itself. Shaving is superior because it conforms to the report, and Ibn Umar said: It is among the luxuries they introduced, meaning: the depilatory (nura).
Section: Plucking the armpit hair is a Sunnah because it is part of the natural disposition (fitra), and leaving it becomes offensive. If one removes the hair by shaving or using a depilatory, it is permissible, but plucking it is superior because it conforms to the report. Harb said: I said to Ishaq: Is plucking the armpit hair more beloved to you or using a depilatory? He said: Plucking it, if he is able.
Section: It is recommended to trim the nails because it is part of the natural disposition (fitra), and it becomes offensive if one leaves them, as dirt may be rubbed by them, accumulating underneath them in foul-smelling places, and the scent of that settles on the fingertips. It may also prevent the water (54) of purification from reaching what is beneath them. We have narrated in a report that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "Why am I forgetful? You come to me with yellow-stained teeth (55), and the filth (56) of one of you is between his nail and his fingertip." (57) Its meaning is: that one of you allows his nails to grow long, then rubs his groin and areas of foul odor with them, and the scent of that remains under his nails. It has been narrated in a musalsal (chained) hadith that we have heard, that Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) said: I saw the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) trimming his nails on Thursday, then he said: "O Ali, trimming the nails, plucking the armpits, and shaving the pubic hair on Thursday, and Ghusl (ritual bathing), perfume, and wearing [clean] clothes on Friday." It is also narrated in a hadith: "Whoever trims his nails in an opposing manner will not see eye disease in his eyes." (58) Abu Abd Allah ibn Batta explained it as starting...
(54) Omitted from M. (55) Al-Qalh, with a fatha (vowel sign), is the yellowness that covers the teeth, and dirt that accumulates on them. A man is called aqlaḥ, and the plural is qulḥ. Al-Nihaya 4/99. (56) He intended by al-rafgh here: the dirt of the nail. The origin of al-rafgh, with the damma and fatha, is one of the roots of the groin, which are the bases of the body folds like the armpits, the creases of the inner thighs, and other folds of the organs where dirt and sweat collect. Al-Nihaya 2/244. (57) Al-Haythami said: Al-Tabarani and al-Bazzar narrated it in a shortened form, and the men of al-Bazzar are trustworthy, as are the men of al-Tabarani, if Allah wills. Majma' al-Zawa'id 5/168. (58) In a footnote in M: "This hadith is not established. Al-Sakhawi said in Al-Maqasid al-Hasana: Nothing has been established regarding the manner of trimming nails nor regarding assigning a specific day for it from the Prophet (peace be upon him), and what is attributed to Ali is false." See Tadhkirat al-Mawdu'at 160.
