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Removing the hair by laser from a woman's Awrah

Question

A woman has problems with the hair in an area of her body that is Awrah. Is it permitted for her to get this hair removed by laser?

Answer

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.

Removing pubic hair is an act of Fitrah (human disposition) as reported from the Prophet  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allaah exalt his mention ) that he said: "Five are among the Fitrah acts: "circumcision, shaving pubic hair, plucking out armpit hair, clipping one's nails and trimming one's moustache." [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

On the other hand, laser rays should not be used for this purpose for the following reasons:

First, it requires uncovering the very private parts to a doctor. It is a known fact in Islam that private parts are not to be uncovered unless there is a dire necessity. The Prophet  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allaah exalt his mention ) said: "A woman must not look at those parts of a woman which should be covered." [Muslim]

Hence, removing hair by laser is not a necessity that legalizes uncovering the private parts.

Second, if the laser removes the hairs permanently so that they can never grow, then there are many prohibitions in this action some of them are as follows:

A. This action comes under the prohibitions of changing the creations of Allaah which is a Satan's handiwork as Allaah reports about the Satan (interpretation of meaning): {and I will command them so they will change the creation of Allaah}[5:119].

Changing the creation of Allaah means as Imaam Al-Baydhaawi, may Allaah have Mercy on him, said: 'Changing it from its purpose, shape or from its characteristics.' Therefore, this ruling applies to the act of killing or deleting the cells that grow the hair.

B. If one removes the hair permanently he will lose the chance of getting reward by removing the hair whenever it grows.

C. It may cause harm or may have side effects.

For the above reasons, we advise the questioning sister that is not allowed to remove pubes permanently, or remove them through laser or any other means that requires uncovering private parts to someone.

Allaah knows best.

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