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:

Can a man use hair removal cream for under shave or not ? And how much and to which extent it should be removed ?

(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:

Unwanted 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 none worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

Your Question: Can a man use hair removal cream for under shave or not ?

Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 7.779 Narrated by Abu Huraira

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

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 as they will or is convenient for them, including clipping, cutting, shaving, waxing, hair removal cream, etc.

Your Question: And how much and to which extent it should be removed ?

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.

In general circumstances it would be safe to say that the pubic area starts about 5-6 inches below the belly button. But if a person has a huge tummy, the distance from the belly button to the pubic area may increase; but the pubic area itself would not increase or decrease. There is absolutely no restriction if one wishes to completely remove the unwanted hairs by shaving it or using hair removal cream; or trim it by cutting or clipping.

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