Is it permissible for men to pluck facial hair or eyebrows?

A man must have a beard but can pluck facial hair beyond that when there is a need.

عَنِ ابْنِ مَسْعُودٍ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ: «لَعَنَ اللَّهُ الوَاشِمَاتِ وَالمُسْتَوْشِمَاتِ، وَالمُتَنَمِّصَاتِ وَالمُتَفَلِّجَاتِ لِلْحُسْنِ، المُغَيِّرَاتِ خَلْقَ اللَّهِ» مَا لِي لاَ أَلْعَنُ مَنْ لَعَنَهُ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ، وَهُوَ فِي كِتَابِ اللَّهِ

Ibn Masood  said, ‘Allah (Most High) has cursed women who tattoo others and those who get themselves tattooed, and women who have facial hair removed, and those who fashion a space between their teeth for beautification, women who seek to change the creation of Allah (Most High). Why then should I not curse those whom the Prophet ﷺ has cursed, and it is in the book of Allah (Most High). (Sahih al-Bukhari, 5943).

Some people quote the above Hadith to say it is absolutely prohibited for men and women to pluck their eyebrows, others go further and say it contains an absolute prohibition on plucking facial hair. This is not the understanding of the Hanafi Madhab. Rather the sound position in the Hanafi Madhab permits it when there is a need.

ولا بأس بأن يأخذ شعر الحاجبين وشعر وجهه ما لم يتشبه بالمخنثين ومثله في الينابيع والمضمرات والمراد ما يكون مشوها لخبر لعن الله النامصة والمتنمصة (حاشية الطحطاوي على مراقي الفلاح)

And there is no harm in him plucking the eyebrows or his facial hair as long as he does not resemble effeminate people, the like of this has also been mentioned in al-Yanaabee’ and al-Mudmaraat. It is referring to that (hair) which distorts (natural beauty) due to the narration, ‘Allah (Most High) has cursed women who remove facial hair and women who have facial hair removed.’ (Imam al-Tahtaawi, Haashiyah ala Maraaqi al-Falah).  

وَفِي التَّتَارْخَانِيَّة عَنْ الْمُضْمَرَاتِ: وَلَا بَأْسَ بِأَخْذِ الْحَاجِبَيْنِ وَشَعْرِ وَجْهِهِ مَا لَمْ يُشْبِهْ الْمُخَنَّثَ اهـ وَمِثْلُهُ فِي الْمُجْتَبَى تَأَمَّلْ (رد المحتار على الدر المختار)

In al-Tataarkhaniyah he narrated from al-Mudmaraat, and there is no harm in plucking the eyebrows or his facial hair as long as he does not resemble effeminate people. And al-Mujtaba has something similar, so reflect. (Imam Ibn Abideen, Radd al-Muhtaar). 

وَلَا بَأْسَ بِأَنْ يَأْخُذَ شَعْرَ الْحَاجِبَيْنِ وَشَعْرَ وَجْهِهِ مَا لَمْ يَتَشَبَّهْ بِالْمُخَنَّثِينَ (مرقاة المفاتيح شرح مشكاة المصابيح)

And there is no harm in him plucking the eyebrows or his facial hair as long as he does not resemble effeminate people. (Imam Ali al-Qari, Mirqaat al-Mafateeh).

It is clear from the above Nusoos (texts) that there is not an absolute prohibition on plucking facial hair, rather it is permitted when there is a need. For a more detailed explanation please refer to the answer ‘women plucking eyebrows’ (link below).

And Allah (Most High) Knows Best.

– Answered by Shaykh Noorud-deen (08.05.2021)

See also:

Can women pluck their eyebrows?

Hadith about plucking the eyebrows.

See also (video):