409. Plucking Eyebrows

By Asma bint Shameem

Today's topic is about something we don't really want to talk about. It's about.... PLUCKING EYEBROWSThis is a topic we just want to avoid or hope it would just go away Although, not thinking about it does not mean that the Hukum (order) isn't there. And you know what? It is sad to say that at least 90% of our sisters (if not more) are guilty of doing it.

But dear Sister, have you really thought about it?What does Islam REALLY say about shaping the eyebrows?

The story behind it:

One day Abdullah ibn Masood Radhi Allaahu anhu was cursing women who practice tattooing, have [facial] hair plucked and create gaps between their [front] teeth [artificially] to look beautiful; thus changing the creation of Allah. 

A woman called Umm Ya'qub said to him, "What is this?" Abdullah ibn Masood (RA) said, "Why should I not curse those whom the Messenger of Allah (Sal Allah alaiyhi wa Sallam) cursed and are referred to in the Book of Allah." 

She said, "By Allah, I have read [the book of Allah] from cover to cover but have not found such a thing." So he said, "By Allah, if you had read it [carefully], you would have found it. 

[Allah says:] "Whatever the Messenger gives you, accept it; and whatever he forbids you from, abstain from it."(Bukhaari, Muslim) 

Why is it wrong? 

1) Removing or plucking the eyebrows implies changing the creation of Allaah, as Allaah tells us that the Shaytaan said: ".....and indeed I will order them to change the nature created by Allaah." [al-Nisa:119]  

2) Abd-Allaah ibn Masood said: "I heard the Messenger of Allaah (sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa sallam) say: "Allaah has CURSED the woman who does tattoos and the one who has them done, the woman who plucks eyebrows and the one who has it done, and the one who files her teeth for the purpose of beauty, altering the creation of Allaah." (Bukhaari, Muslim) 

Shaykh Muhammad ibn Saalih al-Uthaymeen says: "Plucking of women's eyebrows is not permissible. That's because the Messenger of Allaah (sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa sallam) cursed the one who does it. It is haraam and is not permitted."

Can you do it if (you think) it makes you look ugly?

Dear sister, do not forget that Allaah is Wise in whatever He decrees for His slaves. 

Some people are beautiful in appearance and some may not be as beautiful as others, although each is beautiful in his/her own way; that's just how it is and the entire matter is entirely in the hand of Allaah.

Therefore, it is essential that you be patient and seek reward with Allaah, and not transgress His sacred limits for the sake of your looks. 

Just think....even if the whole world were to tell you that you look beautiful with your eyebrows shaped, would it be worth even a dot or an atom, if in Allaah's eyes you were ugly? 

And if the whole world were to tell you that you are ugly, would it really matter as long as you were beautiful in front of Allaah????

Can a woman do it if her husband asks her to do so? 

The Prophet (sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa sallam) said: 

"There can be no obedience to a created being in disobedience to the Creator." (Ahmad- saheeh) Ask yourself this? Why do you obey your husband? Because Allaah told you to, correct? But then the same Allaah is telling you not to shape your eyebrows. Wouldn't you then, want to obey Him Who is giving the orders in the first place? Wouldn't then the Orders of Allaah take precedence over the obedience to your husband? "It is not permissible to remove the hair of the eyebrows because this is the plucking for which the Messenger of Allaah (sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa sallam) cursed those who do it, and it is a kind of changing the creation of Allaah, which is the action of the Shaytaan. If a woman's husband tells her to do it, she should not obey him, because it is a sin, and there is no obedience to any created being if it involves disobedience towards the Creator. Rather obedience should only be with regard to things that are good and proper, as the Prophet (sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa sallam) said." (Fataawa al-Lajnah al-Daaimah)

Imam al-Nawawi said: 

"The naamisah is the woman who removes hair from the face and the mutanammisah is the one who asks to have that done. This action is haraam, unless a woman develops a beard or moustache, in which case it is not haraam to remove it, rather that is mustahabb in our view." 

OKAY fine. I'm not plucking it. But can I shape it, cut it, wax it, thread it?

Shaykh Ibn Jibreen said: 

"It is not permissible to cut the hair of the eyebrows, or to shave it, reduce it or pluck it.This is not a matter of beauty, rather it is altering the creation of Allaah Who is the Best of creators. A warning has been narrated against doing that and the one who does it is cursed; this implies that it is forbidden." 

What about plucking the hair BETWEEN the eyebrows?

The Ulama tell us that it is permissible to pluck it, because it is not part of the eyebrows.

What about the hair on the face (like chin, upper lip,etc.) and the rest of the body?

If you want to remove hair from your upper lip, thighs, calves and arms, then according to the Ulama, it is okay. That's because this is not part of the plucking that is forbidden. It is one of the things concerning which Sharee'ah did not say anything, so the ruling is that it is permissible, since whatever Sharee'ah did not say anything about, in the Qur'aan or Sunnah, is allowed. 

The Prophet  (sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa sallam) said: "What is Halaal is that which Allaah has permitted in His Book, and what is haraam is that which Allaah has forbidden in His Book, and whatever He has not said anything about is allowable." (al-Tirmidhi-hasan) 

So, this is it.

The evidence is clear. 

Plucking your eyebrows is forbidden..... Plain and Simple No ifs and buts about it. The Prophet (sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa sallam) said it....the Ulama explained it.....you have been informed about it. And you have been warned. 

Now, it is up to YOU to decide. Do you want to be the one who ˜listens and obeys? 

Or are you going to be like the one whom Allah describes......"And when Our Verses are recited to such a one, he turns away in pride, as if he heard them not--as if there were deafness in his ear. 

So announce to him a painful torment." (al- Luqman:7) Read the above Ayah carefully.

Surely, YOU are NOT going to be that one. Right?

Then, give it up, my dear Sister. It's simply not worth it. You look beautiful even if you didn't pluck your eyebrows. I Promise You. Don't let the ones who choose to disobey Allaah, get to you. Don't let the Shaytaan get to you. Don't be the one whom Allah curses.Imagine! ALLAAH'S CURSE!!!!Just think! How can anyone expect goodness and success in this life OR in the Hereafter if Allah's curse is upon them?

O Allah.... save us from Your Curse and guide us to the Right Path. Aameen. And Allah knows best.