QUESTION:

What is the sharia ruling regarding a woman shaving and waxing her arms, legs or any other part of her body for that matter? Can men shave their chests and back? Also, what about using electric shavers? 

ANSWER:

A woman can shave her arms, legs and other parts of her body. The same applies for men, so it would be permissible for them to shave their back or chest.

It is better for men not shave the chest or back, however there is no prohibition or sin in them doing so.

When the hair on the hands, legs and other parts of the body are very dense, it would be permissible to remove them. This way there will be less consumption of water whilst performing wudhu and ghusl

Fatawa Alamgiri from the authority of Qaniyah states:

عن القنیۃ فی حلق شعرالصدر والظھر ترک الادب

“shaving the hairs of the chest and back is not liked.”

[Alamgiri 5/358]

Imam Ahmad Rida (رحمة الله عليه) also writes that it is allowed to shave the hairs on chest and back but it is better not to do it.

[Fatawa Ridawiyyah 22/122]

Mufti Amjad Ali al-A’zhami (رحمة الله عليه) writes, “If there are hairs on the hands, legs, chest and back; remove them with hair removing soap or shave them, else it will consume more water.”

[Bahar-e-Shari’ah 2/303]

Allah knows best.

Answered by Mawlana Mohammed Kashif

Also see:

[Q-ID0380] Can a man remove the hair from his body and have laser hair removal done?

[Q-ID0356] Where does a man have to start shaving the pubic hairs from?

[Q-ID0073] Can women shave unwanted hair under the armpits?

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