As Salaamu Alaikum,
QUESTION:
Is it permissible for a woman to get a Brazilian wax which is done by another woman?
Wa Alaikum As Salaam,
ANSWER:
Doing a ‘Brazilian Wax’ requires a woman to expose her awrah in front of another woman and this is not permissible. Hence, doing a Brazilian Wax would not be permissible in Islam. The ‘awrah’ of a woman refers to those parts of her body which are considered to be private and must be concealed at all times except when she is with her husband.
There are concessions given to a Muslim woman to reveal certain parts of her body when she is in front of her blood relatives and in front of other Muslim women, however, in the case of other Muslim women, she is required to conceal the parts of her body between her navel to her knees. Any part of her body between this area must not be revealed to another Muslim woman except in cases of a dire necessity, like seeking medical treatment etc.
With respect to being in front of non-Muslim women, the preferred opinion is that a Muslim woman must not reveal her body to non-Muslim women except her face, hands up to the wrist and feet. Regarding the “Awrah” of a Muslim woman, the Fuqaha (jurist experts) have stated, ‘And a Muslim woman may see of another woman (Muslim) that which is permitted for a man to see of another man (that is, from the navel to the knee).’ (Ad Durrul Mukhtar Ma Ash Shami Vol. 1 page. 371 HM Saeed Co. Karachi)
The statement of the Fuqaha shows that the Awrah of a Muslim woman in front of another Muslim woman is from the navel to the knee. Therefore, this area must not be revealed/exposed in front of other Muslim women.
With respect to the Awrah of a Muslim woman in front of non-Muslim women, the Fuqaha have written, ‘An unbelieving woman is similar to a non-blood relative man according to the correct opinion. Thus, she (the unbelieving woman) in not allowed to see the body of a Muslim woman.’ (Ad Durrul Muhkhtar Ma Ash Shami Vol. 1 page. 371).
While elucidating the above, the great Jurist, Ibn Abideen Shami writes, ‘It is not permissible for a believing woman to uncover/unclothe herself in front of a polytheist (unbelieving woman), or a Jewish/Christian woman… It is also not proper that a sinful woman (transgressor) sees the body of a righteous/good believing woman since she may describe her to men. As such, the righteous woman should not take off her Jilbaab (Outer garment) and Khimar (scraf/hijab) in front of her. (Radd Al Muhtar Ma Ad Durr Vol. 1 page. 371 H.M Saeed Karachi).
From this explanation, it is evident that the Awrah of a Muslim woman in front of non-Muslim women is her entire body except her face, hands and feet (This is the correct opinion given by many scholars).As such, a Muslim woman should cover in front of non-Muslim women.
Therefore, doing a ‘Brazilian Wax’ will not be permissible in Islam since a woman will be required to expose her awrah (concealable parts of her body) in front of another woman (Muslim or non-Muslim), and this is not permissible at all.
و فى الدّر المختار ’تنظر المراة المسلمة من المراة كالرجل من الرجل…. و الذمية كالرجل الأجنبى فى الأصح فلا تنظر الى بدن المسلمة….. و فى رد المحتار….: قَالَ فِي غَايَةِ الْبَيَانِ: وقَوْله تَعَالَى – {أَوْ نِسَائِهِنَّ} أَيْ الْحَرَائِرِ الْمُسْلِمَاتِ، لِأَنَّهُ لَيْسَ لِلْمُؤْمِنَةِ أَنْ تَتَجَرَّدَ بَيْنَ يَدَيْ مُشْرِكَةٍ أَوْ كِتَابِيَّةٍ اهـ وَنَقَلَهُ فِي الْعِنَايَةِ وَغَيْرِهَا عَنْ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ، فَهُوَ تَفْسِيرٌ مَأْثُورٌ وَفِي شَرْحِ الْأُسْتَاذِ عَبْدِ الْغَنِيِّ النَّابُلُسِيِّ عَلَى هَدِيَّةِ ابْنِ الْعِمَادِ عَنْ شَرْحِ وَالِدِهِ الشَّيْخِ إسْمَاعِيلَ عَلَى الدُّرَرِ وَالْغُرَرِ: لَا يَحِلُّ لِلْمُسْلِمَةِ أَنْ تَنْكَشِفَ بَيْنَ يَدَيْ يَهُودِيَّةٍ أَوْ نَصْرَانِيَّةٍ أَوْ مُشْرِكَةٍ إلَّا أَنْ تَكُونَ أَمَةً لَهَا كَمَا فِي السِّرَاجِ، وَنِصَابِ الِاحْتِسَابِ وَلَا تَنْبَغِي لِلْمَرْأَةِ الصَّالِحَةِ أَنْ تَنْظُرَ إلَيْهَا الْمَرْأَةُ الْفَاجِرَةُ لِأَنَّهَا تَصِفُهَا عِنْدَ الرِّجَالِ، فَلَا تَضَعُ جِلْبَابَهَا وَلَا خِمَارَهَا كَمَا فِي السِّرَاجِ
(Raddul Muhtar Ma Ad Durr Al Mukhtar Vol. 6 page 371 H.M Saeed Karachi).
And Allah Knows best
Mufti Waseem Khan
04/03/2021