Islamic marriage advice and family advice

Can a lady wear makeup, pluck eyebrows,or have bangs?

haram forbidden

Personal Beautification in Islam

salam alikum,
All I want to know is if it is right or wrong to wear make up and pluck your eyebrows, and to cut your hair in the front (fringe or bangs)?  I just need a good answer, thanks.

 

-destinyinparadise


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18 Responses »

  1. yeah i would like to know that as well please i mean it says IF one does it for the purpose of beauty what if one does it for other reasons ie medical or other

  2. Salaams,

    Sister Fozia, I have never heard of any "medical reason" that would necessitate a female plucking her eyebrows. There is no reason for it to be done except to make oneself more attractive. So to answer the question, based on the hadith given above, plucking eyebrows (or even shaping them) should not be done at all.

    Wearing makeup is a more grey area, because it's encouraged for a lady to beautify herself for her husband as much as is reasonable. This could include wearing makeup. Single ladies can wear makeup, I believe, but it should not be overdone and kept within modest limits. There is a big difference between someone who paints on an entirely different face and someone who just accents her eyes with a bit of kohl. In any case, a lady who does wear makeup has to remember that all of it must be washed off during wudu in order to make a valid salat, because the wudu isn't valid if there are any barriers between the water and direct contact with the skin. Therefore, cosmetics like nail polish, mascara on the eyelashes, foundation for the face, and even waxy lipgloss or lipstick can serve as a barrier if not fully washed off. I don't know of many women who would want to wash off and re-apply their makeup several times a day, and I've suspected many women just disregard their wudu and pray in their makeup not even realizing (or perhaps caring) that their salat is invalid. That's why I would personally suggest that a woman wear minimal amounts of makeup, preferably just kohl since it is a sunnah and does not need to be completely removed for wudu (so long as it is the powder form- this doesn't apply to the stick or liquid forms I've heard).

    As far as haircuts, there are no restrictions that I've heard of. A woman may cut her hair however she likes, provided she observes hijab appropriately. I've heard that men can not cut their hair in layers- that it must be all one length regardless of how short or long that might be (although I believe it can be no longer than the shoulders if I'm not mistaken), but I was under the impression that this did not apply to women. However I could be wrong about that; Allah knows best.

    -Amy
    IslamicAnswers.com Editor

    • I know of this man who had a severe car accident, leading to the death of some of the people in the car. He had to shave his beard for surgical purposes.

      Perhaps this is what sister fozia means.

      Abu Abdul Bari
      IslamicAnswers.com Editor

    • I did not know about the make up and wudhu thing (except for waterproof mascara) and naturally it is best avoided or at least minimalised and used if 'necessary.' Is there anywhere it actually states what make up invalidates wudu and what type doesn't though? I am not really a make up person but it would be quite interesting and useful for ladies to know. For instance foundation is generally quite thick so I imagine that would block the pores and invalidate wudu. But I know there is a big move on mineral make up powder now (supposedly it doesn't need to be removed by cleansing at night as it doesn't block pores.) It evens skin tone, is natural and you only need very tiny amounts. I wonder if this would be an appropriate alternative, maybe? It's a shame there is not super easy answer. I think the key point is does it really not block pores. Allah knows best.

      Sara
      IslamicAnswers.com Editor

    • salaam

      by this I meant for example excessive hair growth is in my family and I struggle with it alot my late father ( may Allah's blessings be on him and lessen the burden of the grave) used to have one eye brow hair that used to grow quite long and my father used to cut it as it would get in the way of the eye
      and personally I have pcos( polacyctic ovarian syndrome) one of the symptoms are excessive hair growth i don't reshape my eye brow or make it thinner or may be some people might see it that way but if so please say so, however i do remove the ones just under the main shape of the eye brow and a few which grow longer on the top which i either cut or remove but because I have a big problem with ingrown hairs I just cut them most of the time but if did not remove these hairs it would give me a more maler look quite heave brows

      • Salaams,

        All I can say is, there were women who had bushy/thick/heavy/etc brows at the time of the Prophet SAWS, and this hadith still was spoken. So far as I know, there are no hadith or ayat making any exceptions just because women have more "masculine" looking brows.

        What I DO know is, that there are hadith admonishing women who have light and feminine voices to deepen them TOWARD sounding more masculine when talking to non-mahrems, so perhaps when it comes to fitna having a more masculine feature about oneself is a blessing in disguise. I understand how frustrating that is because as women we all like to feel feminine and attractive, but Allah knows better about these things than we do.

        -Amy
        IslamicAnswers.com Editor

  3. Sister Amy do you pluck your eye browes because i saw lot of women even good sisters they pluck their eye browes and I got monobrow. I feel girl does not find me attractive because of this but its a good thing and its test so

    • Salaams,

      You're right, a lot of sisters pluck their eyebrows anyway, regardless of this Hadith. However, that doesn't mean the standard has changed. Allah says that women who do these things will be cursed- and although we don't know exactly what that means- rest assured Allah will deal with such things justly in this life or the next.

      -Amy
      IslamicAnswers.com Editor

      • So apa am I allowed to shave my monobrown? Do you pluck your eyebrows?

        • Salaams,

          Sister, you are basically asking for an exception based on your individual situation. That's not something any of us editors are qualified to give. If an exception applies to you, only a scholar or mufti would be able to explain how and what, so I suggest you visit someone qualified in hadith and shariah in your area to discuss this with them if it really is causing trouble for you.

          -Amy
          IslamicAnswers.com Editor

        • I feel girl does not find me attractive because of this but its a good thing and its test so

          'Brother' Maz isn't it ? If you're a male then I beleive that there is no restriction on you plucking your eyebrows, but is it neccessary ? Yes, I heard that you may trim your middle connection which makes it a monobrow. Honestly speaking, I've never heard of believing men plucking their eyebrows, we are least bothered with it.

    • My friend, you can pluck the monobrow. The ruling for plucking the eyebrows is referred to the main part of the eyebrowns where people play with the shape- not the area in between.

      I am just speaking, so here is an article i found.

      http://islamqa.info/en/ref/9037

  4. Assalamualaikum,

    Concerning hair-cut, the permanent committee for Fataawaa was asked:

    What is the ruling on the haircut favored by some women, whereby they cut the hair across their foreheads (“bangs” or “fringe”) and allow some strands of hair to hang down?

    They replied:

    All praise be to Allah Alone, and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger, and his family and Companions.

    If the purpose of this haircut is to resemble Kafir (disbelieving) and atheist women, then it is Haram (prohibited), because imitation of non-Muslims is Haram, as the Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “Whoever imitates a people is one of them.”

    However, if the purpose is not imitation and it is only a modern trend among women, considered as grooming, then a woman can adorn herself in this way for her husband and appear like this in front of her friends so that she may look and feel good among them. We do not see anything wrong with this.

    May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.

    (from alifta.net)

    Concerning the eye brows, it is not permissible for a woman to shape, pluck or cut them. The proof for this is the following saying of Rasoolullah Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam:

    “Allah has cursed the women who practice tattooing and the women who have themselves tattooed, the women who pluck their eyebrows and the women who have their eyebrows plucked, and the women who file their teeth for the purpose of beautification; changing Allah’s Creation.” Then he said, “Why should I not curse those whom the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) cursed and is (confirmed) in the Book of Allah: And whatsoever the Messenger (Muhammad ﺻﻠﻰ ﺍﻟﻠﻪ ﻋﻠﻴﻪ ﻭﺳﻠﻢ ) gives you, take it; and whatsoever he forbids you, abstain (from it)."

    Abu Abdul Bari
    IslamicAnswers.com Editor

  5. assalamalaikum-
    In connection with this verse, I am marveled by what is corroborated by Ibn Masud (Allah be pleased with him) that is, a woman came to him and told him: "You who says: May Allah's curse be on Al-Namisat [a woman who plucks hers or others eye-brows - to be a thin line - to seek beauty. Such an act is fobidden. It is a mean to change the form of Allah's creation] and Al-Motanamisat [a woman who asks others to do it for her] and those who tatoo." He said: "Yes." She said, "I read the Book of Allah (Al-Qur'an) from its beginning to its end, I did not find what you have said." He told her: "If you have read it, you would have found it. As for your reading what the Messanger teaches you, take it, and what he forbids you, avoid doing it." She said: "Certainly". He said: "I have heard the Messanger of Allah (salaallaahu `alayhi wa sallam) says: "May Allah's curse be on Al-Namisat." (Bukhari & Muslim)

  6. Wa'alaykumsalam,

    Rulings on plucking eyebrows, make-up and cutting of hairs are well explained above. Just to add about makeup, note that, it is not permissible for a woman to wear makeup whether simple or complex in front of non-mahram men, as Allah said “…and not to reveal their adornment except to their husbands…”
    [al-Noor 24:31].

    And since this topic is about beautifying oneself, it is also important to add something about perfumes, It was narrated from Abu Moosa (may Allaah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “If a woman puts on perfume and passes by people so that they can smell her fragrance, then she is such and such,” and he spoke sternly - meaning an adulteress. ( Abu Dawood and Tirmidhi ). Therefore, it is haram for women to put perfumes.

  7. There is also a good book I had read some time ago, which I consider to be a "must have" for young sisters.
    unfortunately, I was unable to find an ebook. So, perhaps one can purchase it online. It is called "Adornment of Women in Forensic and Medical Perspective: Comments of Muslim Scholars and Physicians
    Author: Muhammad Bin Abd Alazeez Almusnad
    Publisher: Message Of Islam (UK)

    Abu Abdul Bari
    IslamicAnswers.com Editor

  8. Im not having enough knowledge to argue about this topic but Allah has provided His creation a right of qiyas so it is not forbidden to balance our religion and the world.
    Since "Actions are judged by intentions".I dont think there is any harm if you intend to prevent yourself from showing masculine features and being the odd one out.
    Plucking to give them a neat look is not a must that it is done to impress boys..instead neatness and cleanliness is in our religion.
    There were several things that suited to that era but some ammendments were made by our own caliphs.
    Their dressing was different..eg Islam tells us to cover ourselves in an adequate manner but shall we stop wearing shalwar kamees and opt for the dressing worn in older times.
    Qiyas gives us the right to judge it by our intentions.If the entire world has had neat eyebrows we are not suppose give an untidy look for the sake of not pleasing others.
    We are women and shall look like one.In older times since all the women didnt get them done then such an action was counted in extra beautification, but in modern world the purpose of getting eyebrows done has changed.
    We ourselves are better judges of ourselves.So brothers and sisters what i mean to say is all that matters is your niyat.If your purpose is just to give yourself a neat look to adjust yourself in present world then there is no harm.
    Just think why would our Lord provide us a right of self judgement (qiyas)?
    Just to ease up the contradictory moments as long as there is no intentional or serious damage to our values.

    • Salaams,

      So just to understand, you are taking the position that plucking the eyebrows to 'neaten them up' is permissable, because today it happens to be more culturally acceptable and common? Even though this directly contradicts a sahih hadith that explicitly states such women are cursed and it is forbidden?

      -Amy
      IslamicAnswers.com Editor

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