ISLAMIC PERSPECTIVES ON THE

REMOVAL OF HAIRS IN HUMAN

BODIES FOR: MALE AND FEMALE
As we know, Islam is one of the largest religions in the world. In Islam,
every minute thing of mankind is taught perfectly.

Furthermore, Islam teaches us the hair dealings of humans for both

males and females, we can categorize hair dealings into three types:

1. Prohibited to remove
2. Obliged to remove
3. Not ordered to remove nor ordered to keep

Prohibited to remove
Males: prohibited from removing or shaving their beards and also
forbidden to pluck or cut their eyebrows and also prohibited
From removing their eyelashes

Females: Prohibited from removing their eyebrows and eyelashes

Also prohibited from shaving their hair on their head

Obliged to remove
Males: they were obliged to remove their armpit hair and pubic hair and
And also they can cut their mustache

Females: they were obliged to remove their armpit hair and pubic hair
And also they can remove their beard and mustache if they
have because They are not allowed to imitate men

Not ordered to keep nor ordered to remove

The rest of the hair is permissible. Of course, women can remove their
hair from their arms and legs and also from their heads but not shave it.
For men, the same thing can remove the hair on their arms, chest, and
legs.
 Quran and hadith teachings and history on this topic

As we know there are a lot of examples and teachings from the Quran
and hadith and some Islamic histories.

Quran

1. Surah Al-Baqarah (2:222):

‫َو َي ْســ َٔـ ُل ْو َن َك َع ِن ا ْل َم ِح ْي ِۙض ُق ْل ُه َو َا ًذى َفا ْع َت ِز ُل ْوا ال ِّن َس ٓا َء ِفى ا ْل َم ِح ْي ِۙض َوَلا َت ْق َر ُب ْو ُه َّن َح ّٰتى َي ْط ُه ْر َۚن َف ِا َذا َت َط َّه ْر َن َف ْأ ُت ْو ُه َّن ِم ْن َح ْي ُث‬
‫َا َم َر ُك ُم ال ّٰل ُۗه ِا َّن ال ّٰل َه ُي ِح ُّب ال َّت َّوا ِب ْي َن َو ُي ِح ُّب ا ْل ُم َت َط ِّه ِرْي َن‬

"Indeed, Allah loves those who are constantly repentant and

loves those who purify themselves."

● This verse emphasizes the importance of physical and spiritual

purity, which includes personal hygiene practices like hair
removal.

2.Surah Al-Muddathir (74:4-5)

‫َو ِث َيا َب َك َف َط ِّه ْۖر َوال ُّر ْج َز َفا ْه ُج ْۖر‬

"And purify your garments. And shun uncleanliness."

● The broader context of this verse highlights maintaining

cleanliness in all aspects, which aligns with the removal of
unwanted body hair.

Hadith

1. The Five Aspects of Fitrah:

The Prophet ‫ ﷺ‬said:
 " ،‫ َوَتْقِليُم اَألْظَفاِر‬، ‫ َوَقُّص الَّش اِرِب‬،‫ َواِالْس ِتْحَداُد‬، ‫اْلِفْطَر ُة َخ ْمٌس اْلِخَتاُن‬
‫"َوَنْتُف اآلَباِط‬
"Five practices are of the fitrah (natural disposition): circumcision,
shaving the pubic hairs, clipping the nails, plucking the underarm
hairs, and trimming the mustache."

— (Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith 5891; Sahih Muslim, Hadith 257)

● The removal of pubic hair and underarm hair is obligatory for both
men and women as part of cleanliness.

2. Frequency of Hair Removal:

Anas ibn Malik (RA) narrated:

" ‫َقاَل َأَنٌس ُوِّقَت َلَنا ِفي َقِّص الَّش اِرِب َوَتْقِليِم اَألْظَفاِر َوَنْتِف اِإلْبِط َوَح ْلِق‬
. ‫"اْلَعاَنِة َأْن َال َنْتُر َك َأْكَثَر ِمْن َأْر َبِعيَن َلْيَلًة‬
A time limit has been prescribed for us: trimming the mustache,
clipping the nails, plucking the underarm hairs, and shaving the
pubic hairs every forty days."

— (Sahih Muslim, Hadith 258)

● This Hadith sets a guideline for maintaining these hygienic

practices.

3. Encouragement of Grooming:
The Prophet ‫ ﷺ‬said:

"‫"إن الله جميل يحب الجمال‬

"Allah is Beautiful and loves beauty."

— (Riyad as-Salihin 611)

● This encourages Muslims to take care of their appearance, which

includes removing excessive or unwanted hair.
 Histories

Pre-Islamic Practices Developed by Islam

The Arabs, before Islam, had some grooming habits but in an
inconsistent manner. Islam refined and systematised these practices
under the concept of fitrah. Cleanliness was emphasized as a form of
worship and discipline.

Pre-Islamic Arabia Grooming Practices:

While in the pre-Islamic era, tribal communities used basic hygiene
habits by trimming nails and removing body as well as face hair, their
practice was unorganized and applied according to their local
community instead of any divine or moral issue.

Introduction of Fitrah Concept:

The introduction of fitrah by Islam declared that human beings have a
nature by the will of Allah. This concept clearly defined a boundary for
hygiene and body maintenance, making ordinary practices acts of
worship. Removing body hair became no longer a matter of personal
choice but an absolute necessity to remain pure and fulfill religious
duties.

Shaving and Hair Removal:

Although a few pre-Islamic societies practiced hair removal, Islam
supported these cultures by framing clear guidelines. Illustration

The body hair in the pubic area and armpits were obligatory on both men
and women as part of fitrah. Trimming the mustache was emphasized on
men, and shaving the beard was strictly forbidden.

Rituals of Purification:
Before the dawn of Islam, the Arabs practiced other ritual purifications,
mainly after certain physical conditions, like menstruation or sexual
activities. The Islamic tradition institutionalized these rituals by creating
ghusl (ritual bath) and wudu (ablution) where it connected physical
cleanness with spiritual cleanliness. Such rituals were further enhanced
through prescribed hygienic norms such as shaving off superfluous hair
to ensure that Muslims remained perpetually ready for acts of worship.
Islam bridged personal hygiene with acts of worship, emphasizing
cleanliness as a prerequisite for prayer (salah). For instance, the Prophet
Muhammad ‫ ﷺ‬said:
"Cleanliness is half of faith."
This holistic approach motivated Muslims to practice grooming and
hygiene regularly, not merely for social or aesthetic reasons but to fulfill
their duties to Allah.

Refinement of Pre-Islamic Traditions:

Oral hygiene: The Arabs before the advent of Islam used the miswak
only occasionally. Islam encouraged it further, proclaiming that it is also
a Sunnah of the Prophet ‫ﷺ‬, and associated it with some spiritual
reward.
Bathing: Although there was bathing before Islam, its importance started
to be felt in Islam, particularly after similar physical states have been
attained. Moreover, Islam instituted formulaic ways of achieving ritual
purity.

Cleanliness as Worship:
Islam transformed the act of cleanliness from a routine to a meaningful
act of worship. For instance, shaving pubic and armpit hair was not only
hygienically important but also an act of submission to Allah. This
changed the meaning of personal hygiene from being a means of
preserving health to a more spiritual means of maintaining health and
spiritual purity.

Prohibition of Harmful Practices:

Islam eradicated detrimental grooming practices that were common in
pre-Islamic Arabia. For example, specific tribes engaged in extreme
shaving or hair removal techniques that resulted in damage or
significantly changed natural appearances. Islam forbade these
behaviors, advocating for a sense of balance and moderation in
personal grooming.
 Practice of Fitrah among Sahaba
Fitrah Practices Among the Companions
Indeed, the Prophet's companions showed incredible dedication in
applying the concept of fitrah in their day-to-day life. They were very
receptive and able to practice all hygiene and grooming lessons taught
to them by Islam to ensure all actions were well within the dictates of the
Prophet ‫ﷺ‬.

Personal Grooming and Hygiene:

The Sahaba or companions of the Prophet emphasized the fact that
cleaning is necessary for both physical as well as spiritual purification.
Among them, one of the exemplary figures is Abdullah ibn Umar, as he
would always be meticulous about his hygiene and grooming that was
almost exactly like that of the Prophet ‫ﷺ‬. He would cut his nails and trim
his mustache and remove all body hair. Thus, he showed all dedication
to the norms set by Islam.

Umar ibn al-Khattab (RA) said:

Umar ibn al-Khattab (RA), the second Caliph of Islam, was highly
concerned about the personal hygiene of the people around him. One
day, he asked a man who had neglected his grooming habits, "It would
be better for you to clean yourself for the sake of your wife."
This statement reflects personal hygiene as not only self-discipline but
also as a sign of respect and consideration for others, especially in
family life.

Devotion to Purity: Abu Hurairah

Abu Hurairah (RA), one of the great companions, was also an exemplary
figure for personal hygiene. He often quoted the sayings of the Prophet
‫ ﷺ‬that stated the importance of cleanliness and how people must get rid
of pubic hair, pluck the hair of armpits, and cut nails.

Community Hygiene Norms:

It is during this Sahaba period when heads of communities commonly
supervised people for the adherence of these practices. Mosques began
to play crucial roles as avenues for delivering messages on personal
cleanliness and fitrah, thereby contributing to the Muslims' way of life
marked by cleanliness and obedience.

Fitrah Practices and Devotion:

They well understood the relationship between hygiene and acts of
worship, which was so close. Unwanted body hair removal, among other
things, meant to them physical and spiritual preparation before salah or
any other form of worship. Their practices showed how, for them, purity
signaled a state of obedience to Allah.

Mutual Reminders and Brotherhood:

The Sahaba would often encourage one another to practice fitrah. For
example, Ali ibn Abi Talib (RA) and many other companions were
reminding one another to trim nails and to be clean generally while they
would strengthen bonds of brotherhood and mutual care among the
Muslim community.

Women Among the Sahaba

The Prophet ‫'ﷺ‬s female companions, like Aisha (RA) and Umm Salama
(RA), were just as scrupulous about fitrah. They even guided women to
embrace cleanliness practices: removing armpit and pubic hair, albeit as
an act of obedience and submission to the Islamic way of life.

Fatawa of Modern Times:

This is an extended discussion on current fatwas on hair removal and
grooming within the Islamic perspective: Current Fatwas

Presently, due to the technological progress and the invention of new

techniques in grooming, contemporary Muslim scholars have provided
decrees in Islam, which are termed as fatwas. The fatwas not only follow
the traditional ways of Islam but also speak of the present day needs
and circumstances.
Hair removal techniques:

Modern fatwas highlight that the hair removal methods are flexible, but
only if they do not harm or go against Islamic principles. Scholars have
explained the following: Permissible Methods: Shaving, waxing, using
depilatory creams, and laser hair removal are permissible as long as
they are considered safe and do not involve the revelation of awrah.
Detrimental Practices: Methods that cause unnecessary agony,
persistent dermal damage, or are a threat to safety are discouraged or
prohibited. Application of Modern Technology

Laser Hair Removal: Some individuals are receiving lasers for

permanent reduction of hair. Scholars tend to accept this procedure as
long as it is in regions of body hair removal considered by Islam to be
permissible, armpits and the pubic region, and done in the privacy of
their own home either by a fellow gender practitioner or oneself.
Electric shavers and epilators are considered acceptable provided they
conform to Islamic standards pertaining to personal grooming.

Gender-Specific Guidelines:
Contemporary fatwas have reaffirmed the differences in grooming
standards for males and females as informed by Islamic doctrine:

For males: It is prohibited for men to completely shave their beards. The
issue of beard trimming has generated scholarly debate, with some
scholars permitting minimal trimming, while others advocate for the
complete preservation of the beard.
Shaving of the chest and back is allowed but not recommended unless
for medical reasons.

For Women:
Women are permitted to shave facial hair, including mustaches or light
beards if they have them, as these are considered unnatural for women
and may be perceived as mimicking men (tashabbuh).
Contemporary fatawa permit women to get professional services such
as waxing, provided it is done with modesty and privacy.
Cosmetic and Aesthetic Issues
Scholars have ruled that shaving body hair for aesthetic purposes is
permissible for both men and women, provided it does not involve
imitating the opposite gender or changing one's natural appearance
excessively.
For instance, plucking eyebrows is forbidden for both men and women
unless it is done to correct deformities or for medical purposes.

Privacy and Modesty in Hair Removal:

The new fatawa highlight that a person should not lose his modesty
even in hair removal procedures:
Private Places: Private areas hair removal, such as armpits and pubic
hair, must be done in private. Exposing one's awrah to others for
cosmetic purposes is not allowed unless it is medically required.

Same-Gender Practitioners: If professional assistance is required for

permissible hair removal, such as waxing or laser treatment, it must be
sought from a same-gender practitioner to adhere to Islamic modesty.
Frequency of Shaving
Based on the Hadith of Anas ibn Malik (RA), modern day scholars say it
is a compulsory act to shave armpit and groin hair at least once in every
40 days. However, the majority of the scholars recommend performing
this act much more frequently due to hygiene and cleanliness, even in
hot or wet weather.

Other Non-Muslim Acts and Influences:

Modern fatawa warn against emulating non-Muslim cultures' practices in
personal grooming, especially if such practices contradict the teaching
of Islam. For instance, some scholars condemn men's excessive
shaving of their chests and legs, which they argue is closely associated
with un-Islamic beauty criteria. Medical and Health-Based Rulings \nIt is
permissible to shave hair to facilitate medical treatments, even if such
hair is on areas considered typically awrah.

Skin Sensitivities: Researchers advocate for the employment of

hypoallergenic products or distinct techniques for hair removal in
instances where individuals experience skin sensitivity or allergies.
Public Discussions and Awareness
Contemporary scholars underscore the significance of sensitively
imparting and advocating these guidelines. They recommend that
imams, educators, and parents provide guidance to young Muslims
concerning hygiene and grooming practices within the framework of
Islamic education, thereby ensuring that the subject is addressed with
clarity and reverence.
Current Issues of Gender and Grooming Researchers have discussed
contemporary issues like non-gender specific grooming standards and
style trends. They caution against activities that hide the distinction
between male and female grooming, arguing that gender-specific
principles must be maintained in Islam.
 Key words
Prohibited
Obliged
Fithra
Armpit hair
Pubic hair

Important lines
Prohibited to remove
Obliged to remove
Not ordered to keep or remove

references

‫فتح المعين بشرح قرة العين‬

Fiqh al-Sunnah

Bio of author
Name: savad salim
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