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Fatwa CenterRuling on permanent hair removal
Question
Is it permissible to remove unwanted hair permanently from the body, in such a way that it will never grow again, excluding the body areas where the hair is prohibited to be removed? Is this a form of changing the creation of Allaah Almighty? Please include evidence. May Allaah reward you best.
Answer
All perfect praise be to Allaah, the Lord of the worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His slave and Messenger.
Removal of the unwanted hair concerning which the texts are silent, such as the hair of the chest, hands, and legs may possibly be included in the doubtful matters which one should abstain from out of precaution and religious prudence. This is because no evident ruling is stated about it, which suggests either permissibility or impermissibility.
The reason why it is safer to abstain from such a practice is that it is a form of changing the creation of Allaah Almighty, which is prohibited according to principle, because it is one of the devilish orders. Furthermore, it can fall under the matters concerning which the texts are silent, given that there are texts that state the types of body hair that are prohibited to be shaved or lightened. There is absolutely no doubt that defining what is prohibited thereof entails that other parts are either ordered or permissible. Therefore, we view that if the case in question belongs to a woman and that the excess hair disfigures her, then there is nothing wrong with removing it with any means that does not harm the body. This is so whether this means removing the hair forever or for a limited time. That is because the woman has to adorn herself and needs this more than anyone else.
As for a man, we believe that he should not remove that hair forever because it has no effect on him nor causes any harm to him as it does to a woman. If he removes it forever, then this may imply a form of imitating women, which is prohibited in Islam.
Allaah Knows best.
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