[Q 325] Islamic Ruling on Laser Hair Removal for Women

Question

Is it permissible for a woman to reveal her body to another woman for laser hair removal?

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

الجواب بعون الملك الوهاب اللهم هداية الحق والصواب

Answer

Islamic Law dictates that women must observe veiling even among themselves; it is not permissible for a woman to expose the area from below the navel to the knees (including the knees) to another woman without a valid Islamic excuse.

Laser hair removal is not a valid Islamic reason that would permit this prohibited act. Therefore, exposing any part of the body from below the navel to the knees (including the knees) to another woman for laser hair removal is strictly prohibited and sinful.

Additionally, laser hair removal entails the other woman looking at and touching these parts, which is also impermissible and Haram.

However, there is no issue in revealing other parts of the body to another Muslim woman.

But, if the other woman is a non-Muslim, then the Muslim woman is not allowed to have the hair of other parts of her body removed by her, because a Muslim woman must veil herself before a non-Muslim woman just as she would before a non-Mehram man.

Unveiling her arms, wrists, neck, calves, etc., to a non-Muslim woman is impermissible.

Yes, if there is a valid need according to Islamic Law, then an exception may apply.

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ is reported to have said:

 “ما تحت السرة إلى الركبة من العورة”

Translation: The area from below the navel to the knees is ‘awrah (to be veiled).

(Sunan al-Daraqutni, Kitab al-Salah, Bab al-Amr bi Ta’lim as-Salawat, Vol. 1, Pg. 430, Mu’assasat al-Risalah, Beirut, Lebanon)

It is reported from Hazrat Sayyiduna Abu Sa’id al-Khudriyy رضي الله عنه that the Prophet ﷺ said:

 “لاينظر الرجل إلى عورة الرجل، ولا المرأۃ إلی عورۃ المرأۃ”

Translation: A man is not to look at the ‘Awrah (veiled parts) of another man, nor is a woman to look at the ‘Awrah of another woman.

(Sahih Muslim, Kitab al-Ijarat, Bab al-Ijarah al-Fasidah, Vol. 1, Pg. 183, Hadith: 338, Dar at-Taba’ah al-Amirah, Turkey)

It is stated in Tuhfat al-Fuqaha:

 “كشف العورة حرام”

(Tuhfat al-Fuqaha al-Samarqandi, Kitab al-Hudud, Vol. 3, Pg. 143, Dar al-Kutub al-Ilmiyyah, Beirut, Lebanon)

In al-Binayah, it is mentioned:

 “وفي فتاوى الولوالجي: لا يحل النظر إلى ما تحت السرة إلى الركبة من الرجل والمرأة لأحد من غير عذر”

(Al-Binayah Sharh al-Hidayah, Kitab al-Karahiyyah, Fasl fil Wat’i wa an-Nadhr wa al-Lams, Vol. 12, Pg. 138, Dar al-Kutub al-Ilmiyyah, Beirut, Lebanon)

Allamah Abu Bakr bin Ali Haddadiyy رحمة اللہ عليه (d. 800 AH) states in Jawharah al-Nayyirah:

 “وتنظر المرأة من المرأة إلى ما يجوز للرجل أن ينظر إليه من الرجل”

(Jawharah al-Nayyirah, Kitab al-Hadhr wa al-Ibahah, Vol. 2, Pg. 284, al-Matba’ah al-Khayriyah)

Allamah Tahtawiyy mentions in the footnotes of Al-Durr al-Mukhtar:

 “فإن ذلک حرام لمس العورۃ بلا حائل”

(Hashiyat al-Tahtawiyy Ala al-Durr al-Mukhtar, Kitab al-Hadhr wa al-Ibahah, Bab al-Istibra wa Ghairihi, Vol. 11, Pg. 130, Dar al-Kutub al-Ilmiyyah, Beirut)

Regarding the body parts that are to be veiled, Imam Ahl-ul-Sunnah, A’la Hazrat عليه الرحمة و الرضوان states:

The area from the navel to the knees is ‘Awrah (to be veiled). The navel is excluded, but the knees are included. The area from the navel (to the knees) in all directions, including the loin area, back, and hips, is all ‘Awrah.

(Fatawa Ridawiyyah, Vol. 6, Pg. 33, Barakat-e-Raza)

Regarding the veiling of Muslim woman before non-Muslim women, it is stated in Radd al-Muhtar:

قال في غاية البيان: وقوله تعالى – {أو نسائهن} [النور: 31]- أي الحرائر المسلمات، لأنه ليس للمؤمنة أن تتجرد بين يدي مشركة أو كتابية اهـ ونقله في العناية وغيرها عن ابن عباس، فهو تفسير مأثور وفي شرح الأستاذ عبد الغني النابلسي على هدية ابن العماد عن شرح والده الشيخ إسماعيل على الدرر والغرر: لا يحل للمسلمة أن تنكشف بين يدي يهودية أو نصرانية أو مشركة إلا أن تكون أمة لها كما في السراج

(Radd al-Muhtar, Vol. 6, Pg. 371, Dar al-Fikr, Beirut)

In Fatawa Ridawiyyah, it is mentioned:

“A Muslim woman must observe the same veiling before a non-Muslim woman as she would with a non-Mehram man. This includes not unveiling any part of the body from her head-hair, arms, wrists, neck, and down to the ankles in front of a non-Muslim woman… This ruling applies to non-Muslim women living under Islamic rule, hence it is even stricter before those non-Muslim women who are not under such rule.

(Fatawa Ridawiyyah, Vol. 23, Pg. 692, Barakat-e-Raza)

Answered by: Mufti Sajid Attari

Translated answer

Date: 10 July 2024