Question # 114: assalaamu alaikum wa rahmatullaahi wa barakaatuhu. I have heard a hadith regarding plucking of eyebrows so i refrain from it Alhamdulillah. My question here is does it include the other facial hair like upper lips and the hair grown between the eyebrows. What is the ruling for these things and is it allowed in Islam to get rid of the upper lip hair if they are dense or visible to the extent of embarrassment.
bismi-llahi r-raḥmani r-raḥīm,
Assalamu ‘laikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh,
All praise and thanks are due to Allah (سبحانه و تعالى), and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger (صلى الله عليه و سلم).
Dear questioner,
First of all, we implore Allah (سبحانه و تعالى) to help us serve His cause and render our work for His sake.
Shorter Answer: Removing/plucking the hair of the eyebrows is prohibited in Islam as it is considered altering the creation of Allah (سبحانه و تعالى). However, according to scholars, removal of hair on the upper lip, thighs, calves, arms and even that grows between the eyebrows for women is permissible.
Long Answer: ‘Abd-Allah ibn Mas’ood (رضي الله عنه) who said: I heard the Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه و سلم) say: “Allah has cursed the woman who does tattoos and the one who has them done, the woman who plucks eyebrows (al-naamisah) and the one who has it done (al-mutanammisah), and the one who files her teeth for the purpose of beauty, altering the creation of Allah.” (Narrated by al-Bukhari and Muslim)
One of the extremes of beautification prohibited by Islam is nams, which means removing the hair of the eyebrows by plucking in order to thin or shape them… According to some Hanbalis, if the husband approves of it, the removal of facial hair (other than that of the eyebrows) and the use of powder, creams, and other beauty aids are permitted to women, as this is part of feminine adornment. It has been narrated that once a woman asked A’ishah (رضي الله عنه) “What if a women removes the hair from her forehead to please her husband?” ‘A’ishah replied, “Remove what is harmful from yourselves (you women) whenever possible.” (Recorded in Fathul-Bari, the book on clothing) (‘500 Questions and Answers on Islamic Jurisprudence’ by Muhammad M. ‘Abdul-Fattah)
Shaykh Muhammad al-Saalih ibn ‘Uthaymeen said: “With regard to hair which is abnormal, because it grows in places where hair does not usually grow, such as a woman having a moustache or hair growing on her cheeks, there is nothing wrong with removing this, because it is abnormal and is disfiguring to the woman. “
The Standing Committee was asked about women removing facial hair, and they replied as follows: “It is OK for a woman to remove hair on the upper lip, thighs, calves and arms. This is not the same as plucking (eyebrows), which is forbidden.” The Committee [also said]…: It is permissible to pluck [the hair that grows between the eyebrows], because it is not part of the eyebrows.” (‘Abd al-‘Azeez ibn Baaz, ‘Abd al-Razzaaq ‘Afeefi, ‘Abd-Allah ibn Ghadyaan, ‘Abd-Allah ibn Qa’ood – Fataawa al-Lajnah al-Daa’imah)
Allahu A’lam (Allah (سبحانه و تعالى) knows best) and all Perfections belong to Allah, and all mistakes belong to me alone. May Allah (سبحانه و تعالى) forgive me, Ameen.
Wassalaam
