Fatwa Explorer

Fatwa #244531 March 2001South Africa

Is it permissable to use hair remover creams, if yes which is better shaving or hair removers.

Answer

The following is an extract from Bahisti Zewar, which answers your question.%0D%0A%0D%0ARules concerning hair%0D%0A%0D%0A1. It is sunnah to grow one's hair on the entire head till the ear lobes or%0D%0Aslightly below them. If a person wishes to shave his head, it is sunnah to%0D%0Ashave the entire head. It is also permissible to merely clip the hair.%0D%0AHowever, it is not permissible to clip all the hair and leave the front%0D%0Aportion long, as is the fashion today. Similarly, it is also not permissible%0D%0Ato shave a portion and leave another portion long. From this we deduce that%0D%0Ait is not permissible to sport the babri hairstyle (or to cut the hair in%0D%0Athe shape of a cap or to shape the front part of the hair).%0D%0A2. If the hair has been lengthened considerably, it is not permissible to%0D%0Atie it into a tail like women.%0D%0A3. It is har%E2m for women to shave the head or clip the hair on the head. The%0D%0AHadith has cursed such women.%0D%0A4. It is sunnah to clip the moustache to such an extent that it is clipped%0D%0Ato the skin. There is a difference of opinion with regard to shaving the%0D%0Amoustache. According to some it is a bid'ah, while others have permitted it.%0D%0ACaution demands that one does not shave it.%0D%0A5. It is permissible to lengthen the moustache on the sides on the condition%0D%0Athat the area above the lips is not lengthened.%0D%0A6. It is har%E2m to shave or clip the beard. However, it is permissible to%0D%0Aclip it if it is longer than the length of one fist. Similarly, it is%0D%0Apermissible to clip it on all the sides in such a way that it becomes neat%0D%0Aand straight (provided it is beyond one fist).%0D%0A7. It is permissible to clip the hair and straighten the hair line that%0D%0Agrows on the cheeks. Similarly, it is also permissible to straighten and cut%0D%0Athe eyebrows a wee bit.%0D%0A8. The hair on the throat should not be shaven. However, it has been related%0D%0Afrom Ab%FB Y%FBsuf rahmatull%E2hi 'alayh that there is no harm in this.%0D%0A9. Shaving the hair of the lower lip is regarded as a bid'ah by the jurists.%0D%0ATherefore this should not be done. Similarly, they have said that it is%0D%0Amakruh to remove the hair that is on the nape of the neck.%0D%0A%0D%0A10. It is not permissible to pluck out grey hairs merely for the purposes of%0D%0Abeautification. However, it is better for the muj%E2hid%EEn to do so in order to%0D%0Ainstil fear and awe in the hearts of the enemy.%0D%0A11. The hair of the nose should not be tweezed out. Instead, it can be%0D%0Aclipped.%0D%0A12. It is permissible to remove the hair that is on the chest and back.%0D%0AHowever, it is not good to do so.%0D%0A13. It is preferable for men to remove the hair of the pubic region from%0D%0Ajust below the navel onwards. When shaving, they should commence from below%0D%0Athe navel. It is also permissible to use sulphurate of arsenic and other%0D%0Apreparations (such as hair-removing creams, etc.) to remove the hair of the%0D%0Apubic region. As for women, the sunnah method is that they should remove the%0D%0Ahair of the pubic region by pinching it out or tweezing it out and that they%0D%0Ashould not use a shaving machine.%0D%0A14. It is preferable to remove the hair of the arm pits by tweezing them.%0D%0AHowever, it is permissible to shave them.%0D%0A15. As for the hair of the balance of the body, it is permissible to shave%0D%0Ait or retain it.%0D%0A16. It is also sunnah to clip the nails of the feet. However, it is mustahab%0D%0Afor the person who is engaged in jihad not to clip his moustache and nails.%0D%0A17. It is preferable to clip the finger nails in the following order:%0D%0Acommence with the index finger of the right hand until you reach the little%0D%0Afinger. Thereafter, commence with the little finger of the left hand until%0D%0Ayou reach the thumb of the left hand. Thereafter, complete by clipping the%0D%0Athumb of the right hand. As for the toe nails, commence with the little toe%0D%0Aof the right foot and end with the little toe of the left foot. This is the%0D%0Apreferable method. However, it is permissible to clip in any way that may be%0D%0Acontrary to this method.%0D%0A18. Clipped nails and hair should be buried. If they are not buried, they%0D%0Ashould at least be kept in a safe place. However, they should not be kept in%0D%0Aany impure, dirty place as there is the fear of falling ill.%0D%0A19. It is not good to bite the finger nails as this is a cause of leprosy.%0D%0A20. It is makruh to trim the hair, clip the nails and remove pubic hair%0D%0Awhile one is in a state of impurity.%0D%0A%0D%0A21. It is preferable to remove the pubic hair, hair of the arm-pits, nails,%0D%0Ato have a bath and cleanse oneself at least once a weak. It is best to do%0D%0Aall this on a Friday before going for the jumu'ah sal%E2t. If one cannot do%0D%0Athis on a weekly basis, he should carry it out every fortnight. If not, at%0D%0Aleast every forty days. There is no concession beyond forty days. If forty%0D%0Adays expire and the person does not carry out the above, he will be%0D%0Acommitting a sin.%0D%0A%0D%0Aand Allah Ta'ala Knows Best%0D%0A%0D%0AMufti Ebrahim Desai%0D%0AFATWA DEPT.%0D%0A%0D%0A
Something wrong with this record?

Report a problem

This goes to whoever maintains the archive, not to Askimam.org. For a question about the ruling itself, use the link to the original above.

Sent anonymously. No account needed, and nothing identifies you.