Question
Can I shave my beard until I’m 18 (I’m14 now)? What about my arms and legs? I go bodybuilding, and without arm and leg hair, I look better. So can I do that? What areas can I shave and can’t shave as a man?
Answer
Allah prohibited a man from shaving the beard, irrespective of his age. The Prophet said: ‘Oppose the Polytheists and leave your beard in its original state.’ [Bukhari 5892]
And Allah obligated a Muslim man to shave his pubic hair and armpit hair. The Prophet said: ‘Five practices are characteristics of the Fitrah: circumcision, shaving the pubic hair, cutting the moustaches short, clipping the nails, and plucking the hair of the armpits.’ [Bukhari 5891]
And Allah allowed a Muslim man to shave the hairs on every other part of his body besides what has been mentioned above. So he is allowed to shave the hairs on his arms, legs, chest, neck, back, feet etc. Allah said: ‘And say not concerning that which your tongues put forth falsely: ‘This is lawful and this is forbidden,’ so as to invent lies against Allah. Verily, those who invent lies against Allah will never prosper.’ [6:116]