Religious texts do not flatly ban men from removing body hair — intention, tradition, and context determine whether it’s acceptable.
Islamic rulings on men removing body hair: shaving only the facial hair (beard) with a razor or trimmer so that others would think he has no beard, is — according to precautionary opinion — not permissible.
Bodies with clear muscle definition, raised muscles and glowing skin — these are the images we associate with athletes and bodybuilders. We usually forget that many of our favorite bodybuilders do not keep much body hair. That is why, when someone begins bodybuilding, one of the first things they often do is remove body hair. But is removing body hair necessary in bodybuilding?
According to the hadiths, the Prophet (peace be upon him) instructed Muslims to remove excess body hair. Please say which parts of the body this refers to. Answer: Based on transmitted narrations, it is recommended for all body parts.
Benefits | Harms |
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Makes muscles more visible, highlighting the hard work that went into building them. This is especially important for professional bodybuilders preparing for physique competitions, where displaying muscle definition clearly is essential. Removing body hair helps muscles and lines show more clearly and appear slightly more prominent. | Some hold that repeatedly removing body hair may harm muscle-building processes because the body needs proteins and amino acids to grow hair. According to this view, constant removal could make the body use some dietary protein to regrow hair. |
— | The practical downside is the recurring time and effort required to keep the body hair-free. |
The religion of Islam does not prohibit body-hair removal for bodybuilding; rather, it describes the removal of excess hair in some body areas as natural and permissible. Some scholars believe removing arm and leg hair for men is not allowed, but Islam does not state this decisively; the rulings in this area are not clearly fixed. For this reason, many treat it as tolerable and not a problem.
Although some believe that removing body hair wastes the body’s protein, the reality is that the proteins and amino acids used for hair growth differ from those used for muscle growth. Therefore, removing body hair does not reduce the muscle-building process.
On the other hand, removing body hair has no positive effect on muscle growth. Such claims are mainly justifications for bodybuilders who prefer to shave.
From a religious perspective, no explicit ruling forbids men from shaving leg hair. While some consider it impermissible, there is no doctrinal barrier to doing so. Practically speaking, shaving leg hair is often unnecessary for bodybuilders: it is difficult and painful to remove, so many bodybuilders avoid shaving their legs except when preparing for competitions.
Tip |
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Removing excess body hair is described in traditions as recommended — consider that when deciding which areas to shave. |
For bodybuilding, removing body hair can enhance muscle definition but does not help muscle growth. |
If you are concerned about religious opinions, note that views differ — consult knowledgeable scholars if in doubt. |
Shaving legs can be painful and time-consuming; many bodybuilders skip it except for competitions. |
