Hadith Text & Transmission

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) fixed forty days to shave the pubes, paring the nails, clipping the moustaches, and plucking the hair under the armpit.

Abu Dawud said: Ja'far b. Sulaiman transmitted it from Abu 'Imran on the authority of Anas. In this version he did not mention the Prophet (ﷺ). He said: Forty days were fixed for us. This is a more correct version.

Scholarly Commentary

This hadith from Sunan Abi Dawud establishes the maximum period for maintaining personal hygiene through removal of specific body hair and nail trimming. The forty-day limit represents the outer boundary beyond which neglect becomes religiously blameworthy.

The four acts mentioned - pubic hair removal, nail trimming, mustache clipping, and armpit hair removal - are considered from the fitrah (natural disposition) of Islam. Scholars differ on their precise legal status, with most considering them highly recommended (mustahabb) rather than obligatory.

Abu Dawud's note regarding the transmission chain indicates his meticulous approach to hadith verification. The version attributing the practice directly to the Companions' understanding, rather than explicitly to the Prophet, reflects the early community's consensus on this matter of personal grooming.

Legal Rulings & Applications

The forty-day period is understood as a maximum limit, not a recommended interval. The pious approach is to attend to these matters more frequently, as needed.

Scholars emphasize that this ruling applies equally to men and women, though methods may differ according to cultural norms and individual circumstances.

Neglecting these matters beyond forty days without valid excuse is considered makruh (disliked), as it contradicts the Prophetic guidance on cleanliness and personal presentation.

Spiritual Dimensions

These acts of physical purification reflect the Islamic principle of outward cleanliness mirroring inward purity. Maintaining proper grooming demonstrates gratitude for Allah's creation and respect for one's body as an amanah (trust).

The consistent attention to such details cultivates discipline and mindfulness in the believer's daily life, transforming mundane acts into worship when performed with the right intention.