Question: What can one use to remove body hair?
Answer:
Bismi Llahir Rahmanir Rahim
Assalamu alaykum wa rahmatuLlahi wa barakatuhu
The Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) said, “Ten things are from the natural disposition: trimming the mustache, lengthening the beard, using the miswak, snuffing water up the nose, clipping the nails, washing the knuckles, removing hair from the armpits, shaving pubic hair and washing the private parts with water.” The narrator said, “I forgot the tenth. It could be rinsing the mouth.” [Muslim]
As an overall ruling, the scholars mention that it is best to clip one’s nails, trim the mustache, remove the hair from the armpits, shave the pubic hair, and take a shower once a week, with preference given to Friday.
If this is not possible, then it is permissible to perform these actions every 15 days.
If one leaves these actions for more than 40 days, it is prohibitively disliked and the person is sinful.
As for hair removal, any method used for hair removal is permissible, such as waxing, razors, epilators, or creams, as long as it does not entail harm upon one’s body and one does not expose her legal nakedness (‘awrah) to another. Between two Muslim women, the ‘awrah is the area between the navel and knee – including the knee.
However, the sunna of removing hair under the arms is achieved by plucking, though shaving is also acceptable.
With regards to pubic hair, it is sunna for men to remove it by shaving, while women do so by plucking.
Jazak Allah khayran
Naielah Ackbarali
References:
Nahlawi, al-Durar al-Mubaha fil-Hadhr wal-Ibaha