Fatwa ID: 04618

Answered by: Mufti Muhammad Afzal Hussain

Question:

I am confused as to how much in length should we cut off pubic hair. Do we have to remove it wholly or shorten it in length?

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

Answer:

It was narrated from Ibn Umar that the Messenger of Allah said: “The deeds connected to the fitrah are: Clipping the nails, removing the mustache and shaving the pubes.” [Nasai:12, Bukhari: 5890, Muslim: 261, Ibn Majah:293]

Shaving of the pubes has also been included in the acts of fitrah because urine, excrement, and fluids related to sexual activity may defile the pubes if they are long. It was narrated that Anas bin Malik said: “A time limit was set for us by the Messenger of Allah regarding trimming the mustache, clipping the nails, shaving the pubes and plucking the armpit hairs; we were not to leave that for more than forty days,” on one occasion He said:” Forty nights.” [Nasai: 14, Muslim: 258]

The term Halq (or shaving) occurs in the Hadeeth. However, pubes may be removed by any means: be it by shaving, by pulling them out, or by cutting them.

Only Allah Knows Best

Written by Mufti Muhammad Afzal Hussain

Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah

Darul Ifta Birmingham