The Ruling on the Hadith: (Five Things of the Fitrah) and Its Explanation

It also says: The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: , what is the authenticity of this hadith, and we ask you to explain it to us?
Answer: This hadith is authentic from the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). It was narrated by the two Shaykhs, al-Bukhari and Muslim, in the two Sahihs, from Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him), that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: . These are from the Sunnahs of the fitrah, and they are confirmed Sunnahs. It is incumbent upon every Muslim man and every Muslim woman to attend to these matters. Circumcision is a recommended practice (sunnah) for all, for both men and women. A group of scholars held that it is obligatory, especially for men. This is the well-known position in the madhhab of Ahmad (may Allah have mercy on him) that circumcision is obligatory. A group of scholars said: It is a confirmed recommended practice (sunnah muakkadah) for all; it should be attended to and not left. If it is done in childhood, it is even better, because it is safer for the child, involves less trouble and pain, and leads to faster healing.
As for shaving the pubic hair, trimming the beard, clipping the nails, and plucking the armpit hair, these are confirmed recommended practices (sunnah muakkadah) for all, for both men and women. However, trimming the beard is specific to men. But clipping the nails, plucking the armpit hair, and shaving the pubic hair are for all, for both men and women. It is a recommended practice (sunnah), and it should not be left for more than forty nights. Therefore, it is established in Sahih Muslim from Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) that he said: . The meaning of "He set a time for us" is: The Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) set a time for us, as narrated by Ahmad and others. So the conclusion is that it is not permissible to delay these matters for more than forty nights. Rather, the believer should attend to them in less than forty nights: trimming his beard, clipping his nails, plucking his armpit hair, and shaving his pubic hair. One should attend to these things and not leave them for more than forty nights. Yes.
And what some people have become accustomed to now, of lengthening the nails, by some women, is an error. And this is not permissible; lengthening them is imitating the animals. Then, if some disbelievers do it, it is imitating the disbelievers. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) forbade imitating the enemies of Allah and imitating the animals. So the conclusion is that lengthening the nails is a matter that is not permissible for more than forty nights. So it is obligatory for both the woman and the man to attend to the nails, before forty nights, by cutting or clipping them. Likewise, the armpit hair is plucked. If plucking it is not easy and it is difficult for him to pluck it, he removes it by other means, with lime, or it is possible with medicines that remove it; since the intention is to remove it. Likewise, the pubic hair is shaved with a razor. If he is unable to shave it with a razor, he removes it with whatever medicines are available. Shaving it with a razor is better if it is easy, and that is shaving the pubic hair (istihdad). If that is difficult, or not available for the man or the woman, then it is removed with the known medicines that people are accustomed to using.
Trimming the beard is done with scissors, and it is attended to so that it does not grow long; because the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: , and he said: . So the recommended practice (sunnah) is to shave it close and trim it. As for the beard, no, the beard must be honored, left to grow, kept full, and let down, as the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) commanded. And among the misfortunes today, and it is a sad and sorrowful thing, that many people have become hostile to it, trim it, and shave it. And this is an apparent abomination (munkar). It is not permissible for a Muslim to engage in it. Rather, it is obligatory to let it grow, let it down, and keep it full; because it is the beauty of the believer, and an adornment, and a distinction between him and the disbeliever and the woman. How is it fitting for him to imitate women or the shavers among the disbelievers? Rather, it is obligatory for him to keep it full and let it grow, in obedience to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and in implementing his command (peace and blessings be upon him), where he said: , . Thus he (peace and blessings be upon him) said. Yes.