Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.  (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

Dear Brother ,,

I have a question on whether we are aloowed to remove or shave the hairs on body,i mean the hairs that have grown on chest ,legs,thighs and back.If we are not allowed what is the exact area in the pubic region where the hair is to be removed whether it starts just after the hole on stoach(naff) or only in the triangle where hairs are thickly grown.

I want to know that through how much portion of the body of a man, one should shave. And also tell me that wheither it is necassary to shave arm pate or not? It is incontact with sex so I sent this message to you by e-mail and because I can`t ask this question to any one directly. 

(There may be some grammatical and spelling errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in confidentiality.)

Answer:

Pubic Hair

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is no one (no idol, no person, no grave, no prophet, no imam, no dai, nobody!) worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 7.779 Narrated by Abu Huraira

I heard the Prophet (saws) saying. "Five practices are characteristics of the Fitra (nature): circumcision, removing the pubic hair, cutting the moustaches short, clipping the nails, and depilating the hair of the armpits."

Both the believing men and the believing women are obliged to remove their unwanted hair from their pubic region and from under their armpits. One may use any means or method to remove the unwanted hair including clipping, shaving or the use of chemicals, etc.

Your Question: I have a question on whether we are aloowed to remove or shave the hairs on body,i mean the hairs that have grown on chest ,legs,thighs and back.

There is no specific command in the Quran or the Sunnah which prohibits a man from shaving the hair on his chest, legs, thighs, back, etc.; thus one cannot say that it would be prohibited in Shariah.

If one has a valid reason for shaving his body hair, like itching, discomfort, etc. there is absolutely no harm and no restriction in removing it, if he wishes to do so.

Your Question: what is the exact area in the pubic region where the hair is to be removed whether it starts just after the hole on stoach(naff) or only in the triangle where hairs are thickly grown.

Al-Muwatta Hadith 49.3

Yahya related to me from Malik from Said ibn Abi Said al-Maqburi from his father that Abu Hurayra heard the Messenger of Allah (saws) say, "There are five things from the ‘fitra’ (nature): cutting the nails, trimming the moustache, removing the hair from the armpit, shaving the pubic region and circumcision."

The Arabic terms used in the hadith for ‘shaving the pubic region’ is ‘Halq ul aana’, and in the Arabic terminology ‘aana’ is the area immediately surrounding the private parts or pubic area. Thus, the pubic hair that is required to be removed is the hair immediately surrounding the private parts. In general circumstances it would be safe to say that the pubic area starts about 5-6 inches below the belly button; but if one wishes to removes one’s hair all the way upto one’s belly button, there is no harm or restriction.

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me alone. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

Burhan