Extent of Beauty for Women in Islam
Question:
Salam,
For a while now I've been trying to understand what makes certain beauty methods permissible and others not. For example mascara may be allowed but false eyelashes or permanent eyelash extensions may not be? (Aren't all 3 forms of 'deception' and 'changing the creation of Allah' depending on how you look at it?) Other areas are wearing makeup, piercings, dying hair, and even wearing colored contacts...("oh, your deceiving others with your eye color", or, "Allah gave you brown eyes why have you made it blue?"). They all fall in some sort of 'changing regular nature' but why are some things allowed and others not? Also more specifically, what if a women had lost hair early due to a lack of iron and now she wears hijab even to women's gatherings because she's too embarrassed to take it off. She has a yearn to have hair again (and modern methods such as hair shafting or similar are available) and she can comfortable afford it, but according to a Hadith, apparently hair extending of any sort is not allowed. But I don't understand why that is (I'm not even sure if that's a reliable Hadith though). I don't see that as fair. Obviously, it's not the end of the world if she doesn't get it done, but that's just like any other form of beauty. So what makes getting your hair back wrong? There should be at least some option. Also, apparently real hair can't be used? I once donated my hair to cancer patients with good intentions. Was that wrong of me? I read different sites and books with differing opinions about certain beauty methods. Is there even a bottom line? Possibly Allah made it vague so that people can make their own intentions and judgement? No one wants to do anything wrong, but if it's Islam, then it should make sense. If it doesn't to the person, then they will do it anyway feeling a sense of conflict in them. I like to hear the wisdom behind fatwas issued whether it be historical occurrences, health benefits or something. For the majority of Islamic issues there is a sound reason or wisdom. What is it when it comes to various beauty methods in Islam?
Hopefully you understood my questions and can clarify this issue I've been having.
Thanks
Answer:
Salam,
I appreciate your frustration about this. I think the problem is that many people confuse a fatwa (personal opinion) with Shari'ah (what may be seen as explicit law in the Qur'an), also people expect scholars to direct them about the application of the law while their real duty is just to direct them to the law and leave the application to their honest judgement.
I will try not to make the same mistakes. Allow me to explain the law and what the spirit of Islam has concern about as simple as I can and then leave it to you to decide what is permissible and what is not:
The beautification that is considered impermissible for women in Islam are as follows:
1. Revealing any part of the body that is not normally revealed in the society that the person lives (look at 24:31).
2. Revealing private parts, breasts and areas close to them (24:31).
3. Any beautification that is done with the intention of 'deceiving' others (end of 24:31).
I think the above covers all the cases that you referred to in your question. I'll leave it to you to apply them to each case. If anything is not clear please do let me know.
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August 2013
Salam,
For a while now I've been trying to understand what makes certain beauty methods permissible and others not. For example mascara may be allowed but false eyelashes or permanent eyelash extensions may not be? (Aren't all 3 forms of 'deception' and 'changing the creation of Allah' depending on how you look at it?) Other areas are wearing makeup, piercings, dying hair, and even wearing colored contacts...("oh, your deceiving others with your eye color", or, "Allah gave you brown eyes why have you made it blue?"). They all fall in some sort of 'changing regular nature' but why are some things allowed and others not? Also more specifically, what if a women had lost hair early due to a lack of iron and now she wears hijab even to women's gatherings because she's too embarrassed to take it off. She has a yearn to have hair again (and modern methods such as hair shafting or similar are available) and she can comfortable afford it, but according to a Hadith, apparently hair extending of any sort is not allowed. But I don't understand why that is (I'm not even sure if that's a reliable Hadith though). I don't see that as fair. Obviously, it's not the end of the world if she doesn't get it done, but that's just like any other form of beauty. So what makes getting your hair back wrong? There should be at least some option. Also, apparently real hair can't be used? I once donated my hair to cancer patients with good intentions. Was that wrong of me? I read different sites and books with differing opinions about certain beauty methods. Is there even a bottom line? Possibly Allah made it vague so that people can make their own intentions and judgement? No one wants to do anything wrong, but if it's Islam, then it should make sense. If it doesn't to the person, then they will do it anyway feeling a sense of conflict in them. I like to hear the wisdom behind fatwas issued whether it be historical occurrences, health benefits or something. For the majority of Islamic issues there is a sound reason or wisdom. What is it when it comes to various beauty methods in Islam?
Hopefully you understood my questions and can clarify this issue I've been having.
Thanks
Answer:
Salam,
I appreciate your frustration about this. I think the problem is that many people confuse a fatwa (personal opinion) with Shari'ah (what may be seen as explicit law in the Qur'an), also people expect scholars to direct them about the application of the law while their real duty is just to direct them to the law and leave the application to their honest judgement.
I will try not to make the same mistakes. Allow me to explain the law and what the spirit of Islam has concern about as simple as I can and then leave it to you to decide what is permissible and what is not:
The beautification that is considered impermissible for women in Islam are as follows:
1. Revealing any part of the body that is not normally revealed in the society that the person lives (look at 24:31).
2. Revealing private parts, breasts and areas close to them (24:31).
3. Any beautification that is done with the intention of 'deceiving' others (end of 24:31).
I think the above covers all the cases that you referred to in your question. I'll leave it to you to apply them to each case. If anything is not clear please do let me know.
----------
August 2013
