Is Plucking Eyebrows Haram? Here’s What You Need To Know

Is plucking eyebrows haram? Are you considering plucking your eyebrows but are unsure if it’s haram in Islam? What does Islam REALLY say about shaping the eyebrows? Or perhaps you’ve heard differing opinions on the topic and want to know the truth.

In this blog, we’ll explore the Islamic perspective on plucking eyebrows and whether it’s considered haram (forbidden) or halal (permissible).

We’ll also look at some authentic Hadith on the prohibition of plucking eyebrows in Islam. By the end, you’ll have a better understanding of this topic and be able to make an informed decision about whether or not to pluck your eyebrows.

Is Plucking Eyebrows Haram?

Yes, plucking the eyebrows is haram and it is a major sin, because the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) cursed those who do it. Shaykh Muhammad ibn Saalih al-Uthaymeen says:

“Plucking of women’s eyebrows is not permissible. That’s because the Messenger of Allah (sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa sallam) cursed the one who does it. It is haram and is not permitted.”

With regard to removing hair or not removing it, the scholars divide hair into three categories and one of them is hair which we are forbidden to remove.

IslamQA stated that hair which we are forbidden to remove includes the eyebrows. The action of removing the hair of the eyebrows is called al-nams.

The evidence for that is the hadith of ‘Abd-Allah ibn Mas’ud (may Allah be pleased with him) who said: I heard the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) say:

“Allah has cursed the woman who does tattoos and the one who has them done, the woman who plucks eyebrows (al-namisah) and the one who has it done (al-mutanammisah), and the one who files her teeth for the purpose of beauty, altering the creation of Allah.”

Narrated by al-Bukhari, 5931; Muslim, 2125

And it was narrated that ‘Abd-Allah ibn ‘Umar said: I heard the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) say:

“Be different from the mushrikin: let your beards grow and trim your moustaches.”

Narrated by al-Bukhari, 5892; Muslim, 259

What Is Al-Namisah?

Imam al-Nawawi (may Allah have mercy on him) said: “The namisah is the woman who removes hair from the face and the mutanammisah is the one who asks to have that done. This action is haram, unless a woman develops a beard or moustache, in which case it is not haram to remove it, rather that is mustahabb in our view.” (Sharh al-Nawawi li Sahih Muslim, 14/106)

It says in Fatawa al-Lajnah al-Daimah: “Al-nams means plucking the hair of the eyebrows, which is not permissible because the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) cursed the woman who plucks eyebrows (al-namisah) and the one who has it done (al-mutanammisah).” (Fatawa al-Lajnah al-Daimah, 5/195)

Why Is Plucking Eyebrows Haram In Islam?

Shaping the eyebrows by trimming, shaving or plucking their edges in order to appear beautiful, as is done by some women nowadays, is haraam because it involves changing the creation of Allaah and following the Shaytaan in his tempting of mankind to change the creation of Allaah. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):

“Verily! Allaah forgives not (the sin of) setting up partners in worship with Him, but He forgives whom He pleases sins other than that, and whoever sets up partners in worship with Allaah, has indeed strayed far away.

They (all those who worship others than Allaah) invoke nothing but female deities besides Him, and they invoke nothing but Shaytaan, a persistent rebel! Allah cursed him.

And he [Shaytaan] said: ‘I will take an appointed portion of Your slaves; Verily, I will mislead them, and surely, I will arouse in them false desires; and certainly, I will order them to slit the ears of cattle, and indeed I will order them to change the nature created by Allaah.’ And whoever takes Shaytaan as a wali (protector or helper) instead of Allaah, has surely suffered a manifest loss.”

Surah Al-Nisa’:116-119

In al-Saheeh, it was reported that Ibn Mas’ood (may Allaah be pleased with him) said:

“Allaah has cursed the women who do tattoos and those who have this done, the women who pluck eyebrows and those who have this done, and the women who file their teeth and change the creation of Allaah.”

Then he said: “Should I not curse those whom the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) cursed, when it says in the Qur’aan (interpretation of the meaning):

‘… And whatsoever the Messenger gives you, take it, and whatever he forbids you, abstain (from it)…’

Surah al-Hashr :7

Source: IslamQA

Plucking Hair Between Eyebrows in Islam

The Ulama tell us that it is permissible to pluck it, because it is not part of the eyebrows. The Committee of Fatawa al-Lajnah al-Daimah was asked:

What is the Islamic ruling on plucking the hair between the eyebrows?

They replied:

“It is permissible to pluck it, because it is not part of the eyebrows.” (Fatawa al-Lajnah al-Daimah, 5/197)

The Standing Committee was asked:

What is the ruling on a woman removing hair from her body?

They replied:

“It is permissible for her to do that, apart from the hair of the eyebrows and head. It is not permissible for her to remove the hair of her head or to remove any part of the eyebrows, whether by shaving or any other means.” (Fatawa al-Lajnah al-Daimah, 5/194)

Plucking Eyebrows Hadith in Arabic

The Hadith on plucking eyebrows in Arabic is:

عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، قَالَ لَعَنَ اللَّهُ الْوَاشِمَاتِ وَالْمُسْتَوْشِمَاتِ وَالنَّامِصَاتِ وَالْمُتَنَمِّصَاتِ وَالْمُتَفَلِّجَاتِ لِلْحُسْنِ الْمُغَيِّرَاتِ خَلْقَ اللَّهِ.

Plucking Eyebrows Hadith in English

The meaning and translation of Hadith about plucking eyebrows is:

Abdullah reported that Allah had cursed those women who tattooed and who have themselves tattooed, those who pluck hair from their faces and those who make spaces between their teeth for beautification changing what God has created.

Source: Narrated by al-Bukhari, 5931; Muslim, 2125

Is it Haram For A Man To Pluck His Eyebrows?

When it comes to the hair that grows on the forehead and between the eyebrows, there is nothing wrong with removing it according to some scholars.

Others are of the view that it is not allowed, especially if it is removed by plucking, with a thread or otherwise. Source

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