The permissibility of shaving one's face in Islam is a matter of differing opinions among scholars. There's no explicit prohibition against shaving in the Quran. However, interpretations of Hadith (sayings and actions of the Prophet Muhammad) and scholarly opinions vary widely.
Contradictory Views on Facial Hair Removal
Some Islamic scholars consider shaving the beard to be haram (forbidden), citing hadiths that encourage beard growth and discourage mimicking non-Muslims. They often emphasize the importance of adhering to the Sunnah (the Prophet's practices) which, they argue, includes keeping a beard. [See examples from Reddit r/islam and r/progressive_islam, and islamqa.info].
Conversely, other scholars argue that while the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) kept a beard, there's no direct textual evidence explicitly prohibiting shaving. They suggest that the emphasis is on maintaining cleanliness and personal hygiene, and that the choice to shave or not is a matter of personal preference, provided it's not done to imitate non-believers. [See information contradicting the prohibition from an unknown source dated June 13, 2023]
Specific Considerations:
- Women's Facial Hair: Removing unwanted facial hair, such as a moustache, is generally considered permissible for women. This is often viewed as a matter of hygiene and cultural norms. [See IslamQA.info on removing facial hair for women]
- Baby Hairs: Removing baby hairs or fine facial hair is generally accepted as permissible, particularly if they are considered a cosmetic issue or interfere with religious practices like wearing a hijab. [See Quora answer on removing baby hairs]
In summary: The question of whether shaving your face is haram depends largely on individual interpretation of Islamic texts and scholarly opinions. While some scholars strictly forbid it, others consider it permissible unless done with the intention of imitating non-believers.
