It is stated in the hadith: (May Allah curse the one who plucks her eyebrows and the one who has her eyebrows plucked). Is removing facial hair (the beard, cheeks, and mustache) forbidden for a woman, especially if the hair is not thick, harmful, or disfiguring?

The questioner : It is stated in the hadith of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him): Is removing facial hair—the beard, cheeks, and mustache—forbidden for a woman, especially if the hair is not thick, harmful, or disfiguring? I ask for guidance on this matter, may you be rewarded.

The Shaykh : Regarding plucking the eyebrows, the scholars say that it is plucking the hair of the face, and it is one of the major sins because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: . However, if a woman grows sideburns, a mustache, or a beard, and this is clearly visible, she may remove it using one of the known removal methods. This is because it is well known that it is not fitting for a woman’s face to resemble a man’s face in terms of hair, as that would disfigure her appearance, and if she is married, her husband may be repelled by her.

The questioner : May Allah bless you.