The third opinion on plucking of the eyebrows

[Navaid Aziz]

Beloved students,

As salam 'alaikum wa rahamatullahi wa barakaatuhu,

In class we discussed a third opinion that allows married women to pluck their eye brows. We didn't go into an extensive discussion due to the shortage of time, but as promised here are the resources that I was quoting. Please keep in mind that I personally endorse the SECOND opinion mentioned in class and NOT the third. However, it is mentioned just to show that such an opinion does exist.

Here is the Arabic and English from the Egyptian Fatwa Counsel:

الرقـم المسلسل

5758

الموضوع

حكم إزالة الزائد من شعرالحاجب وما بين الحاجبين

التاريخ

26/03/2005

الســــؤال

اطلعنا على الطلب المقيد برقم 866 لسنة 2005م المتضمن:
هل إزالة الزائد من الحاجب حرام ؟ وهل إزالة ما بين الحاجبين حرام ؟

الـجـــواب
أمانة الفتوى

روى البخاري ومسلم عن عبد الله بن مسعود رضي الله عنه قال : " لَعَنَ اللَّهُ الْوَاشِمَاتِ ، وَالْمُوتَشِمَاتِ ، وَالنَّامِصَاتِ وَالْمُتَنَمِّصَاتِ ، وَالْمُتَفَلِّجَاتِ لِلْحُسْنِ ، الْمُغَيِّرَاتِ خَلْقَ اللَّهِ " ، فَبَلَغَ ذَلِكَ امْرَأَةً مِنْ بَنِى أَسَدٍ يُقَالُ لَهَا أُمُّ يَعْقُوبَ،فَجَاءَتْ فَقَالَتْ: إِنَّهُ بَلَغَنِي أَنَّكَ لَعَنْتَ كَيْتَ وَكَيْتَ ! فَقَالَ:وَمَا لِي لاَ أَلْعَنُ مَنْ لَعَنَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم وَمَنْ هُوَ فِي كِتَابِ اللَّه تعالى :{ وَمَا آتَاكُمُ الرَّسُولُ فَخُذُوهُ وَمَا نَهَاكُمْ عَنْهُ } (الحشر 7).
والنمص : نتف شعر الحاجبين ، وفي دخول غير الحاجبين من شعر الوجه قولان لأهل اللغة ينبني عليهما اختلاف العلماء في حكم نتف غير الحاجبين من شعر الوجه بين الحرمة والإباحة ، والنامصة : هي التي تنتف شعرها أو شعر غيرها ، والمتنمصة : هي التي تأمر غيرها أن يفعل ذلك .
والتوعد باللعن من الله أو رسوله صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم على فعل شيء معين علامة على أنه كبيرة من الكبائر ، فلا يجوز التنمص للمرأة غير المتزوجة إلا إذا احتاجت إليه لعلاج أو إزالة عيب أو تسوية شعرات نافرة ، وما تجاوز ذلك فهو ممنوع .
أما المرأة المتزوجة فيجوز لها التنمص إذا كان بإذن الزوج أو دلت قرينة على ذلك كما هو مذهب جمهور الفقهاء ؛ لأنه من الزينة ، والزينة مطلوبة للتحصين والإعفاف ، والمرأة مأمورة بها شرعًا لزوجها .
ودليلهم ما رُوِيَ عن بكرة بنت عقبة أنها سألت عائشة رضي الله عنها عن الحِفَاف ، فقالت : " إن كان لك زوج فاستطعت أن تنتزعي مقلتيك فتُصَنِّعيهما أحسن مما هما فيه فافعلي ". أحكام النساء لابن الجوزي ص 94 .
وأخرج الطبري عن امرأة أبي إسحاق أنها دخلت على عائشة رضي الله عنها – وكانت شابة يعجبها الجمال – فقالت لها : المرأة تحف جبينها لزوجها ؟ فقالت : " أميطي عنك الأذى ما استطعت " .
والله سبحانه وتعالى أعلم.
تمت الإجابة بتاريخ 20/4/2005


The Question:
Is it prohibited to remove the hair exceeding from the eyebrows? Is it prohibited to remove the hair between the two eyebrows?
The Answer:
Al-Bukhari and Muslim narrated through Abdu Allah ibn Mas’oud, may Allah be pleased with him, said:
Allah curses the woman who perform tattoos, get tattoos, the woman who pluck the eyebrows of others, and those women who get their eyebrows plucked, and part their teeth for adornment; who change Allah’s creation.
The statement of Abd Allah ibn Mas’ud reached a woman from Bani Asad who was called Um Ya’cub. She came to him and said: “It came to my knowledge that you have cursed so and so. “He replied: “Why would I not curse the one the Prophet [PBUH] cursed. The one mentioned in the book of Allah the Almighty [Meaning the Prophet]
Allah says:
So accept whatever the Messenger gives you, and abstain from whatever he forbids you. [59:7]
• Plucking:
The ruling of plucking parts of the face other than the eyebrows varies between prohibition and permissibility. Upon this the scholars based their difference.
Important Terms:
• Al-Namsa: is the one who plucks her or others eyebrows.
• Al-Mutnamsa: is the one who orders others to do so.
• The ruling for unmarried woman:
Threatening one to with the curse of Allah and his Prophet is a sign that an action is from the Major sins. In Islamic law when such a threat is issued it is evidence that the act is a major sin and a sign that the act is impermissible.
It is forbidden for a non married woman to have her eye brows plucked, except for the purpose of treatment, removing a defect, or refining excessive hair. Things other than this are prohibited.
• The ruling for a married woman:
It is permissible for a married woman to pluck her eyebrows with her husband’s permission according to the majority of scholars, since, it is considered from what are classified in Islamic law as adornments [Ar: Zenah].
The narration of Bukra bint ‘Uqba was used as evidence, when she asked ‘Aisha may Allah be pleased with her about plucking her eyebrows, ‘Aisha responded:
If you are married, and by plucking your eyebrows you will make them attractive, then do it”. Ahkam al-Nis’a Ibn al-Jawsi p.49
Al-Tabari mentioned a narration through the wife of Abu Ishaa, who was an attractive woman when she came to ‘Aisha may Allah be pleased with her—she asked:
“Should a woman pluck her facial hair for her husband?”
She answered:
“Keep disturbances [from you and your husband] away as much as possible.”
Allah the Majestic knows best.
Egyptian House of Fatwa

and here is the Arabic from Al-Mawsoo'ah al-Fiqhiyyah Al-Kuwaitiyyah:

وَذَهَبَ الْجُمْهُورُ إلَى أَنَّهُ لاَ يَجُوزُ التَّنَمُّصُ لِغَيْرِ الْمُتَزَوِّجَةِ ، وَأَجَازَ بَعْضُهُمْ لِغَيْرِ الْمُتَزَوِّجَةِ فِعْل ذَلِكَ إِذَا اُحْتِيجَ إِلَيْهِ لِعِلاَجٍ أَوْ عَيْبٍ ، بِشَرْطِ أَنْ لاَ يَكُونَ فِيهِ تَدْلِيسٌ عَلَى الآْخَرِينَ .
قَال الْعَدَوِيُّ : وَالنَّهْيُ مَحْمُولٌ عَلَى الْمَرْأَةِ الْمَنْهِيَّةِ عَنِ اسْتِعْمَال مَا هُوَ زِينَةٌ لَهَا ، كَالْمُتَوَفَّى عَنْهَا وَالْمَفْقُودِ زَوْجُهَا .
أَمَّا الْمَرْأَةُ الْمُتَزَوِّجَةُ فَيَرَى جُمْهُورُ الْفُقَهَاءِ أَنَّهُ يَجُوزُ لَهَا التَّنَمُّصُ ، إِذَا كَانَ بِإِذْنِ الزَّوْجِ ، أَوْ دَلَّتْ قَرِينَةٌ عَلَى ذَلِكَ ؛ لأَِنَّهُ مِنَ الزِّينَةِ ، وَالزِّينَةُ مَطْلُوبَةٌ لِلتَّحْصِينِ ، وَالْمَرْأَةُ مَأْمُورَةٌ بِهَا شَرْعًا لِزَوْجِهَا .
وَدَلِيلُهُمْ مَا رَوَتْهُ بَكْرَةُ بِنْتُ عُقْبَةَ أَنَّهَا سَأَلَتْ عَائِشَةَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهَا عَنِ الْحِفَافِ ، فَقَالَتْ : إِنْ كَانَ لَك زَوْجٌ فَاسْتَطَعْتِ أَنْ تَنْتَزِعِي مُقْلَتَيْك فَتَصْنَعِيهِمَا أَحْسَن مِمَّا هُمَا فَافْعَلِي (1) .
__________
(1) صحيح مسلم بشرح النووي 8 / 426 ، والآداب الشرعية 3 / 355 ، والثمر الداني 504 ، والعدوي على الرسالة 2 / 423 ، وابن عابدين 5 / 239 ، والأبي والسنوسي 5 / 408 ، ونهاية المحتاج 2 / 23 - مصطفى الحلبي ، وأحكام النساء ص94 .

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وَذَهَبَ الْحَنَابِلَةُ إلَى عَدَمِ جَوَازِ التَّنَمُّصِ - وَهُوَ النَّتْفُ - وَلَوْ كَانَ بِإِذْنِ الزَّوْجِ ، وَإِلَى جَوَازِ الْحَفِّ وَالْحَلْقِ .
وَخَالَفَهُمْ ابْنُ الْجَوْزِيِّ فَأَبَاحَهُ ، وَحَمَل النَّهْيَ عَلَى التَّدْلِيسِ ، أَوْ عَلَى أَنَّهُ كَانَ شِعَارَ الْفَاجِرَاتِ (1) .
وَذَهَبَ جُمْهُورُ الْعُلَمَاءِ إِلَى أَنَّهُ يُسْتَحَبُّ لِلْمَرْأَةِ إِذَا نَبَتَتْ لَهَا لِحْيَةٌ أَوْ شَوَارِبُ أَوْ عَنْفَقَةٌ أَنْ تُزِيلَهَا ، وَقَيَّدَ بَعْضُهُمْ ذَلِكَ بِإِذْنِ الزَّوْجِ .
وَأَوْجَبَ الْمَالِكِيَّةُ عَلَيْهَا - فِي الْمُعْتَمَدِ - أَنْ تُزِيلَهَا ؛ لأَِنَّ فِيهَا مُثْلَةٌ .
أَمَّا ابْنُ جَرِيرٍ فَذَهَبَ إلَى تَحْرِيمِ ذَلِكَ (2) .
5 - ذَهَبَ جُمْهُورُ الْفُقَهَاءِ إلَى أَنَّهُ يَجُوزُ لِلْمَرْأَةِ أَنْ تُزِيل شَعْرَ يَدَيْهَا وَرِجْلَيْهَا وَظَهْرِهَا وَبَطْنهَا .
وَذَهَبَ الْمَالِكِيَّةُ إلَى وُجُوبِ ذَلِكَ عَلَيْهَا ؛ لأَِنَّ فِي تَرْكِ هَذَا الشَّعْرِ مُثْلَةً .
يَحْرُمُ عَلَى الرَّجُل التَّنَمُّصُ ، وَيُكْرَهُ لَهُ حَفُّ
__________
(1) أحكام النساء 94 ، والفروع 1 / 135 ، والآداب الشرعية 3 / 355 .
(2) المجموع 1 / 290 ، 378 ، وابن عابدين 5 / 239 ، وفتح الباري 10 / 377 حسن الأسود لصديق خان 2 / 787 المدني ، والعدوي على الرسالة 2 / 409 ، وزاد المسلم للشنقيطي 1 / 178 ، 2 / 19 ، والقرطبي 5 / 392 ونيل الأوطار 6 / 192 .

The underlining of the word was done by myself for the sake of convenience for the reader.

Dear student, unlike 'aqeedah the realm of fiqh has a lot of room for difference of opinion. While it is always best to take the safer opinion when it comes to oneself, the safer opinion cannot be imposed upon others.

The companions beliefs, methodology, and hearts were all united while differing in their personalities and fiqh and I pray to Allah that we are able to revive such unity and greatness once again. Ameen.

[bint_habibullah]

Can someone who took the class tell us in summary what was the first and second opininons if the 3rd opinion is that Married women are allowed to do so?

[Omar Khan]

Assalaamu'Alykum,

As discussed in class:
3 opinions exist:
1- A women cannot pluck her eyebrows even if there is a deformaty in it.
2- A women can pluck her eyebrows only if there is a deformaty.
3- A married women can pluck her eyebrows only if her husband asks.

Wallahu 'Alam
Wa Salaamu'Alykum

[iman99]

As'salamu aaliekom
JazakaAllah khairan


The 3-th opinion is weak and we must not folow it or take it in consideration...or more then that to choose wht is best for us according with our understanding..
As sheikh Assim al Hakeem said: "[font='Arial', 'sans-serif'] even if both hadeeths were authentic, Allah will asks us about why we didn’t follow the Prophet salla Allahu alaihi wa sallam and not why we didn’t follow his companions"[/font]
[font='Arial', 'sans-serif'][/font]
[font='Arial', 'sans-serif']May Allah help us all[/font]
[font='Arial', 'sans-serif']wa aaleikom salam[/font]

[UmA]

The Question:
Is it prohibited to remove the hair exceeding from the eyebrows? Is it prohibited to remove the hair between the two eyebrows?

Do the 3 opinions relate to the eyebrows or the space between and beyond the eyebrows?

[sadiav]

As discussed in class:
3 opinions exist:
1- A women cannot pluck her eyebrows even if there is a deformaty in it.
2- A women can pluck her eyebrows only if there is a deformaty.
3- A married women can pluck her eyebrows only if her husband asks.

The words "can pluck her eyebrows" can be misleading, as it is not the same level of removing hair for both opinions

Do the 3 opinions relate to the eyebrows or the space between and beyond the eyebrows?

UmA, the Shaykh mentions that it differs:
- The first opinion states that you cannot touch them at all, no matter how they look
- The second opinion states you can only correct abnormalities, like the hair between the two brows, or a stray hair that is out of the actual browline. This is allowed for both married and single women
- The third opinion allows for married women only to thin and shape the brow as beautification to please her husband

and Allah SWT knows best

[sadiav]

Assalamu Alaykum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuhu

Jazaka Allahu Khayrane Shaykh Navaid in sharing this with us and having so much patience in dealing with our questions. On our way home from class, my husband remarked that he could not understand why the sisters got sooo worked up over this issue --but really, it is a huge deal for the girls! So jazaka Allahu khayrane for discussing it so plainly, may Allah SWT reward you abundantly, Ameen

I just had 2 questions about the fatwa posted, please forgive me

1. Who are some of the scholars included in this majority

It is permissible for a married woman to pluck her eyebrows with her husband’s permission according to the majority of scholars, since, it is considered from what are classified in Islamic law as adornments [Ar: Zenah].

2. If you follow the third opinion, does it make any difference if you wear niqaab or not? If you wear niqaab and shape your brows to beautify yourself for your husband, then only he will see you, along with other women and your mahrem men. But if you donot wear niqaab and your beauty is enhanced by shaping your brows, then all men will see that. I just wanted to know if this makes any difference or is something that a women should take into consideration?


Jazaka Allahu Khayrane

[Abdul Razzaq]

Originally Posted by UmA

Do the 3 opinions relate to the eyebrows or the space between and beyond the eyebrows?

Removing the hair between the eyebrows

Is removing the hair BETWEEN the eyebrows permissable for men?


Praise be to Allaah.

It is permissible to pluck it, because it is not part of the eyebrows. And Allaah is the Source of strength. May Allaah send blessings and peace upon our Prophet Muhammad and his family and companions.

From Fataawa al-Lajnah al-Daa’imah, 5/197

This ruling applies to both men and women. And Allaah knows best.



Sheikh Muhammed Salih Al-Munajjid

[gkhan]

so technically if it is considered part of zenah,
then it would be obligatory to cover up that area in front of non-mahrems.

its a double edge knife.

is this logic correct shaykh Navaid?

[UmA]

Originally Posted by sadiav

UmA, the Shaykh mentions that it differs:
- The first opinion states that you cannot touch them at all, no matter how they look
- The second opinion states you can only correct abnormalities, like the hair between the two brows, or a stray hair that is out of the actual browline. This is allowed for both married and single women
- The third opinion allows for married women only to thin and shape the brow as beautification to please her husband

and Allah SWT knows best

Ok so it looks like the 2nd opinion is regarding plucking of hair that, technically, is not part of the eyebrow.
That 'abnormality' covers a whole lot of women.

Jazakillahu khayra for the clarification.
It's an important issue, no one wants to be of the mutanamisaat.