Question

السلام عليكم ورحمة الله وبركاته
Mufti saahib, please can you outline which areas of hair are/aren’t permissible for a man to clip, pluck, trim, shave or remove in any way? Namely, would it be permissible for a male to remove (completely) or just to trim the hair of the legs, arms, chest, back, buttocks, hands, neck, the hair around the nipple region, etc? If not, then would the same ruling apply if such hair becomes overgrown and perhaps doesn’t seem as visually appealing? Also, please can you specify to what extent it is permissible to trim such hair and what methods would be recommended and/or impermissible during the removal of unwanted hair from all of the aforementioned regions? Basically, can you just briefly clarify all the aspects regarding to the hair removal of males and all the impermissible/ permissible aspects pertaining to this matter. Jazākamullāh.

Answer

Shaving or trimming the beard beyond the fist length is not permissible.[1] Shaving the neck is permissible.

As for the legs, arms, chest and back, a man is permitted to shave these areas. However, there are two things to keep in mind. The fiqh texts repeat that shaving the chest and back is against proper etiquette.[2] Similarly, they caution not to look effeminate in other discussions of male grooming.[3] From this, we extrapolate that shaving these areas are not intrinsically impermissible. However, other considerations can place extrinsic blame or undesirability upon the action, such as looking effeminate.

As for shaving methods of these regions, one can use whichever method they prefer. However, non-mahram beauticians or practitioners cannot perform any cosmetic procedures.

I hope this clarifies the matter.

[1]              «حاشية ابن عابدين = رد المحتار ط الحلبي» (6/ 407): وَأَخْذِ أَطْرَافِ اللِّحْيَةِ وَالسُّنَّةُ فِيهَا الْقَبْضَةُ. وَفِيهِ: قَطَعَتْ شَعْرَ رَأْسِهَا أَثِمَتْ وَلُعِنَتْ زَادَ فِي الْبَزَّازِيَّةِ وَإِنْ بِإِذْنِ الزَّوْجِ لِأَنَّهُ لَا طَاعَةَ لِمَخْلُوقٍ فِي مَعْصِيَةِ الْخَالِقِ، وَلِذَا يَحْرُمُ عَلَى الرَّجُلِ قَطْعُ لِحْيَتِهِ»

[2]              الفتاوى العالمكيرية = الفتاوى الهندية» (5/ 358): وفي حلق ‌شعر ‌الصدر ‌والظهر ترك الأدب كذا في القنية»

[3]              الفتاوى العالمكيرية = الفتاوى الهندية» (5/ 358): ولا يحلق شعر حلقه وعن أبي يوسف – رحمه الله تعالى – لا بأس بذلك ولا بأس بأخذ الحاجبين وشعر وجهه ما لم يتشبه بالمخنث كذا في الينابيع»

Answered by:
Maulana Ikramul Hoque Miah

Checked & Approved by:
Mufti Abdul Rahman Mangera
Mufti Zubair Patel