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.
It is appropriate that I mention here what women put on their fingernails known
as nail polish which creates a hard coating. This is not permissible for a woman
to use when she is praying because it prevents water (from reaching the surface
of the skin) when washing. Anything that blocks water is not permissible to wear
when making wu or ghul (a full bath or shower) because Allah says:
Wash your faces and hands
17
16
This was actually a continuation of Ibn al-'Uthaymns first answer (no. 11 of this translation) but it was
placed in this section for ease of reference.
Title: Scholarly Rulings on Cosmetics
Authors: Ibn Bz, Ibn al-Uthaymn, The
Permanent Committee of Saudi Arabia
Page 22 of 35
If there is nail polish on the fingernails, that would prevent water from reaching
the skin, thereby making her washing of her hands incomplete since she would
not be fulfilling one of the requirements of wu or ghul. As for a woman who is
not praying, there is no sin upon her to wear it (nail polish) unless it were an
action specifically characteristic of disbelieving women. It would be impermissible
in that case because it would be imitation of them.
Question 17:
.
What is the ruling of women dyeing their hands with henna? Did the prophet
( ) mention anything about this? And what is the ruling if one
includes the palm of the hands (in applying henna) and not just the fingernails?
Answer 17:
.
.
Dyeing hands with henna, which women are known to do customarily as a
means of decorating them, if it is a means of beautification for a woman then it is
necessary for her to beautify herself for her husband regardless of whether the
17
The Quran, Srah al-Midah (5:6).
Title: Scholarly Rulings on Cosmetics
Authors: Ibn Bz, Ibn al-Uthaymn, The
Permanent Committee of Saudi Arabia
Page 23 of 35
fingernails are included or not. As for a woman wearing nail polish who is not on
her menses, this is impermissible because it prevents water from reaching the
surface of the skin when making wu unless she first removes it when making
wu.
Title: Scholarly Rulings on Cosmetics
Authors: Ibn Bz, Ibn al-Uthaymn, The
Permanent Committee of Saudi Arabia
Page 24 of 35
The Permanent Committee for Scholarly Research & Fatw
As a forward to a particular answer (in reply to a question not specifically relevant
to this translated work), The Permanent Committee responded with a nice, concise yet
comprehensive, encouragement for spouses to beautify themselves:
Both spouses should beautify themselves for the other in what they love, thereby
strengthening the relationship between them yet within limits the law of Islam has made
permissible and not forbidden.
18
FACI AL COSMETI CS
Question 18:
What is the ruling of wearing makeup for ones husband?
Answer 18:
. .
There is no sin in it as long as it causes no facial ailment. It is simply a means of
beautification so there is no problem just like using soap or similar things.
19
18
This answer of The Permanent Committee can be found here at the official website of The General
Presidency of Scholarly Research and Ifta.
Title: Scholarly Rulings on Cosmetics
Authors: Ibn Bz, Ibn al-Uthaymn, The
Permanent Committee of Saudi Arabia
Page 25 of 35
Question 19:
Is it permissible for a woman to wear makeup on her face in front of male
relatives?
Answer 19:
.
It is permissible for her to do that to beautify herself for her husband, and it is
permissible for her to appear wearing it in front of her male relatives.
20
Question 20:
.
You find some young women who have never been married (virgins) using
means of beautification like makeup. They apply it to their faces so those with a
brownish complexion appear lighter while others with a whitish complexion use
makeup to appear darker. She may apply kohl with an eye-pencil heavily around
19
This answer can be found, at the time of translation, here.
20
This answer can be found here.
Title: Scholarly Rulings on Cosmetics
Authors: Ibn Bz, Ibn al-Uthaymn, The
Permanent Committee of Saudi Arabia
Page 26 of 35
her eyes in such a way as to be seen by those far away. Or she may cut her hair
from the front in order to beautify it, or if it is long she may cut it up to her
shoulders. Please advise us, is it correct to practice such things or not? Is the
one responsible for her, if he witnesses that, does he incur sin or is that
permissible?
Answer 20:
.
There is no objection to a woman beautifying herself by wearing makeup or kohl
on her face or styling her hair in a manner that is not in imitation of disbelieving
women. It must also be with the condition that she covers her face from men who
are not her relatives.
21
Question 21:
Is it permissible for a woman to pray while adorned with gold (jewelry) and
makeup?
Answer 21:
21
This answer is here.
Title: Scholarly Rulings on Cosmetics
Authors: Ibn Bz, Ibn al-Uthaymn, The
Permanent Committee of Saudi Arabia
Page 27 of 35
.
.
.
Yes, she may pray while adorned with gold, beautiful clothes, and makeup as
long as the makeup is clean and pure containing nothing impure; there is no sin
in that case. According to us, she may (still) pray with humility and turning to
Allah ( ). Allah ( ) says in His great book:
Children of Adam, take your adornment at every place of prayer.
22
A believer is religiously and legitimately allowed to pray at mosques while
adorned in nice clothes, in a nice turban. Likewise, if a woman prays wearing
beautiful clothing, there is no sin as long as she is concealed from non-relative
men. As long as there are no non-relative men with her, there is no sin if she
prays wearing it. Makeup too is a form of adornment and beautification for the
face as long as it does no harm to it. If she applies something to her face
intended to enhance its beauty as long as it causes no ailment there is no
problem.
23
22
The Quran, Srah al-Arf (7:31).
23
This answer can be found here.
Title: Scholarly Rulings on Cosmetics
Authors: Ibn Bz, Ibn al-Uthaymn, The
Permanent Committee of Saudi Arabia
Page 28 of 35
Question 22:
What is the ruling of applying makeup after wu; does makeup break wu?
And is it permissible to delay the prayer if I am busy putting on makeup?
Answer 22:
.
Makeup is a means for women to beautify themselves and it is allowed for them
to use it as long as it does not contain any impermissible ingredients. The
purpose should be for a woman to make herself prettier for her husband or
among a gathering of other women. This is not considered something that breaks
wu. Often makeup contains no solid-mass substances, meaning when the
time for prayer comes in, you make wu for prayer and then pray. However, if
there is some solid, impermeable substance in the makeup that would prevent
water from reaching the skin, then it must be removed before wu.
Title: Scholarly Rulings on Cosmetics
Authors: Ibn Bz, Ibn al-Uthaymn, The
Permanent Committee of Saudi Arabia
Page 29 of 35
.
. .
As for delaying prayer, it is impermissible to do so for any reason. A Muslim is
obliged to perform prayer in its proper time under all circumstances, even in
sickness. Putting on makeup does not justify delaying prayer past its time.
Whoever does that is sinful and perhaps subjected to punishment, so repentance
to Allah would then be required. Allah ( ) says:
.
But there came after them successors who neglected prayer and pursued
desires; so they are going to meet evil.
24
The Salaf mentioned that this verse pertains to the person who delays the prayer
until the time to pray it runs out.
25
Question 23:
Does makeup prevent water (from touching the skin) during wu, meaning
must we remove this makeup during each wu?
24
The Quran, Srah Maryam (19:59).
25
This answer can be found in Arabic here.
Title: Scholarly Rulings on Cosmetics
Authors: Ibn Bz, Ibn al-Uthaymn, The
Permanent Committee of Saudi Arabia
Page 30 of 35
Answer 23:
.
If the makeup has a solid mass that blocks water, then it should be removed. If it
has no solid, impermeable substance in that it is simply a type of dye (i.e.
changing only the complexion tint, color) with no actual solid mass, then it does
not have to be removed. So if it contains a solid that blocks water, it must be
removed from the face. Similarly, if there is something like paste on the hands it
should be removed. As for a substance that is merely a type of dye with no solid
mass it does not have to be taken off.
26
EYES
Question 24:
:
: .
Many women from Egypt apply kohl to their eyes. I told them that wearing it just
for beautification is forbidden and they replied that rather, it is Sunnah. Is this
correct?
26
This answer can be found online here.
Title: Scholarly Rulings on Cosmetics
Authors: Ibn Bz, Ibn al-Uthaymn, The
Permanent Committee of Saudi Arabia
Page 31 of 35
Answer 24:
.
.
Using kohl is religiously legitimate but it is impermissible for a woman to show
anything of her adornment whether it be kohl or anything else to anyone
other than her husband or male relatives based on the statement of Allah ( ):
.
.
And they should not display their adornment except to their husbands
27
Question 25:
What is the ruling of women applying kohl and other cosmetics during the
daytime in Ramadan? Does that break ones fast or not?
Answer 25:
.
27
The Quran, Srah al-Nr (23:31). The answer is online here.
Title: Scholarly Rulings on Cosmetics
Authors: Ibn Bz, Ibn al-Uthaymn, The
Permanent Committee of Saudi Arabia
Page 32 of 35
. .
Kohl does not break the fast for women or men according to the more correct
opinion of the scholars. Still, it is better to use it at night for someone fasting.
Similar to this are other means of beautifying the face such as types of soaps,
oils, or other things that are applied externally to the surface of the skin. Included
in this is henna, makeup, and similar things. There is no sin in any of this for
someone fasting although one should not use makeup if it causes any facial
ailment. And success is granted by Allah.
28
Question 26:
:
.
.
There are some types of beauty accessories readily available in our shopping
malls that women wear or apply to their fingers or eyes such as fake nails, false
eyelashes, and colored lenses to change ones eye color. Due to frequent
questions about such accessories and their wide use among women, I hope this
issue is presented to his eminence, the noble father, so that we may be guided
by what he sees fit, may Allah preserve him and grant you His success.
28
This question and answer is in Arabic online.
Title: Scholarly Rulings on Cosmetics
Authors: Ibn Bz, Ibn al-Uthaymn, The
Permanent Committee of Saudi Arabia
Page 33 of 35
Answer 26:
.
It is impermissible to use fake nails, false eyelashes, and colored contact lenses
due to the harm they may cause to the different parts of the body and also due to
them being forms of trickery and deception (in appearance) and changing of
Allahs creation.
29
LI PS
Question 27:
Does lipstick, when applied to the lips, prevent water from reaching them when
making wu, and is using it forbidden?
Answer 27:
.
29
This fatw is in Arabic online.
Title: Scholarly Rulings on Cosmetics
Authors: Ibn Bz, Ibn al-Uthaymn, The
Permanent Committee of Saudi Arabia
Page 34 of 35
Lipsticks and lip colorings and similar things do not block water and there is no
sin in that unless there is some solid substance in it that does prevent water
such as nail polish and similar things for fingernails then it must be removed
when making wu. As for just the red coloring such as the reddish tint of henna
or lip colors, there is no harm in that as it does not block water.
30
HANDS & FI NGERNAI LS
Question 28:
.
Is using henna, without a legitimate excuse to do so, permissible or not? Some
people dye their hands or feet with henna; is that permissible if it is done for no
legitimate need? Please advise me, may Allah reward you.
Answer 28:
.
Dyeing with henna is permissible for women because it is a form of decoration
and beautification for them and they do have a purpose for that. As for men
30
This answer is online here.
Title: Scholarly Rulings on Cosmetics
Authors: Ibn Bz, Ibn al-Uthaymn, The
Permanent Committee of Saudi Arabia
Page 35 of 35
wearing henna (on hands or feet), that is not permitted because it is a way of
imitating women and the prophet ( ) forbade that.
31
However, it
would be allowed for men to use henna for medicinal purposes to soothe some
types of ailments if they would benefit from that. Similarly, it is religiously
legitimate for both men and women to use it (henna) to dye gray hair as long as
the color is not specifically black because black is not permissible to color gray
hair.
32
31
Ibn Abbs ( ) said, as is recorded in a al-Bukhr:
The messenger of Allah ( ) cursed men who imitate women and women who imitate men.
32
This answer is online here.