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Shaving the pubic hair

Question

What is the religious status regarding the “shaving of hair around the reproductive organ”? Is there healthy approval or disapproval?

Answer

All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allaah exalt his mention ) is His slave and Messenger.

It is a Sunnah to shave the pubic hair; Abu Hurayrah  may  Allaah  be  pleased  with  him narrated that the Prophet  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allaah exalt his mention ) said: “Five are among the Fitrah acts (i.e. natural disposition upon which Allaah created mankind): Circumcision, shaving the pubic hair, plucking out the armpit hair, clipping one's nails and trimming one's moustache.” [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

The meaning of the saying of the Prophet  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allaah exalt his mention ): “Five are among the Fitrah acts” means that these acts are among the Sunnah of Islam described as Fitrah; Allah Says (what means): {[Adhere to] the Fitrah of Allah upon which He has created [all] people. No change should there be in the creation of Allah. That is the correct religion.} [Quran 30:30]

It is desirable not to leave the pubic hair unshaven for more than forty days as Anas  may  Allaah  be  pleased  with  him said: “A time limit has been prescribed for us [i.e. by the Prophet] for trimming the moustache, clipping the nails, plucking the hair under the armpits, shaving the pubes, that none of them should be left for more than forty nights.” [Muslim]

There is no doubt that removing this hair is good for health, as it could be a cause –if left –to some illnesses or to the reproduction of some bacteria.

Allah knows best.

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