MUSLIM MEN ONLY: Shaving in Islam

[Zanoni]

I recently converted to Islam and I read that Muslim men and women are both supposed to shave our underarm and pubic hair. Gah it itches and burns! Also, I have heard you are not supposed to perform Salah if bleeding and I got some good nicks in and there is some bleeding, do I not pray?

 

[Gharib]

Allahu Ekber. that is wonderful, by recent i take it that it was within the last 2 or 3 days. very nice, Masha Allah. Congratulations, and welcome to Islam Zanoni.

in regards to your question you can read this:

In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
All praise and thanks are due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger.

Dear brother, we commend your eagerness to become well acquainted with Islam and its teachings, which is the way Allah has chosen for the welfare of His servants.

First of all, we would like to stress the fact that removing unwanted hair from the body is an act of fitrah. Referring to this, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) is reported to have said: “The fitrah is five things: circumcision, trimming the moustache, cutting the nails, plucking the armpit hairs and shaving the pubic hairs.” (Reported by both Al-Bukhari and Muslim).
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It is a Sunnah to remove the pubic hair and hair under the armpits for the purposes of general hygiene and cleanliness. Hair in such areas is considered unwanted. It is makruh to let them grow for more than forty days.”

taken from here Removing Unwanted Hair from the Body - Dress & Adornment - counsels - OnIslam.net

the word Fitrah in the article means Natural Disposition of Man as set by Allah. to read more about it go here The Definition of Fitrah

as for bleeding, i have always been of the opinion that it invalidates ones wudu (ablution) but according to the following article/answer to a similar question there seems to be more evidence that it does not invalidate the ablution:

Islam Question and Answer - When he does wudoo

 

[YasserKhalil]

Allah Akbar

Congratulations, and welcome to Islam.

 

[Parzival]

Thank you for asking these questions. I still need to learn a bunch of stuff. And shaving is new to me. Any tips from any Muslims out there on preventing itching and cuts in 'tender areas'? I'm also trying to learn the ways of Islam.

 

[Sahar]

cache.Islamonline

"Bleeding from any of the natural orifices (anus, urethra or vagina) definitely breaks one's wudu'. This is the general consensus among the scholars.

Bleeding from a cut or wound, however, does not break one's wudu'.

 

[TashaN]

in Sunnah, it is preferred to be shaven in a certain way but for me, i just use a shaver machine.

 

[Salah]

I also converted to Islam, but there is no way I'm shaving my pubes or my underarms. If this is a 'deal breaker' and going to send me to hell...well, I guess I'll leave Islam. Too many pointless rules that may have applied 1400 yrs ago but not today. No offence, ok?

 

[Rational_Mind]

I recently converted to Islam and I read that Muslim men and women are both supposed to shave our underarm and pubic hair. Gah it itches and burns! Also, I have heard you are not supposed to perform Salah if bleeding and I got some good nicks in and there is some bleeding, do I not pray?

The purpose of Wudhu is to physically cleanse yourself before Salah or recitation of the Holy Quran. Doing such prepares your mind that you are presenting yourself before God and heading towards spiritual cleansing. Similar to the way one dresses and gets ready for work of school, it brings a person to a more clean mental state of mind with better focus.

As to any instruction in Islam it follows ones natural God given common sense. Islam is most beautiful as it takes strong consideration in application with reasoning. Such is exclusive in the teachings of the Holy Quran.

So little bleeding is not the issue. It is the amount that would be unclean and unpleasant. If you choose to do wudhu again on minor bleeding that is great. But Allah (swt) doesn't intend to discomfort you. Only to achieve the purpose as taught. Sahar has done a great job on important aspects of bleeding that cause uncleanliness.

As for shaving I think you should look into alternatives for people with sensitive skin. Again as eselam mentioned this is for the purpose of cleanliness.Also Islam always provides exceptions in cases where such is not possible for a person. So if you have sensitive skin just do as much is comfortable.

 

[beenie]

If I may interject...

Salah, I strongly suggest that as a new Muslim, focus on the main tenets of Islam rather than the more secondary acts. You will find yourself overwhelmed and frustrated if you try and do too much too soon. Converts are often very eager to learn and implement everything possible about Islam; that's admirable, but can also lead to burning out and even leaving Islam entirely. Take your time and don't over think the minor things.

As far as I know, you won't be thrown in hell for keeping pubic hair.

 

[F0uad]

Asalaam alaykoem
and welcome to the forums newcomers, Masallah that you converted to Islam. May Allah(swt) bless you people with a wonderful live.

Thats wonderful advice Sassinhu and i cant agree more, if one enters Islam its better for him or her to focus on the Primary teachings until he or she is fast. When you are ready you should focus on the secondary teachings and laws.

 

[Gharib]

If I may interject...

Salah, I strongly suggest that as a new Muslim, focus on the main tenets of Islam rather than the more secondary acts. You will find yourself overwhelmed and frustrated if you try and do too much too soon. Converts are often very eager to learn and implement everything possible about Islam; that's admirable, but can also lead to burning out and even leaving Islam entirely. Take your time and don't over think the minor things.

As far as I know, you won't be thrown in hell for keeping pubic hair.

Very well said sister and very true.

 

[islam means peace]

I recently converted to Islam and I read that Muslim men and women are both supposed to shave our underarm and pubic hair. Gah it itches and burns! Also, I have heard you are not supposed to perform Salah if bleeding and I got some good nicks in and there is some bleeding, do I not pray?

Alhumdullilah,

Yes, to the best of my knowledge Allah has given to me you had to shave both areas and in order to avoid any cuts, i suggest to use machine (there is machine came that cuts the hair) rather using razor.

Also about bleeding, if you are talking about women periods , yes women donot have to offer salat during their periods.

 

[F0uad]

Alhumdullilah,

Yes, to the best of my knowledge Allah has given to me you had to shave both areas and in order to avoid any cuts, i suggest to use machine (there is machine came that cuts the hair) rather using razor.

Also about bleeding, if you are talking about women periods , yes women donot have to offer salat during their periods.

Addon: Or fast.

 

[Pink Top Hat]

I also converted to Islam, but there is no way I'm shaving my pubes or my underarms. If this is a 'deal breaker' and going to send me to hell...well, I guess I'll leave Islam. Too many pointless rules that may have applied 1400 yrs ago but not today. No offence, ok?

The cleansing rule was made in a time when the Muslims were desert dwellers with very little access to water. Many Muslims still live in arid areas. Tribes would travel for days without water wells to drink or wash from. To keep clean it was wise to shave these areas if you travel by camel or ***.

The whole purpose of washing is to be clean to pray to Allah.

There is no reason at all that I can see since the reason is to be clean, therefore wudu should be done with soap now.

Can anyone disagree with that?
IF the whole reason is to be clean then why not be clean properly and wash with soap and water these days?

I mean if the whole reason is to be clean to pray. You will be cleaner by using soap than not using soap wouldn't you. Would Allah object to that ? you being cleaner if you can be?

 

[Gharib]

The cleansing rule was made in a time when the Muslims were desert dwellers with very little access to water. Many Muslims still live in arid areas. Tribes would travel for days without water wells to drink or wash from. To keep clean it was wise to shave these areas if you travel by camel or ***.

The whole purpose of washing is to be clean to pray to Allah.

There is no reason at all that I can see since the reason is to be clean, therefore wudu should be done with soap now.

Can anyone disagree with that?
IF the whole reason is to be clean then why not be clean properly and wash with soap and water these days?

I mean if the whole reason is to be clean to pray. You will be cleaner by using soap than not using soap wouldn't you. Would Allah object to that ? you being cleaner if you can be?

The Sahih Hadith of the Prophet and his Sunnah would disagree with you.

If it says to shave these areas off then do it unless a new revelation comes down saying that Pink Top Hat is right in what he/she says in 2013 about the ruling on shaving the pubic hair on RF due to the availability of soap. Do you think that using soap makes you and me cleaner than the Prophet?

His sweat smelled like perfume. So this just contradicts what you said.

 

[Assad91]

The cleansing rule was made in a time when the Muslims were desert dwellers with very little access to water. Many Muslims still live in arid areas. Tribes would travel for days without water wells to drink or wash from. To keep clean it was wise to shave these areas if you travel by camel or ***.

The whole purpose of washing is to be clean to pray to Allah.

There is no reason at all that I can see since the reason is to be clean, therefore wudu should be done with soap now.

Can anyone disagree with that?
IF the whole reason is to be clean then why not be clean properly and wash with soap and water these days?

I mean if the whole reason is to be clean to pray. You will be cleaner by using soap than not using soap wouldn't you. Would Allah object to that ? you being cleaner if you can be?

There IS reason to disagree. You can't just add and subtract from the words f Allah and the words of the Prophet (saws).

 

[Pink Top Hat]

The Sahih Hadith of the Prophet and his Sunnah would disagree with you.

If it says to shave these areas off then do it unless a new revelation comes down saying that Pink Top Hat is right in what he/she says in 2013 about the ruling on shaving the pubic hair on RF due to the availability of soap. Do you think that using soap makes you and me cleaner than the Prophet?

His sweat smelled like perfume. So this just contradicts what you said.

You totally misunderstood my post

 

[Pink Top Hat]

There IS reason to disagree. You can't just add and subtract from the words f Allah and the words of the Prophet (saws).

The Quran verses talk of 'washing'. To wash.

 

[F0uad]

The cleansing rule was made in a time when the Muslims were desert dwellers with very little access to water. Many Muslims still live in arid areas. Tribes would travel for days without water wells to drink or wash from. To keep clean it was wise to shave these areas if you travel by camel or ***.

The whole purpose of washing is to be clean to pray to Allah.

There is no reason at all that I can see since the reason is to be clean, therefore wudu should be done with soap now.

Can anyone disagree with that?
IF the whole reason is to be clean then why not be clean properly and wash with soap and water these days?

I mean if the whole reason is to be clean to pray. You will be cleaner by using soap than not using soap wouldn't you. Would Allah object to that ? you being cleaner if you can be?

There are ways to do Wudu and using soap is not one of them.
Are you going to wash your face with soap so it gets in your eyes, are you going to waste that much soap?
Once for your right hand then for your left hand then for your right feet, left feet and so forth..

 

[Rational_Mind]

There are ways to do Wudu and using soap is not one of them.
Are you going to wash your face with soap so it gets in your eyes, are you going to waste that much soap?
Once for your right hand then for your left hand then for your right feet, left feet and so forth..

Wow. I cannot believe where people can stoop to uphold their beliefs beyond reason. This is a new low.