Is shaving or shortening the hair before the slaughter permissible?

Question:
I performed 'Umrah, and after sa'y I took some hair from my head. What is the ruling? Is shaving or shortening the hair before the slaughter permissible?

Answer:
The obligatory act after tawaf and sa'y is to shave or shorten the hair. Taking a few hairs is not sufficient; it is obligatory to shorten all of your hair, not just a few. Shaving is reserved for Hajj, if Allah wills. However, if you only took a few hairs, you must repeat the shortening. You should put on the ihram garments and shorten the hair completely. Likewise, in Hajj, if you throw the pebbles on the Day of 'Id and then shave, that is better. If you do not shave, you must shorten the hair completely, covering your entire head with the shortening; because the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) commanded that, and Allah (Exalted and Majestic is He) said: [Al-Fath: 27]. Just as you shave it all, you must also shorten it all. As for what has passed in previous years, Allah (Exalted and Majestic is He) forgives it. But if the shortening in this instance was only a few hairs, you must repeat the shortening.