Answered by Shaykh Yusuf Badat
Question:
Please explain and advice on the ruling of facial hair removal in women, in particular beautifying, reshaping, cleaning eye brows and in removing any facial hair that is manly and causes embarrassment to a women. Is removal of hair from arms and legs permitted in both men and women? Is hair removal by laser permitted in Islam?
Answer:
Jazakumullahu Khayran/ Thank you for your question.
In general circumstances, facial hair should be left as is. However, if there is excessive facial hair on a woman’s chin or mustache, it is recommended to remove that hair. (Al Bahr Al Raiq).
As for excessive hair on other parts of the woman’s face, such that it is deemed masculine or looked at as a negative aspect of her general feminine beauty, then she is permitted to remove that slight amount of hair that would remove the masculine look. (Al Bahr Al Raiq)
Abdullah ibn Masud (may Allah be pleased with him) is reported to have said, “May Allah curse the women who who pluck [the eyebrows of other women] and those who get them plucked and those women who cleave their teeth for the sake of beauty; who alter the creation of Allah.” (Muslim)
Women are permitted to remove hair from arms and legs if it enhances her beauty for her husband.
As for men, removing hair from arms and legs, is not recommended and should be avoided as this constitutes resembling feminine qualities. However if a man does remove the hair of arms and legs, it would not be considered prohibited. (Al Hindiyyah)
“The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings upon him) cursed men who imitate women and cursed women who imitate men”. (Bukhari).
The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings upon him) cursed a man who puts on the attire of women, and a woman who puts on the attire of men. (Abu Dawud).
Laser hair removal is permissible in all those places where removal of hair is permissible. (Al Ithaaf and Fiqh Al Halal Wal Haram by Sh. Khalid Saifullah Al Rahmani)
And Allah Knows Best.