Can I Remove Facial Hair and Hair between the Eyebrows?


Shafi'i Fiqh

ََAnswered by Ustadh Farid Dingle

Question

Is it permissible to remove facial hair and hair between the eyebrows?

Answer

Thank you for your valued question.

The Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) cursed women who pluck/alter their eyebrows to give a false impression of their beauty. [Bukhari] This hadith has not to be understood in absolute terms by the vast majority of the ulama. [Mawardi, al-Hawi al-Kabir]

Instead, some hair, namely beard or side beards, are recommended to remove for women. [Nawawi, Sharh Muslim]

Normal hair, such as bushy eyebrows, is forbidden to clear for an unmarried woman. A married woman may remove facial hair or shape her eyebrows for her husband. [Ramli, Niyahat al-Muhtaj]

Further debate is whether other facial hair is included in the original prohibition. The Ministry of Fatwa of Jordan holds that it is not forbidden for men, married women, or non-married women to remove excess facial hair from their faces. [Fatwa No. 1869]

For more information, please see:
Is Microblading My Eyebrows Permissible
Hair Removal

I pray this helps.

[Ustadh] Farid Dingle
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Ustadh Farid Dingle has completed extensive years of study in the sciences of the Arabic language and the various Islamic Sciences. During his studies, he also earned a CIFE Certificate in Islamic Finance. Over the years he has developed a masterful ability to craft lessons that help non-Arabic speakers gain a deep understanding of the language. He currently teaches courses in the Arabic Language.