Fatwa ID: 09070
Answered by Mufti Sakib Shadman
Question:
Assalaamu alaikum
How far does the ‘psychological’ impact have to be for a lifting on some of the rules of Islam
A sister has written to us – she has excessive hair on her body (pcos) and has been having laser treatment in parts which shouldn’t be exposed.
She is arguing that it causes her distress – and so needs it.
What would be our boundary here?
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
Answer:
It is permissible for a woman to permanently remove unwanted hair from her body, whether the unwanted hair has appeared due to a medical condition (such as PCOS) or not, [1] provided that the permanent removal technique is not harmful to her health.
However, please note that a woman’s Awrah (part that must be covered) in the presence of another woman is from the naval to the knee. [3] Hence, a female may undergo laser treatment administered by a female laser technician to remove unwanted hair elsewhere on her body. As far as her Awrah is concerned, she may utilise an alternative technique (e.g. prescription creams (such as depilatory creams), oils, etc.) to permanently remove unwanted hair by herself or with the help of her husband. However, it is NOT permissible for her to uncover her Awrah (naval to knees) and undergo laser treatment in this private area in the presence of a female laser technician.
It will only be permissible for the female in question to undergo laser hair removal in her Awrah area if there is a genuine urgent need, such as if the hair is excessively thick and cannot be removed by other means, or other means are medically harmful (not just temporarily uncomfortable), or she is not physically capable of removing it herself or with the help of her husband. [4]
This female’s distress is not classified as an urgent medical need unless this condition is medically diagnosed by a knowledgeable and trustworthy Muslim doctor, who psychologically assesses her and concludes that her distress is at a level where it is significantly impacting her day-to-day functioning, [5] and that the cause of the distress is primarily due to her unwanted pubic hairs. Furthermore, the doctor must conclude that no self-removal treatments will remedy her severe distress, and that this specific laser treatment is necessary to ease her mental distress. In such an unlikely event, the female in question may undergo laser hair removal administered by a female technician in her Awrah area.
In conclusion, a woman may remove unwanted hair through laser treatment administered by a female technician. [2] However, she should utilise alternative means to remove unwanted hair from her navel to her knees herself. However, if there is a genuine urgent need (e.g., excessively thick hair, or if other methods are medically harmful, or due to severe diagnosed distress), the female laser technician may remove the hair from her Awrah area.
Only Allah ﷻ knows best.
Written by Mufti Sakib Shadman
Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah
Darul Ifta Birmingham
References:
[1]
وَفِي الْإِبْطِ يَجُوزُ الْحَلْقُ وَالنَّتْفُ أَوْلَى وَيَبْتَدِئُ فِي حَلْقِ الْعَانَةِ مِنْ تَحْتِ السُّرَّةِ وَلَوْ عَالَجَ بِالنُّورَةِ فِي الْعَانَةِ يَجُوزُ كَذَا فِي الْغَرَائِبِ.
ص358 – كتاب الفتاوى العالمكيرية الفتاوى الهندية – الباب التاسع عشر في الختان والخصاء وحلق المرأة شعرها ووصلها شعر غيرها – المكتبة الشاملة
[2]
(قَوْلُهُ وَيُسْتَحَبُّ حَلْقُ عَانَتِهِ) قَالَ فِي الْهِنْدِيَّةِ وَيَبْتَدِئُ مِنْ تَحْتِ السُّرَّةِ وَلَوْ عَالَجَ بِالنُّورَةِ يَجُوزُ كَذَا فِي الْغَرَائِبِ وَفِي الْأَشْبَاهِ وَالسُّنَّةُ فِي عَانَةِ الْمَرْأَةِ النَّتْفُ (قَوْلُهُ وَتَنْظِيفُ بَدَنِهِ) بِنَحْوِ إزَالَةِ الشَّعْرِ مِنْ إبْطَيْهِ وَيَجُوزُ فِيهِ الْحَلْقُ
ص406 – كتاب حاشية ابن عابدين رد المحتار ط الحلبي – فصل في البيع – المكتبة الشاملة
[3]
عورة (و) ينظر (من الاجنبية) ولو كافرة يستر ما بين السرة والركبة لان ظهرها وبطنها.
ص656 – كتاب الدر المختار شرح تنوير الأبصار وجامع البحار – باب الاستبراء وغيره – المكتبة الشاملة
[4]
١٧٠ – قَاعِدَة الضرورات تبيح الْمَحْظُورَات (شن)
١٧١ – قَاعِدَة الضرورات تقدر بِقَدرِهَا (شن)
ص89 – كتاب قواعد الفقه – القواعد الفقهية – المكتبة الشاملة
[5]
٥ – الحاجة تُنزَّل منزلة الضرورة، عامة كانت أو خاصة.
(م/٣٢)
الألفاظ الأخرى
– الحاجة تُنزَّل منزلة الضرورة، عامة كانت أو خاصة في إباحة المحظور.
…
والحاجة هي الحالة التي تستدعي تيسيراً أو تسهيلاً لأجل الحصول على المقصود، فهي دون الضرورة، وإن الحكم الثابت لأجلها مستمر.
والثابت للضرورة مؤقت، ويترتب على عدم الاستجابة إلى الحاجة عسر وصعوبة.
والحاجة تتنزَّل، فيما يحظره ظاهر الشرع، منزلة الضرورة، عامة كانت أم
خاصة، وتنزيلها منزلة الضرورة في كونها تثبت حكماً
ص288 – كتاب القواعد الفقهية وتطبيقاتها في المذاهب الأربعة – القاعدة الحاجة تنزل منزلة الضرورة عامة كانت أو خاصة – المكتبة الشاملة