Is It Permissible for Men to Lessen Their Body Hair?

Answered by Ustadh Tabraze Azam

Question: Assalam alaykum

Is it permissible for men to lessen their body hair?

To my knowledge unwanted hair is allowed to be removed if reasons such as discomfort.

Answer: Assalamu alaikum wa rahmatullah,

Yes, it is permitted for a man to remove hair from his chest, particularly when there is an excuse for it.

The jurists would deem this to be a matter which returns to dignity and uprightness, which you rightly point out.

Accordingly, the propriety or otherwise of doing so would normally be a matter dictated by the custom of the land in which you reside. If it is deemed undignified or unmanly amongst the religious people of your land, then it is best avoided.

[al-Fatawa al-Hindiyya; Shurunbulali, Maraqi al-Falah with Tahtawi’s Gloss (2.144)]

Please also see: Removing Chest & Pubic Hair and: Can a Man Shave His Armpits? What About Other Areas of His Body?

And Allah Most High alone knows best.

wassalam,
[Ustadh] Tabraze Azam

Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Ustadh Tabraze Azam holds a BSc in Computer Science from the University of Leicester, where he also served as the President of the Islamic Society. He memorised the entire Qur’an in his hometown of Ipswich at the tender age of sixteen, and has since studied the Islamic Sciences in traditional settings in the UK, Jordan and Turkey. He is currently pursuing advanced studies in Jordan, where he is presently based with his family.