Can Muslim men remove body hair?
Yes, Muslim men can remove most body hair. Removing pubic and armpit hair is a sunnah of fitrah, and shaving or waxing chest, back or leg hair is allowed by most scholars. The main limits: don't shave the beard, don't shape the eyebrows, and don't let someone see your awrah while it's done.
Hair Islam asks you to remove
The Prophet ﷺ listed five acts of fitrah (natural hygiene): circumcision, shaving the pubic hair, trimming the moustache, clipping the nails and plucking the armpit hair (Sahih al-Bukhari 5889). Anas said a limit was set of not leaving these longer than forty days (Sahih Muslim 258). Plucking the armpits is the sunnah, but shaving, trimming or using cream is also fine. See Do Muslims have to shave their pubic hair?
Chest, back, arms and legs
Islam neither commands nor forbids removing this hair, so most scholars say it's permissible. Swimmers, cyclists and bodybuilders often shave for sport, and some men simply feel cleaner without it. A minority of scholars consider it disliked for men when it's done to look feminine. Keep your intention simple: comfort, hygiene or sport, not copying women's beauty trends.
Hair you should leave
- The beard: most scholars say a man should not shave it off. See Do I have to grow a beard right away?
- The eyebrows: plucking or shaping them for looks is not allowed according to most scholars.
- Head hair: shaving it all or keeping it long are both fine, but a "qaza" style (shaving parts and leaving other parts) is disliked.
Laser, waxing and salons
- Laser, waxing, creams and trimmers are all allowed methods.
- The area from the navel to the knee is awrah. Don't let a technician see or touch it; do pubic hair removal yourself. Most scholars allow a professional for the back, chest or legs.
- Choose a male technician for anything beyond the face and hands, where possible.
- For people with medical conditions or hair loss, follow a doctor's advice.
For the full list of fitrah habits, see What is fitrah hygiene in Islam?
- Removing pubic and armpit hair is a sunnah, at least every 40 days.
- Chest, back and leg hair removal is allowed by most scholars.
- Keep the beard and don't shape the eyebrows.
- Protect your awrah from technicians.
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