Nafi’ reports that he heard Sayyiduna Abd Allah ibn Umar (Allah be pleased with him) say: “I heard the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him & give him peace) forbidding the practice of Qaz’a”. Ubaid Allah said: “I inquired, what is Qaz’a? So he said: “When the head of a child is shaved and hair is left here and there, and Ubaid Allah pointed towards his forelock and the sides of his head. (Sahih al-Bukhari, No. 5576). Assalamu Alaikum, is this hadith talking about short back and side haircut? Is it makroo to have short back and side if I have size 1 on sides and cutting abit on the top? Will my prayers still be valid if I have short back and side haircut? Note: I don't have the haircut to imitate kufar but I have it because it's neat and tidy. Please answer all of my questions, jazak allah.

All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad is His Slave and Messenger.

This Hadeeth clearly states the prohibition of Qaza’ which is to shave parts of the head and leave the others. We have explained the detailed meaning of Qaza’ in Fatwa 81548. If you mean by short hair in your question simply trimming or cutting the hair in any part of the head – without shaving - then there is no harm in that and it is not considered the forbidden Qaza’. This is, of course, provided that it is not done in imitation of those whose imitation is forbidden per the Islamic Sharee'ah, such as the disbelievers and dissolute people and the like.

It is noteworthy that shaving the hair has no effect on the validity or acceptance of the prayer whether it is shaved in a permissible or forbidden form.

Allaah knows best.