My husband has not yet grown a beard, but is considering it. Insha' Allaah! I would like to ask about removing hairs from the face that are not part of the beard like hair that grows on the upper parts of the cheeks. My husband is self-conscious of the hair on his upper and mid-cheeks and removes it with tweezers every few weeks or so. Please advise on this issue.

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger. We ask Allaah to exalt his mention as well as that of his family and all his companions.

We have previously issued Fatwa: 84474, ruling that it is forbidden to shave the beard, so you may refer to it.

As regards the hair that grows in the upper part of the cheek, it is considered part of the beard, because the linguistic definition of beard is the hair that grows on the cheeks and the chin. So it is not permissible to remove the hair that grows on the cheeks, either by shaving it, pulling it out, or any other means. Hair growing in places other than the cheek, is permissible to shave.

Allaah knows best.