills, in full security, with your heads shaved or your hair cut short, without fear.” (48: 27) This applies to the time when the Prophet (peace be upon him) did his Umrah with a very large number of his companions. Some of them shaved their heads while others cut short a small portion of their hair. The Prophet prayed for both, but he first prayed three times for those who shaved.

He only included the others in the fourth time. This means that it is much better and more preferable to shave one’s head. However, if one only cuts a small portion of his hair short, this is sufficient. Of course the choice applies only for men. Women cut only a small portion of their hair by an inch, or even shorter.

In our community there are a large number of dogs going everywhere and creating a nuisance. The municipal authorities started a campaign to kill them, but then they stopped due to pressure from animal rights groups. What does Islam say about this?

G. Nabi

According to most scholars, dogs are impure, particularly their saliva and whatever they discharge. The Prophet (peace be upon him) specifies that when a dog eats or drinks out of a plate or a container, then that article should be washed with water seven times, one of which, preferably the first, should also use clean dust. However, dogs may be used as guard or guide dogs when this is needed. There are special rules concerning such usage.

If stray dogs are allowed around, they soon form groups that move together at night and create much nuisance, either by barking together or attacking a passerby. Moreover, they feed on anything they find, particularly on rubbish heaps. They may carry and spread diseases.

Therefore, municipal authorities often resort to getting rid of them by killing them. Animal rights groups may be unhappy with this. There are two points to clarify here. Municipal authorities should not allow such a situation to develop in the first place.

They should deal with the problem of stray dogs before it becomes a major nuisance. On the other hand, animal rights groups should help in finding a solution if they truly care for these dogs. It is not right that they should object to getting rid of the problem, while providing no help in sorting it out. What is important is that stray dogs should not be allowed to increase in numbers and become a very serious problem for the local community.

If they form such a problem, the authorities should take drastic measures to ensure the safety of people, particularly those who find themselves walking alone at night in an area where large numbers of dogs are wandering around in the street.