Answered by Ustadha Naielah Ackbarali
Question: Can a married muslim man trim his chest hair? Also, how often should muslim men and women shave their awra?
Answer: Bismi Llahir Rahmanir Rahimi
1. Removing the hair from one’s chest or back is against proper manners for men. [ibn Abidin, Radd al-Muhtar; al-Fatawa al-Hindiyya]
2. The scholars note that removing the pubic hair is a sign of the Muslims. [al-Kasani, Bada’I al-Sanai’] The mother of believers Aisha (Allah be pleased with her) related that the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) said that removing the pubic hair is from one’s natural disposition. [Muslim]
The area that is intended is what is above the male or female front private part (and what surrounds it) up to the navel. [ibn Nujaym, al-Bahr al-Raiq; Tahtawi, Hashiyyat al-Tahtawi]
Any means used to remove the hair is permissible, such as shaving, waxing, or plucking, on the condition that it achieves the overall purpose of cleanliness. [Tahtawi, Hashiyyat al-Tahtawi; ibn Abidin, Radd al-Muhtar]
The ruling for how often one should remove the hair is as follows:
a. recommended: every week, preferably on Fridays
b. permissible: every 15 days
c. prohibitively disliked (sinful): to leave beyond 40 days
[al-Nahlawi, al-Hadhr wa al-Ibaha]
Barak Allah fikum
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Ustadha Naielah Ackbarali
Shawwal 22 1431
October 1 2010
Checked & Approved by Faraz Rabbani