Makeup can be considered an extension of plastic surgery, not necessarily as it involves a

surgical treatment, but in the essence of enhancing or alteration the appearance of a person.
As this is a form of beautification, it may lead to deception as it changes the appearance given
by Allah s.w.t.
It is also closely linked with the dissatisfaction with ones own creation. Thus, its hukm is
haram. Similarly, altering the shape of eyebrows, removal of facial or body hair via waxing
or shaving, and tattoos will be discussed as it also alters what Allah s.w.t. has already created.
The application of makeup expands to wearing kohl to line the eyes, mascara on the lashes,
lipstick to color the lips, and so on. With the exception of kohl, which is one of the Sunnahs
of the Prophet s.a.w. therefore it is allowed for both males and females, makeup is not
permissible in Islam, as it brings unnecessary attention to oneself, and fitnah may arise.
Allah s.w.t. says in the Holy Quran:
And say to the believing womenthat they should not display their beauty and ornaments
except what must ordinarily appear thereof. (Surah An-Nur:31)
Scholars interpret this verse to mean that women should not display their beauty past what
ordinarily appears of them, such as kohl, henna and rings. Hence, wearing makeup of color,
such as lipstick for their lips or powders for their cheeks, are not permissible. This is because
it is not considered to be an ordinary adornment. Further, makeup attracts undue attention
defeating the purpose of wearing a hijab, which is meant to cover a womans aurah.
However, the abovementioned verse continues to say that women should not display their
beauty except to their husbands and men within their mahram, such as fathers, brothers and
sons. This is the exception to the general rule in that women are allowed to wear makeup if it
is for the sole purpose of beautifying themselves for their husbands. Yet, this leads to an issue
of whether a womans prayer is permissible if she is wearing makeup.
Generally, if a woman performs wudu before applying makeup, and the makeup does not
affect her wudu if it is not najis, then the womans prayer is valid. It is important to highlight
the purity of the makeup as impurity of the body and clothes invalidate prayer. Because of the
impermissibility of women wearing makeup in front of men who are not related to her or her
husband, she will receive the reward for her prayer, but will bear the sin of tabarruj if she
displays her beauty in front of non-mahram men.





On the specific issue of altering the shape of the eyebrows, it can be generally related to the
removal of excess facial and body hair. There are three methods this can be done: waxing,
plucking and shaving.
A hadith narrated by Abdullah:
Allah s.w.t. had cursed those women who tattoo and who have themselves tattooed, those
who pluck hair from their faces and who have their facial hair plucked
The hukm against tattoos and removal of facial hair is clearly seen to be haram as Allah s.w.t.
curses those who take part in the routine. Scholars have stated that the aforementioned hadith
is in relation to eyebrow hair, and it is forbidden to shorten or remove it. It is also ruled that
altering the shape of eyebrows by way or shaving or waxing is similar to plucking, thus it is
still haram because it changes Allahs creation.
In contrast, the removal of bodily hair by way of plucking, waxing or shaving is not
emphasised as much as the alteration of eyebrows. In fact, the Shariah is silent on its hukm,
hence it can be interpreted as permissible to leave it the way it is or to remove it completely.
Fataawa al-Lajnah al-Daaimah opines a few rulings regarding what hairs may be plucked.
There is no sin on a woman if she removes hair on her upper lip, thighs, calves and arms.
This is not part of the plucking that is forbidden.
1

On plucking the hair between the eyebrows:
It is permissible to pluck it, because it is not part of the eyebrows.
2

On women removing hair from her body:
It is permissible for her to do that, apart from the hair of the eyebrows and head. It is not
permissible for her to remove the hair of her head or to remove any part of the eyebrows,
whether by shaving or any other means.
3

It is important to note, though, that some scholars differ in opinion regarding facial hair that
is allowed to be removed. Some scholars view al-namas as not limited to eyebrows, thus it is
the removal of any facial hair. Other scholars view that al-namas refers to removing eyebrow
hairs only. This view is favoured by Fataawa al-Lajnah al-Daaimah:
Al-namas means plucking the hair of the eyebrows, which is not permissible because the
Prophet s.a.w. cursed the woman who plucks eyebrows and the one who has it done.
4


1
Fataawa al-Lajnah al-Daaimah, 5/194, 195
2
Fataawa al-Lajnah al-Daaimah, 5/197
3
Fataawa al-Lajnah al-Daaimah, 5/194


4
Fataawa al-Lajnah al-Daaimah, 5/195