[Q 329] Ruling on Shaving or Trimming the Monobrow

Question

What is the ruling on shaving or trimming the monobrow?

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

الجواب بعون الملك الوهاب اللهم هداية الحق والصواب

Answer

It is permissible to remove the monobrow, meaning the hair between the two eyebrows above the nose, as these are considered unnecessary facial hair. Removing them is not prohibited. However, it is important to note that trimming or shaping the actual eyebrows for beautification is not permissible, as there is a prohibition against this in Hadith.

Let it be clear that the hair that grows between the two eyebrows is not considered to be a part of the eyebrows, because this particular hair grows where hair usually doesn’t grow. In Arabic, this part of the face (Glabella) is called بلج (Balaj) or مقطب (Muqattab), not حاجبین (Hajibayn).

In regards to plucking eyebrows, in Sahih Muslim, it is narrated that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:

 لعن الله الواشمات و المستوشمات و النامصات و المتنمصات و المتفلجات للحسن المغيرات خلق الله تعالى

 Translation: Allah has cursed those who apply tattoos and those who get tattoos applied (on themselves), those who pluck facial hair and those who have it plucked, those who space their teeth for cosmetic purposes, and those who alter the creation of Allah.

(Sahih Muslim, Kitab Al-Libas wal-Zīnah, Tahrim Fil-il-Waṣilah, Vol. 2, Pg. 205, Karachi).

Commentating upon this Hadith, Imam Sharafuddin Al-Nawawiyy رحمه الله تعالى states:

وأما النامصة بالصاد المهملة فهي التي تزيل الشعر من الوجه والمتنمصة التي تطلب فعل ذلك بها و هذا الفعل حرام إلا إذا نبتت للمرأة لحية أو شوارب فلا تحرم إزالتها بل يستحب عندنا۔۔۔ و مذهبنا ما قدمناه من استحباب إزالة اللحية و الشارب والعنفقة و أن النهي إنما هو في الحواجب

Translation: As for “Nāmiṣah”, with the diacritical Arabic letter Ṣād, it refers to the woman who removes facial hair, and “Mutanammiṣah” refers to the woman who has it removed.

This is Haram; however, if a woman has beard hair or moustache hair growing, then it will not be Haram to remove them, rather it is Mustahab (recommended) to remove them, according to our position.

Our position here, as stated before, is that it is Mustahab for a woman to remove beard hair, mustache hair, and any hair around the lips. The prohibition stated in the Hadith is in regards to the eyebrows.

(Sharh-ul-Nawawiyy lil-Muslim, Kitab-al-Libas wal-Zinah, Tahrim Fil-il-Waṣilah, Volume 14, Pg. 106, Beirut)

Allamah Ibn Hummam رحمه الله تعالى states:

“وفی الحديث لعن الله النامصة و المتنمصة أيضا و النامصة هي التي تنقش الحاجب لترقه، و المتنمصة التي يفعل بها ذلك

(Fath Al-Qadir, Kitab Al-Buyu’, Baab Bay’-il-Fasid, Vol. 6, Pg. 391, Quetta).

In regards to removing excessive facial hair, it is stated in Musannaf Abdul Razzaq:

عن امرأة ابن أبي الصقر، إنها كانت عند عائشة فسألتها امرأة؟فقالت: يا أم المؤمنين، إن في وجهي شعرات أفأنتفهن أتزين بذلك لزوجي؟ فقالت عائشة: أميطي عنك الأذى

Translation: It is narrated from Ibn Abi Saqr’s wife that she was with Sayyidah Aishah رضي الله عنها when a woman asked, “O Mother of the Believers! I have hair growing on my face. May I pluck them to beautify myself for my husband?” Sayyidah Aishah رضي الله عنها responded, “Remove that which is detrimental for you.”

(Musannaf Abdul Razzaq, Kitab Al-Salah, Vol. 3, Pg. 146, Beirut).

In Mawsuah Fiqhiya Kuwaitiya it is stated:

 “وتحسين وجه المرأة يكون بتنقيته من الشعر النابت في غير أماكنه، فيستحب لها إزالته عند الحنفية”

(Mawsuah Fiqhiya Kuwaitiya, Tahsin-ul-Hay’ah, Vol. 10, Pg. 215, Beirut).

Regarding the space between the eyebrows, in Al-Kanz Al-Lughawi it is mentioned:

 و في الحاجبين البلج وهو أن ينقطع الحاجبان فيكون ما بينهما نفيا من الشعر فذلك البلج وذلك الموضع يسمى بلجة، و العرب تستحب البلج وتمدح به و يكرهون الغمم

(Al-Kanz Al-Lughawi fi Lisan Al-Arabi, Kitab Khalq Al-Insan, Pg. 180, Cairo)

Similarly, in Taj Al-Urus, Mukhtar Al-Sihah, and Jumhurat Al-Lughah it is mentioned:

 “واللفظ للآخر “والبلجة: البياض النقی من الشعر بين الحاجبين”

(Jamharat Al-Lughah, Ba and Ha, Vol. 2, Pg. 1114, Beirut)

Answered by: Mufti Sajid Attari

Translated answer

Date: 1st June 2024