Is one allowed to shave/wax a unibrow?

Published as Removing a Unibrow

· 22 Dhuʻl-Qiʻdah 1446 AH1 min readEnglish

Question

Is one allowed to shave/wax a unibrow?

Answer

Trimming and shaping the eyebrows/unibrow on the basis of fashion, is not permitted in Shari’ah. 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/unibrow) is Haraam, and it is for this reason that those who trim the eyebrows/unibrow (in the form of a thin line or something similar), are cursed by Allah Ta’ala.

However, if the eyebrows/unibrow become extremely thick and, as a result, block one’s vision and sight, then Shariah has permitted one to trim the eyebrows/unibrow, whereby one is able to see properly again.

Similarly, some Ulama have stated that if the eyebrows/unibrow become extremely thick and untidy, which is considered as a defect and generally disliked by people, then trimming the eyebrows/unibrow to attain neatness is permitted. [Re: – Fataawa Darul Uloom Zakariyya Pg. Page.317 Vol.7]

References (Arabic / Urdu sources)

وقد حرم الاسلام تغير خلق الله فلعن الواصلة والمستوصلة والنامصة والمتنمصة والواشمة والمستوشمة (شرح سنن ابي داود لعبد المحسن العباد 23/269)

Answered by
Mufti Abdul Kader Fazlani
Checked & approved by
Mufti Yacoob Vally Saheb
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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