Fatwa ID: 01380

Answered by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah

Question:

Plucking wives armpits or pubic hair

Answer:

In the name of Allah, the most Beneficent, the most Merciful.

There are two situations with regards to your question:

1. In need.  For example the wife cannot cut her hair etc. due to illness, then it will be permissible for the husband to pluck or shave it out of necessity.  Also it will be permissible to look at the private parts whilst doing this.
2. Foreplay.  It is permissible for both the husband and the wife to glance at each other’s private parts.  Once Saaiduna Uthman Ibn Mazun came to the Prophet of Allah and said, “O Prophet of Allah!  I feel shy that my wife sees my nakedness”.  The Prophet of Allah said “Why should that be when Allah has made you a garment for them and them a garment for you.”   (Musannaf Abdur Razzaq)

It is stated in Fatawa Hindiyyah that Abdullah Ibn Umar would say ‘It is better for the husband to look at his wife’s private parts during sex so that it helps in achieving full gratification.’   (Fatawa Hindiyyah p.328 v.5)

In principle it will be permissible if its foreplay to shave or pluck your wife’s pubic hair, however modesty demands it should be avoided.  Saaidah Aaisha narrates that she never saw the private parts of the Prophet of Allah and nor did the Prophet of Allah saw hers. (Sunan Ibn Majah)

Finally, it is permissible for the husband and wife to bathe and have a shower together as it is permissible to look at each others private parts as was mentioned earlier. Saaidah Aisha narrates that the Prophet of Allah and I used to take a bath from a single pot of water and our hands used to go in the pot after each other in turn. (Sahih Bukhari p.39 v.1)  

Only Allah Knows Best

Mohammed Tosir Miah

Darul Ifta Birmingham