DRESSING AND BEAUTIFICATION

 1. What are the definitions of Aurat pertaining to a female?

The whole body is the Aurat, except for the hands and the face.

The Holy Prophet Muhammad (Sallalaahu alaihi wasallam) said:

“When a woman reaches puberty no part of her body should remain uncovered except her face and the hand up to the wrist joint.” (Abu Dawud)

2. How should a female dress?

In Islam, a woman’s dress has to serve certain purposes among which is the protection of her honour and integrity. Islam requires Muslim women to maintain their cultural identity and not to imitate the manners of non-Muslim women in dress, shoes, etc.

The Holy Prophet (sallallaahu alaihi wasallam) said:

“Modesty is part of faith, and faith is in Paradise, but obscenity is a part of hardness of the heart and hardness of heart is in Hell.”(Mishkaat)

The Holy Prophet (sallallaahu alaihi wasallam) said:

“Those women who seem naked even when dressed and those who walk flirtingly and those who plait their heads like the humps of camels, thus inviting people’s attention, will not enter Paradise nor will they smell its fragrance even though its fragrance can be smelt from a very far distance.? (Muslim)

A Muslim woman should dress in the following way:-

a. She should not wear thin transparent (see-through) clothing.

The Holy Prophet Muhammad (sallallaahu alaihi wasallam) said:

“Allah has cursed those women who wear clothes yet remain naked.”

b. If the headgear is thin then a thick scarf should be worn under it. Similarly, if the clothes (or dress) is thin, a thick loose fitting petticoat should be worn under such clothing.

c. She should not wear such clothes that reveal the curves and shape of her body.

d. She is not allowed to wear clothing that imitates men’s clothing. Thus, tight jeans, short blouses, sleeveless dresses, rib T-shirts, mini-skirts, wearing knee-length dresses without pants, etc. are not allowed. If a woman prefers to put on a veil (Burqah) she should not be discouraged as this is a sign of piety and Allah-consciousness (Taqwa).

3. Are you allowed undressing in the presence of other females?

No. Many females think that since they are in the presence of other females, they are allowed to undress in front of them or reveal the private parts of their body. This is not allowed.

The Holy Prophet (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) said:

“No man should look at a naked man and no woman should look at a naked woman.” (Muslim)

It is also not permissible for a mother, sister or daughter to expose her body to a grown-up son, brother or father, except:

(a) head and face;

(b) neck and collar area;

(c) from the mid-upper arm to the fingertips, and

(d) lower part of the feet.

In most schools, Muslim girls are required to change in the girls change-room in the presence of others. This is also not allowed. Muslim females should request that they change in privacy.

4. Are Muslim girls allowed to wear leotards, shorts and T-shirt as worn for Physical Education and for school sports?

The wearing of leotards, shorts and T-shirt reveals the Satr of the female and the shape of her body. Islam doesn’t allow such type of dressing. Muslim females (especially those who have reached the age of puberty) participating in sports should wear long and baggy tracksuit pants and a loose long T-shirt that reaches well below the waistline or till her knees.

5. Are Muslim females allowed to wear swimming costumes?

No. When a female wears swimming costumes, her Satr parts are exposed. Further, swimming pools and beaches are mixed with both men and women. If your parents own a swimming pool on their own private property, there is no harm in swimming in it provided that the costume meets all the requirements of the Shari’ah.

6. Are women allowed to wear jewellery?

Yes, women are allowed to wear jewellery. But, females should not wear such jewellery that causes a jingle noise with movement. It can attract the attention of strange men, which is forbidden.

7. Many Muslim women cut their hair in order to beautify themselves. What is the Islamic Law concerning this matter?

Today, women cut their hair short like those of men. It is Haraam for a woman to cut her hair, to dress un-Islamically or imitate men. It is stated in the Ahadith that the Curse of Almighty Allah is upon those women who dress or imitate men. A woman should try to keep her hair clean and tidy if it is long. In fact, hair for a woman, like the beard for a man, is a significant element of beauty blessed by Almighty Allah.

8. Are women allowed to shave their eyebrows?

No, they are not allowed to shave their eyebrows. The shaving of eyebrows and the painting of new ones, or shaving certain hair and leaving the eyebrows to look like two inverted crescents, is not allowed in Islam.

In a narration, “The Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu alaihi wasallam) cursed the women who plucked and those who were employed to pluck the eyebrows.” (Abu Dawud)

9. Some women wear wigs or hairpieces for beautification. It consists of using a plait of one woman’s hair or artificial hair and joining it to another woman’s hair with the object of making the woman’s hair appear very long and beautiful. Is this allowed?

This is not allowed.

A narration says, “Hazrat A’ishah (Radiallahu anha) reported that the Messenger of Allah (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) cursed women who wore hair pieces and the women who aided in this practice.” (Bukhari)

If a woman has short hair, she should not try to add false hair. If another lady asks her to help fix false hair on her head, she should refuse.

10. Are women allowed to tattoo themselves or space their teeth?

No. The Holy Prophet (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) cursed women who, in order to increase their beauty, deliberately space their teeth, thus disfiguring the creation of Almighty Allah. Even tattooing is not allowed as it also disfigures the natural creation of Almighty Allah. Those who have tattoos should have them surgically removed.

“The Messenger of Allah (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) cursed women who tattooed, and those who got themselves tattooed, those who sharpen the teeth of others (as a mark of beauty) and those who had their teeth sharpened.” (Bukhari, Muslim)

11. Are women allowed to use cosmetics?

There is nothing more fitting for a woman than to enjoy her natural beauty without changes or additions. A woman is, however, allowed to beautify herself using make-up provided that she does so at home. A woman should make herself beautiful at home for her husband, by beautifying her face with cosmetics, by keeping herself clean and by having a pleasant fragrance. Antimony (Surma) may be applied, from time to time, for it clears the sight, and gives the eye beauty. Women should also avoid direct sunlight as its rays destroy her natural beauty.

12. Are females allowed to use perfumes?

The Holy Prophet (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) said that the perfume used by females should not have smell.

The Holy Prophet (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) said: “Males should use that perfume which does not give colour but has a strong smell; and the females should use that perfume which gives colour but has a light smell.” (Abu Dawud)

This is to avoid gossip and to prevent strange men from looking at them. Ladies are allowed to use only non-alcoholic perfumes in the privacy of their homes for their husbands only. A perfumed woman may not leave her home unless she got rid of the smell of the perfume.

13. Are females allowed to use henna (a red plant-dye or mendhi)?

Yes. It is preferable for females to use henna on the hands. Make sure that the henna is of a Halaal substance and not contaminated with Haraam substances.