Fatwa ID: 08965
Answered by Maulana Nahid Uddin
Question:
Is waxing and plucking hair of the arm pits same? Sunnawise
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
Answer:
In the noble Sunnah of the messenger of Allah SAW, we find that removing the hair of the armpits is from the practices of fitrah (natural purity/disposition of mankind) [1]. The Sunnah specifically mentions ‘plucking’, however, the objective is the removal of the hair, and therefore other methods are also permissible and will fulfil the sunnah, if plucking is difficult or causes excessive pain [2].
Accordingly, waxing, since it removes the hair from its roots in a manner similar to plucking, falls under the same objective and is permissible.
Therefore, from the perspective of the Sunnah, plucking the armpit hair is the preferred method, as it is specifically mentioned in the hadith. However, waxing is also permissible [3].
Only Allah ﷻ knows best.
Written by Maulana Nahid Uddin
Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah
Darul Ifta Birmingham
References:
[1]
الْفِطْرَةُ خَمْسٌ – أَوْ خَمْسٌ مِنَ الْفِطْرَةِ – الْخِتَانُ وَالِاسْتِحْدَادُ، وَنَتْفُ الْإِبْطِ وَتَقْلِيمُ الْأَظْفَارِ، وَقَصُّ الشَّارِبِ
Sahih Al-Bukhari, H5889
[2]
والمستحب: البداءة فيه باليمنى، ويتأدى أصل السنة بالحلق ولا سيما من يؤلمه النتف، وقد أخرج ابن أبي حاتم في ” مناقب الشافعي ” عن يونس بن عبد الأعلى قال: دخلت على الشافعي ورجل يحلق إبطه فقال: إني علمت أن السنة النتف، ولكن لا أقوى على الوجع.
Fath Al-Bari, Chapter regarding trimming the moustache, Page 344. Accessed on Al-Maktabah Al-Shamilah, 17-06-26
[3]
(و) السُّنَّةُ (نَتْفُ الْإِبْطِ وَحَلْقُ الْعَانَةِ وَالشَّارِبِ) .
Majmaul Anhur Sharh Multaqa Al-Abhur, Chapter regarding miscellaneous issues, Page 556. Accessed on Al-Maktabah Al-Shamilah, 17-06-26.