Ruling on Plucking Eyebrows

It was narrated that ‘Abd-Allaah said: “Allaah has cursed the women who do tattoos and those who ask for tattoos to be done, those who ask for their eyebrows to be plucked, and the women ask for their teeth to be filed for the purpose of beautification, changing the creation of Allaah.” A woman from the tribe of Bani Asad whose name was Umm Ya’qoob heard of that and she came and said, “I have heard that you have cursed So and so and So and so.” He said, “Why should I not curse those whom the Messenger of Allaah [an error occurred while processing this directive] (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) cursed and who are mentioned in the Book of Allaah?’ She said, “I have read what is between the two covers [of the Qur’aan], and I did not find anything in it like what you have said.” He said, “If you have read it, have you not read that Allaah says,

‘And whatsoever the Messenger (Muhammad) gives you, take it; and whatsoever he forbids you, abstain (from it)’

[al-Hashr 59:7]?”

She said, “Of course.” He said, “He forbade that.” She said, “I think your wife does it.” He said, “Go and look.” So she went and looked and she did not see what she was looking for. He said, “If she had been like that, she would not be with us.”

Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 4604; Muslim, 2125

Al-Bukhaari (5931) and Muslim (2125) narrated that ‘Abd-Allaah ibn Mas’ood (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: “May Allaah curse the women who do tattoos and those who have them done, those who have their eyebrows plucked, and those who file their teeth for the purpose of beautification and change the creation of Allaah.” Then ‘Abd-Allaah said: “Why should I not curse those whom the Messenger of Allaah [an error occurred while processing this directive] (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) cursed.”

It was stated in a Fatwa: Shaping the eyebrows by trimming, shaving or plucking their edges in order to appear beautiful, as is done by some women nowadays, is haraam because it involves changing the creation of Allaah and following the Shaytaan in his tempting of mankind to change the creation of Allaah. End of quote.

Fataawa al-Lajnah al-Daa’imah, 5/179

Amongst the questions that people ask are the hair between the two eyebrows, the Committee responded in a Fatwa:
It is permissible to pluck it, because it is not part of the eyebrows.

(Fataawa al-Lajnah al-Daa’imah, 5/197)


The contemporary scholars differed concerning the ruling on lightening the eyebrows. Some of them said it is not allowed, as stated in a Fatwa of the Standing Committee:

Lightening the top and bottom of the eyebrows in the manner mentioned is not permissible, because it is changing the creation of Allaah and it imitates the plucking that is forbidden in sharee’ah, because it achieves the same effect. The prohibition is even more emphatic if that is done in imitation of the kuffaar or if using it causes harm to the body or hair, because Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):

“and do not throw yourselves into destruction”

[al-Baqarah 2:195]

and the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “There should be neither harming nor reciprocating harm.”

Standing Committee Fatwa no 21778.

Shaykh ‘Abd-Allaah al-Jibreen (may Allaah preserve him) said: I think that it is not permissible to use these dyes and change the colour of the eyebrows because the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) cursed those who pluck the eyebrows, those who have that done, and those who change the creation of Allaah. By His wisdom Allaah has created differences in eyebrows; some are heavy, some are fine, some are long and some are short. This is one of the ways in which we can tell people apart, and know each person by his own characteristics. Based on this, it is not permissible to dye them because it is changing the creation of Allaah.

Fataawa al-Mar’ah, compiled by Khaalid al-Juraysi, p. 134.

As to women adorning their eyebrows or faces with rings it is permissible so long as it is in front of other women and Muhrams, or else exposing their adornments in front of other non-muhrams is forbidden. Allah The Exalted said,
"And not to show off their adornment except that which is apparent"

Surat al-Nur 24:31

Sheikh Muhammad saalih Al-Munajid said, It should be noted that women are forbidden to show their adornment in front of non-mahram men. If she puts this ring (in her eyebrow) she should only show it in front of other women, her husband and her mahrams.

(Islam Q&A Fatwa: 139178

One should note that if a women is wearing niqaab then there is no harm in her adorning herself with facial rings for the fact that her face is covered from non-muhaarims.

Baring in mind that all other forms of bodily hair removal for women is permissible, as stated in Fataawa al-Lajnah al-Daa’imah:
There is no sin on a woman if she removes hair on her upper lip, thighs, calves and arms. This is not part of the tanammus (plucking) that is forbidden.

(Fataawa al-Lajnah al-Daa’imah, 5/194, 195)

Thus this also is in regard to facial hair removal for women and not for men, Sheikh Muhammad saalih Al-Munajid said:But as for removing facial hair, there is a difference of opinion among the scholars as to whether it is permissible to remove it. This is based on their various understandings of the word al-namas.

(See Islam Q&A Fatwa: 9037)

Perhaps – for fair-minded and objective readers – this summary will make it clear that the view of plucking eyebrows is a forbidden act in Islam, so as for those whom commit such an act must stop it due to the Hadith of the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) and thee various Fatawa of the Scholars. We ask Allah to guide us to what is good and to forbid that of which is evil, and may Allah grant us success.

And Allah knows best...