The hairy blogs continue… hair in the Arab world

Pin It

As humans, we are hairy: derived from animals maybe; some individuals more than others; some ethnic groups more than others.

In the Arab world, many norms and ethics are a mixture between customs and religious views. Dealing with unwanted body hair is one of those tricky areas.

Arab men do like their women hairless, apart from the head of course.

An Arab man is not prepared to sleep next to a hairy woman, let alone have intimate physical contact with her. So hair removal is widely practiced and one of the most important practices that women in the Arab world do. But beauty is not the only reason for hair removal. Women of past times did not have the modern-day luxury of showers and deodorants to keep themselves fresh and clean, and found it much easier to keep personal hygiene levels high in their hot climate if they removed their pubic and underarm hairs. Nowadays, beauty parlours in the Arab countries are constantly busy with women of all ages, sizes, looks and background seeking to beautify themselves, either to please their husbands or to feel clean no matter what their financial means are.

Many women would have a beautician visit them regularly at home to guarantee hygiene and privacy. That also provides more employment for women who lack education or other skills. You will never see a glimpse of a hairy Arab woman; it is a crucial thing in the culture. It even expands to other areas of life. My mother-in-law once noticed my hairy arms and told me: “my sweetheart you are a newly wed bride, you should always look bright like a candle”. I used to hate the process…

Although in the Quran there is no mention of removing or not removing body hair, according to the Hadith by the Prophet Mohamed (pbuh) he said: ”God curse Al Namessah and Al Mutanamesah….” Al Namessah is a very old Arabic word that is not now used at all; it means the women who pluck the eyebrows. So according to some hard-line Muslims, women commit a sin if they play with their eyebrows, no matter how hairy, non-hairy or funny shaped they are. In the same Hadith, the prophet continues: ”…and Al Waaselah and Al mustawselah, and Al washemmah w al mustawshema…” these are also words that are not used in this context. Alwaselah means the woman who fixes hair extensions, it derives from the verb ‘’yousel’’ to extend. Women are not supposed to use hair extension. Al washemah is the woman who makes tattoos, it derives from the verb ‘’washm’’ to make a tattoo.. These practices are considered an alteration of God’s Creations. So whoever offers these services or uses them is cursed, according to the prophet (pbuh).

Since the prophet (pbuh) didn’t elaborate on other parts of the body’s hair, it was left for scholars to judge and make a Fatwa about it. In Islam, according to some Ulama (scholars) women are strongly encouraged to remove the unwanted body hair with reference to sexual pleasure, within the marital circle only of course. However, Islam urged Muslims to observe hygiene, cleanness and all possible ways that lead to better health in all aspects of life. The prophet Mohamed said: ”cleanliness stems from faith”.

In another Hadith by the prophet he said what translates to: ‘’Muslim men are urged to groom themselves on Friday as the religious day when the community gathers for the prayer in the mosque. Men are urged to trim their moustaches, cut their nails, and shave their armpits and their pubic hair.’’ The pubic hair applies to both men and women, and in one book this is expanded to the hair in the anal area. All this for the purpose of hygiene. Also, Islam requires men and women not to leave more than forty days gap between one shave and the next.

However, neither men nor women are allowed to have anyone shave their pubic hair for them. Women’s bodies are considered ”awra” – forbidden- that no men are allowed to see it unless a husband, father, brother, sons, or nephews. However, some parts of women’s bodies are still considered ”awra” even for these men and all women. In other words, women are allowed to be seen uncovered on their heads, faces, lower arms, and lower legs. The rest is ”awra” for all.

Also, some parts of men’s bodies are considered ”’awra” as well. Men’s ”awra” is from the navel button to the knees.

As a moderate Muslim woman, I wondered, had Arab Muslim men liked the hairy body, would they ban women from shaving?

I also wonder: why this discrimination in the consideration of ”awra” for men and women? Some women find men’s chests are very attractive; in this case who is to be blamed if any intimacy took place?

There is a misconception, ironically, amongst the most religious women about removing their body hair or cutting their head hair, since Arab women’s hair is sacred, a symbol of beauty and luxury. Those women who lead an easy life are privileged to keep their hair long. Our hair is long and thick, therefore, in the past women had maids to help them look after the beauty of their hair. However, things have changed and women have short hair to follow the fashion. And those who can afford it would keep a fashionable hair cut and change it twice a month. This group of women visit the hairdresser to wash, condition, trim, and colour their hair regularly, where money is no issue but beauty is.

On some Arabic Muslim forums women asked about the Islamic stand regarding women removing the unwanted body hair and even on cutting their hair. The answer was that it is ok so long as women don’t cut their hair short like men, and as long as they don’t do it to imitate infidel non-believer women, or have to follow certain style such as Diana or lion-style. So, we, Muslim women can blissfully cut our hair and the appropriate length is by the shoulders not shorter as some of the prophet’s wives used to do, since the prophet’s wives are called ‘’the believers’ mothers’’, honorable and above any wrong doing. And I feel so happy that at least one aspect of my looks is approved Islamically.

Hair is also represented in poetry.. Women’s supporter poet, the renowned late Nizzar Qabbani said in his ‘’ The Fortune Teller’’ poem:

….love is your fate

With a women who has a gypsy wild long hair you will travel through….

In another poem called ‘’Questions to God’’ he said:

Why when a man is in love his beloved’s curls turn to a glided bed??

In the poem ‘’your morning is sweet as sugar’’

….and if you walked towards me,

your hair carelessly laid over your shoulders

As deep as an ocean, scattered like a night into all dimensions…..

If I stood there motionless, don’t accuse me of stoned heart…

Its only I am struck with your beauty,

with my imagination I make you a Goddess

With my imagination I plant your hair a Campion, wheat, almond and wild woods of bluebells…..

And in a fourth poem, he said:

my long hair misses you

my long hair get used to you..

my flocks get used to sleep in your balms every night as peaceful as a wheat plant…

how come you left what was your luxurious mane and gilded bed……

how come you deserted your silk friend…

please tell me what shall I say to my comb if it, one day, came to ask about you??

How can you leave my hair as an injured bird flying from one shoulder to another asking about you???????????

However, no Muslim Imam justified altering the eyebrows even if women cover their faces in public and the purpose was to look more attractive for a husband. However, women with excessive hair on the upper lips, chin or face are allowed to get rid of it. I think to make sure they are women and be punished for any misbehavior. There is no limitation on the hair removal methods, women can use shaving, waxing using sugar, epilating cream or modern methods like laser.

Sugaring is the ancient Arabic art of hair removal that has been practiced even in parts of North and East Africa for hundreds of years, even Cleopatra is purported to have used this method! It is an effective way to keep the skin smooth, but it is painful, and one way to numb the skin is using clove oil.

Making the sugar for waxing was an exciting time for me when I was a child, not because I wanted to remove my hair, but my mother used to make a lollipop for us to get rid of us so she can have peace of mind and some time for herself.

Sugaring was brought into England in 1984 by a Tunisian lady who realized that there were very few women who possessed the art of sugaring and that women in England could benefit from a much more effective and more pleasant hair removal technique.

However, the modern day provides us with different effective and lasting methods such as laser that is widely popular in some parts of the Arab world. And even if the cost is high, some women and men are happy to pay…

Until I removed my body hair with the laser method, I used to prepare the sugar waxing at home by putting a certain amount of sugar in the saucepan, sprinkling water on it just to make wet, letting it boil, adding lots of lemon juice and leaving it to boil. I test it by taking a dot of it on an oily tray. Once the mixture set I immediately turned the fire off, spread the mixture on the tray and left it to cool. Honey can be used in place of sugar for smoother skin. Any cheap kind of honey would do.

Men in the Arab world are proud of their hairy chests, moustaches and beards. However, growing beards went through different stages over the course of history. During the Prophet’s time men used to grow their beards long. So it is a religious sign to have a long beard.

In the 70s-80s it was trendy to have a goatee beard with no reference to religion at all. A moustache represents manhood. A moustache-less young man would be asked by an older member of the family in a tone between jokey and serious: “where is your moustache young man?

I remember my mother was so keen on my brothers having moustaches. But I hated moustaches all my life. One of my brothers really doesn’t look good in one of these horrible things. So we begged our mum to not be upset if he shaved it, since then he happily got rid of his moustache.

Arab women in general prefer hairy men, especially on the chest, and with moustache. I don’t know what it is exactly but it could be the left over of the Turkish Ottoman period where manhood was measured by the length of the moustache. Moreover, when a man makes an oath or promise, he would say: “on my moustache, I promise to do so and so. By putting his hand on his moustache the vow is taken as seriously as vowing on the holy book. However, religious people would not like this comparison.

If this man didn’t fulfill his promise he will be asked to shave his moustache as they represent emptiness. A man looked at as not man enough, people would describe him by saying: he is moustache-less man, if he has moustache they would say: he is better off shave his moustache. There is a quota Arab men should adhere to and in many cases they do because of the fear for being accused of homosexuality. Masculinity, bearded, moustache macho character is a favourite of all times. Some old women, since, thankfully they don’t grow moustaches, used to touch their fringe, pulling a small flock from under their veil to vow saying: I vow on this that I have never been touched by any man. Which confirms the sacred status of Arab women’s hair; though not the body hair.

However, somewhat earlier, in 1800 BC, an Egyptian Pharaoh had signed into existence a decree that forbade mustaches, while in China, the great thinker Confucius, who lived around 500 BC, is often shown with a long mustache and beard. In a more modern context, you can see that the moustache tradition is one that is alive and well.

Finally, two other diverse representations of moustaches:

The Beatles were kept clean-shaved during their early years, but broke free and became their special selves in mid 60s when the Fab Four grew identical moustaches timed with releasing their Sgt Pepper album in 1967.

While Saddam Hussein’s mustache represented political masculinity and is widely followed amongst Arab men from all walks of life:

Suhad

Click the book to join us

About Sarah Arrow
Sarah Arrow is the managing editor of Birds on the Blog, in real life she is the communications director of a same day courier service. She is an enthusiastic UK based pro-blogger and co- author of the soon to be published Zero to Blogger
View all posts by Sarah Arrow →