What is the ruling on a woman removing hair from her eyebrows? Is this part of the plucking of eyebrows that is prohibited?

Abu Ishaq: I read in the book *Ahkam al-Nisa* (Rulings on Women) by Imam Ahmad that he permitted a woman to remove hair from her eyebrow with a razor, and he said that this is not included in the general prohibition of plucking eyebrows, because plucking eyebrows is pulling hair out of the skin. And I heard a fatwa in Saudi Arabia via the radio that they permit a woman to shape her eyebrow like a crescent with a razor, not with a blade. Is this correct?

The Shaykh : I do not consider this opinion correct, no matter how noble the one who holds it is. This is because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) says in the authentic hadith: And in a narration by al-Bukhari, "al-Wasilat" is mentioned, meaning the fourth category, which is If the hadith had not come with a reason stated at its end, namely his saying (peace and blessings be upon him): And there had not been such a statement in the Noble Qur'an—which the Lord of the Worlds related from the accursed Iblis—that he said: If this Qur'anic text and that Prophetic reason at the end of the hadith had not existed, and if someone had said what was mentioned above, we might have agreed with him, because he mentioned plucking eyebrows—i.e., pulling out—and did not mention shaving. And there is no doubt that plucking is worse than shaving, because it affects the change and extends the scope of the change more than shaving. However, since there is a legal reason mentioned at the end of these characteristics for which the Wise Lawgiver decreed that whoever possesses them or is characterized by them should be expelled from the mercy of Allah, and He attributed all of that to His saying (peace and blessings be upon him): Then we say that plucking eyebrows changes the creation of Allah, and shaving changes the creation of Allah, even though plucking is worse than shaving because it affects the change and extends the scope of the change more than shaving.
Therefore, in light of this legal reason, it is not permissible for a woman—let alone a man—to shave his eyebrow, his cheek, or any part of his body for which he has not been given permission by the Wise Lawgiver, because it falls under the general meaning of his saying (peace and blessings be upon him):
Abu Ishaq: Well, Ibn Jarir al-Tabari, after mentioning what you said, permitted a woman to remove the hair directly above the nose if the eyebrows are connected. Is this permissible or not?

The Shaykh : The answer is understood from what has preceded. Any change to the creation of Allah that has not been permitted in the Shari'ah falls under the prohibition, indeed under the curse.
Abu Ishaq: And if her appearance is very ugly, meaning?

The Shaykh : Ugly in the minds of people. And this reminds me of a very beautiful hadith. There is a hadith — meaning he lengthened his garment to cover this defect that he imagined. So what did his Prophet say to him? He said: And the Messenger of Allah spoke the truth, because Allah did not create anything in vain. And from here, we must believe that the will of Allah (Blessed and Exalted is He) is always accompanied by justice and wisdom, whether one knows it or not. So this is a defect, without doubt—the protrusion that the man called it—according to the custom of people. The deep blackness that we see is a defect. The bright whiteness among black people is a defect. But this is the creation of Allah, and in the best of forms.
Therefore, the statement that if a woman, for example, has connected eyebrows, or if a man has a thick beard, and the circumference of his beard is so wide that it almost covers his cheeks, and it may even reach his eyelids, this is the creation of Allah, so we must be pleased with the creation of Allah (Blessed and Exalted is He). This group, they need to focus on their studies, and study and study, they don't gather. So that is enough for now, so that you can also focus on your studies.
Abu Ishaq: Why did you come for this?

The Shaykh : You did not come for this, but this is necessary.
Abu Ishaq: Well, can we benefit during the meal?

The Shaykh : As you wish.

The questioner : Meaning, so that he does not cheat.The Shaykh : Let him eat a little.

The Shaykh : If you do not want to eat, I will answer you.