Is It Mandatory for Women to Shave Their Pubic Hair in the Shafi’i School?

Answered by Ustadha Shazia Ahmad

Question

I saw articles saying it’s mandatory to shave their public hair. I’d like to know if this is the same in Shafi‘i fiqh and if it applies to women as well.

Answer

Thank you for your question.

Pubic Hair

It says in the Reliance of the Traveller:

(…) It is also recommended to shave pubic hair, pluck the underarms, clip the mustache, (O: trim the nails,) clean oneself of dirt, and wash the head.

This recommendation applies to women as well. Removing pubic hair may become obligatory if the husband requests it.

Please see the following links for more details:
How Should I Remove Pubic Hair?
What Are My Obligations in Obeying My Husband in the Shafi‘i School?

May Allah give you the best of this world and the next.

[Ustadha] Shazia Ahmad
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Ustadha Shazia Ahmad lived in Damascus, Syria, for two years, where she studied aqidah, fiqh, tajweed, tafsir, and Arabic. She then attended the University of Texas at Austin and completed her Master’s in Arabic. Afterward, she moved to Amman, Jordan, where she studied fiqh, Arabic, and other sciences. She later moved back to Mississauga, Canada, where she lives with her family.