Is it Makrooh or Haraam to shape the eyebrows?

Published as Shaping the eyebrows

· 22 Jumada I 1443 AH1 min readEnglish

Question

Is it Makrooh or Haraam to shape the eyebrows? Please provide the Shari’ee ruling!

Answer

Trimming and shaping the eyebrows on the basis of fashion is not permitted in Shariah. It is recorded in the commentary of Abu Dawud Sharif that changing the natural creation of Allah Ta’ala (which includes shaping of the eyebrows) is Haraam, and it is for this reason that those that trim the eyebrows (in the form of a thin line or something similar) are cursed by Allah Ta’ala.

However, if the eyebrows become extremely thick and as a result block one’s vision and sight, then Shariah has permitted one to trim the eyebrows whereby one’s vision is no longer impaired.

Similarly, some Ulama have stated that if the eyebrows become extremely thick and untidy, which is considered as a defect and generally disliked by people, then trimming the eyebrows to attain neatness is permitted. [Re:- Fataawa Darul Uloom Zakariyya Pg. Page.317 Vol.7] This is generally the case with elderly people and not young people, hence the ruling will be applicable to the elderly to a greater extent.

References (Arabic / Urdu sources)

وقد حرم الاسلام تغير خلق الله فلعن الواصلة والمستوصلة والنامصة والمتنمصة والواشمة والمستوشمة (شرح سنن ابي داود لعبد المحسن العباد ص269 ج23)

Answered by
Mufti Mohammed Desai
Questions about this ruling, answered only from the archive with sources.

Where scholars differ, it’s safer to take the more cautious view.

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