Plucking Eyebrows A topic we pretend does not exist

by Asma bint Shameem

Today's topic is about something we don't really want to talk about.

It's about.... PLUCKING EYEBROWS.

This is a topic we just want to avoid or hope it would just go away, although, not thinking about it does not mean that the Hukum (order) isn't there.

And you know what?

It is sad to say that at least 90% of our sisters (if not more) are guilty of doing it.

But dear Sister, have you really thought about it?

What does Islam REALLY say about shaping the eyebrows?

🔺 The story behind it:

One day Abdullah ibn Masood Radhi Allaahu anhu was cursing women who practice tattooing, have [facial] hair plucked and create gaps between their [front] teeth [artificially] to look beautiful; thus changing the creation of Allaah.

A woman called Umm Ya'qub said to him, "What is this?"

Abdullah ibn Masood radhi Allaahu anhu said,

"Why should I not curse those whom the Messenger of Allaah Sal Allaahu alaiyhi wa Sallam cursed and are referred to in the Book of Allaah."

She said, "By Allaah, I have read [the book of Allaah] from cover to cover but have not found such a thing."

So he said, "By Allaah, if you had read it [carefully], you would have found it.

[Allaah says:] "Whatever the Messenger gives you, accept it; and whatever he forbids you from, abstain from it."

(al-Bukhaari, Muslim)

🔺Why is it wrong❓

1️⃣ Removing or plucking the eyebrows implies changing the creation of Allaah.

🍃 Allaah tells us that the Shaytaan said:

".....and indeed I will order them to change the nature created by Allaah." [al-Nisa:119]

2️⃣ Abd-Allaah ibn Masood radhi Allaahu anhu said:

"I heard the Messenger of Allaah sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa sallam say:

🍃 "Allaah has CURSED the woman who does tattoos and the one who has them done, the woman who plucks eyebrows and the one who has it done, and the one who files her teeth for the purpose of beauty, altering the creation of Allaah."

(al-Bukhaari, Muslim)

🍃 Shaykh Muhammad ibn Saalih al-Uthaymeen said:

"Plucking of women's eyebrows is not permissible. That's because the Messenger of Allaah sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa sallam cursed the one who does it. It is haraam and is not permitted."

🔺 Can you do it if (you think) it makes you look ugly?

Dear sister, do not forget that Allaah is Wise in whatever He decrees for His slaves.

Some people are beautiful in appearance and some may not be as beautiful as others, although each is beautiful in his/her own way.

That's just how it is and the entire matter is entirely in the hand of Allaah.

Therefore, you must be patient and seek reward with Allaah, and not transgress His sacred limits for the sake of your looks.

Just think....even if the whole world were to tell you that you look beautiful with your eyebrows shaped, would it be worth even a dot or an atom, if in Allaah's eyes you were ugly?

And if the whole world were to tell you that you are ugly, would it really matter as long as you were beautiful in front of Allaah????

🔺 Can a woman do it if her husband asks her to do so?

🍃 The Prophet sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa sallam said:

"There can be no obedience to a created being in disobedience to the Creator." (Ahmad- saheeh)

Ask yourself this:

Why do you obey your husband?

Because Allaah told you to, correct?

But then the same Allaah is telling you not to shape your eyebrows.

Wouldn't you then, want to obey Him Who is giving the orders in the first place?

Wouldn't then the Orders of Allaah take precedence over the obedience to your husband?

🍃 The scholars of the Standing Committee said:

"It is not permissible to remove the hair of the eyebrows because this is the plucking for which the Messenger of Allaah sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa sallam cursed those who do it, and it is a kind of changing the creation of Allaah, which is the action of the Shaytaan.

If a woman's husband tells her to do it, she should not obey him, because it is a sin, and there is no obedience to any created being if it involves disobedience towards the Creator.

Rather obedience should only be with regard to things that are good and proper, as the Prophet sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa sallam said."

(Fataawa al-Lajnah al-Daaimah)

🔺 OKAY fine. I'm not plucking it.

But can I shape it, cut it, wax it, thread it?

🍃 Shaykh Ibn Jibreen said:

"It is not permissible to cut the hair of the eyebrows, or to shave it, reduce it or pluck it.

This is not a matter of beauty, rather it is altering the creation of Allaah Who is the Best of creators.

A warning has been narrated against doing that and the one who does it is cursed; this implies that it is forbidden."

🔺 What about plucking the hair BETWEEN the eyebrows?

🍃 The scholars of the Standing Committee said:

“It is permissible to pluck it, because it is not part of the eyebrows.”

(Fataawa al-Lajnah al-Daa’imah, 5/197)

🔺 What about the hair on the face (like chin, upper lip,etc.) and the rest of the body?

If you want to remove hair from your upper lip, thighs, calves and arms, then that’s permissible.

That's because there’s nothing in the Sharee’ah to prevent that.

It’s one of the things that the Sharee'ah did not say anything about, so the ruling is that it is permissible, since whatever Sharee'ah did not say anything about, in the Qur'aan or Sunnah, is allowed.

🍃 The Prophet (sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa sallam) said:

"What is Halaal is that which Allaah has permitted in His Book, and what is haraam is that which Allaah has forbidden in His Book, and whatever He has not said anything about is allowable."

(al-Tirmidhi-hasan)

🍃 The scholars of the Standing Commission said regarding removing hair from the rest of the body:

“It is permissible for her to do that, apart from the hair of the eyebrows and head. It is not permissible for her to remove the hair of her head or to remove any part of the eyebrows, whether by shaving or any other means.”

(Fataawa al-Lajnah al-Daa’imah, 5/194)

🔺 Conclusion

So, this is it.

The evidence is pretty clear.

Plucking your eyebrows is forbidden..... Plain and Simple

No ifs and buts about it.

The Prophet sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa sallam said it...

The Ulama have explained it...

You have been informed about it.

And you have been warned.

Now, it is up to YOU to decide.

Do you want to be the one who ˜listens and obeys?

Surely no one wants to be like the one whom Allaah describes......

🍃 "And when Our Verses are recited to such a one, he turns away in pride, as if he heard them not--as if there were deafness in his ear. So announce to him a painful torment." (al- Luqman:7)

Surely, YOU are NOT going to be that one. Right?

Then, give it up, my dear Sister.

It's simply not worth it.

You look beautiful even if you didn't pluck your eyebrows. I Promise You.

Don't let the ones who choose to disobey Allaah, get to you.

Don't let the Shaytaan get to you.

Don't be the one whom Allaah curses.

Imagine! ALLAAH'S CURSE!

Aa’oodhu Billaah!

Just think...

How can anyone expect goodness and success in this life OR in the Hereafter if Allaah's curse is upon them?

O Allaah .... save us from Your Curse and guide us to the Right Path.

And Allah knows best.