Question:
Assalamualaikum wbt,
Can I ask for a little advice? I’m curious as to the ruling for a woman who wears lipstick. Is it considered as a custom of the women during the jahilliyyah era? The reason is I don’t want to be viewed as a person who is sloppy with her appearance and image. Hope to get an explanation from Datuk Mufti.
Answer:
Waalaikumussalam wbt,
Alhamdulillah, praise and thanks to Allah for the many countless blessings He has blessed us all with. Blessings and salutations to the Prophet Muhammad PBUH, his wives, his family, companions and all those that follow his teachings to the day of judgement.
Mukadimah
Adornment and beauty are a nature of women and it is originally considered as good and has a basis in syarak, however, it must not transgress anything that has been clearly prohibited by syarak regarding adornments for women.
Among the rights of a woman is to adorn herself for her husband and it is permissible for her to adorn and beautify herself for this purpose. Allah SWT states:
قُلْ مَنْ حَرَّمَ زِينَةَ اللَّهِ الَّتِي أَخْرَجَ لِعِبَادِهِ وَالطَّيِّبَاتِ مِنَ الرِّزْقِ
Say, "Who has forbidden the adornment of Allah which He has produced for His servants and the good [lawful] things of provision?"
Surah al-A’raf (32)
Generally, the original ruling for clothing and adornment is permissible to be worn or placed on a person’s body, clothing or place. However, the ruling is applicable (halal and permissible) for as long as there are no specific evidences that ruled it as an exception to the general rule. (See al-Fiqh al-Manhaji, 3/89-90)
The Ruling of Wearing Lipstick
Coming back to the question asked, the ruling of women wearing lipstick or makeup is permissible as stated in a general statement of Allah SWT:
هُوَ الَّذِي خَلَقَ لَكُم مَّا فِي الْأَرْضِ جَمِيعًا
“It is He who created for you all of that which is on the earth.”
Surah al-Baqarah (29)
However, women are only permissible to adorn and beautify herself only for her husband and those who are permitted by syarak. It is impermissible to beautify herself for others who are neither her husband and the people mentioned in verse 31 surah al-Nur. The Quran has set the syarak limitations as stated in the statement of Allah SWT:
وَقُلْ لِلْمُؤْمِنَاتِ يَغْضُضْنَ مِنْ أَبْصَارِهِنَّ وَيَحْفَظْنَ فُرُوجَهُنَّ وَلَا يُبْدِينَ زِينَتَهُنَّ إِلَّا مَا ظَهَرَ مِنْهَا وَلْيَضْرِبْنَ بِخُمُرِهِنَّ عَلَى جُيُوبِهِنَّ وَلَا يُبْدِينَ زِينَتَهُنَّ إِلَّا لِبُعُولَتِهِنَّ أَوْ آبَائِهِنَّ أَوْ آبَاءِ بُعُولَتِهِنَّ أَوْ أَبْنَائِهِنَّ أَوْ أَبْنَاءِ بُعُولَتِهِنَّ أَوْ إِخْوَانِهِنَّ أَوْ بَنِي إِخْوَانِهِنَّ أَوْ بَنِي أَخَوَاتِهِنَّ أَوْ نِسَائِهِنَّ أَوْ مَا مَلَكَتْ أَيْمَانُهُنَّ أَوِ التَّابِعِينَ غَيْرِ أُولِي الْإِرْبَةِ مِنَ الرِّجَالِ أَوِ الطِّفْلِ الَّذِينَ لَمْ يَظْهَرُوا عَلَى عَوْرَاتِ النِّسَاءِ وَلَا يَضْرِبْنَ بِأَرْجُلِهِنَّ لِيُعْلَمَ مَا يُخْفِينَ مِنْ زِينَتِهِنَّ وَتُوبُوا إِلَى اللَّهِ جَمِيعًا أَيُّهَ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ
“And tell the believing women to reduce [some] of their vision and guard their private parts and not expose their adornment except that which [necessarily] appears thereof and to wrap [a portion of] their headcovers over their chests and not expose their adornment except to their husbands, their fathers, their husbands' fathers, their sons, their husbands' sons, their brothers, their brothers' sons, their sisters' sons, their women, that which their right hands possess, or those male attendants having no physical desire, or children who are not yet aware of the private aspects of women. And let them not stamp their feet to make known what they conceal of their adornment. And turn to Allah in repentance, all of you, O believers, that you might succeed.”
Surah al-Nur (31)
Syeikh al-Sa’di commented on the phrase “that which [necessarily] appears thereof,” in the verse as the clothing that is usually visibly seen according to the custom of the society on the condition that it will not lead to fitnah. (See Tafsir al-Sa’di, pg. 566)
Thus, in our opinion, if a woman wears a neutral lipstick or makeup such as powder and others (not excessively), not with the intention of tabarruj, then it is permissible as long as it does not lead to fitnah and attract the attention of men. The reason is Islam emphasizes on personal care, beauty and hygiene as narrated by Ibn Mas’ud, where the Prophet PBUH said:
إنَّ اللَّهَ جَمِيلٌ يُحِبُّ الْجَمَالَ
"Allah is Beautiful, He loves beauty.”
Sahih Muslim (91)
Tabarruj (Excessiveness in Adornment)
Furthermore, another thing to be reminded and considered for a woman is to avoid tabarruj. Imam al-Syaukani said that al-Tabarruj is showcasing (her beauty and adornment) for the eyes (to be seen by others). (See Fath al-Qadir, 4/61)
Allah SWT states:
وَقَرْنَ فِي بُيُوتِكُنَّ وَلَا تَبَرَّجْنَ تَبَرُّجَ الْجَاهِلِيَّةِ الْأُولَى
“And abide in your houses and do not display yourselves as [was] the display of the former times of ignorance.”
Surah al-Ahzab (33)
Syeikh al-Maraghi stated in his book, it is prohibited for women to showcase her adornment and beauty for other men as practised by women during the time of ignorance before the arrival of Islam. (See Tafsir al-Maraghi, 22/6)
Likewise, Imam al-Syaukani when commenting on the above verse stated that al-Tabarruj is when a woman showcases her adornment or beauty (which) is wajib to be covered of which would attract the attention of men. (See Fath al-Qadir, 4/320)
Being excessive in adornment is permissible for a woman only in front of her husband. In discussing this issue, according to the opinions of scholars regarding the division of tabarruj, it is detailed in al-Mausu’ah al-Fiqhiyyah al-Kuwaitiyyah where it is stated:
“Showcasing adornment and beauty for those who are not supposed to see, such as wearing tight clothing to showcase the shape of one’s body and others. And due to this, it could attract the attention and desire of those who look at her, then the consensus of scholars state that it is haram unless it is only in front of her husband.” (See al-Mausu’ah al-Fiqhiyyah al-Kuwaitiyyah, 10/62)
Thus, we know that the act of tabarruj is a custom of the jahilliyyah women. Hence, we state that it is the same for women who wear thick makeup which attracts the attention of ajnabi men and lead to fitnah. This is what is prohibited in Islam. As for wearing neutral lipstick or makeup just to look presentable not to attract other ajnabi men, then it is permissible.
Conclusion
According to the above discussion and arguments, we conclude the following matters:
- Generally, the original ruling for clothing and adornment is permissible to be worn or placed on a person’s body, clothing or place. However, the ruling is applicable (halal and permissible) for as long as there are no specific evidences that ruled it as an exception to the general rule.
- In our opinion, if a woman wears a neutral lipstick or makeup such as powder and others (not excessively), not with the intention of tabarruj, then it is permissible as long as it does not lead to fitnah and attract the attention of men.
- Especially if she wears makeup to look presentable not to attract other ajnabi men. The reason is Islam emphasizes on the matters of neatness, cleanliness and beauty.
- However, for a Muslim woman, she should remember that being excessive in adorning herself is only permissible in front of her husband.
We end with the words of Sayyid Qutb for all of us to contemplate together, especially for all the women out there:
“Adornment for women is permissible to fulfil her natural desire. Every woman wishes to be beautiful. However, adornments are different according to the different times, nonetheless, the basis of adornment is the same naturally in women, which is to beautify herself and show it to men. Islam is not against this natural desire but teaches how to correctly utilize it. Islam makes it so her natural desire is channelled towards the right way, which is towards her husband as her sole life partner, who is permissible to look at parts of her body of which is prohibited to be seen by others.” (See Fi Zilal al-Quran, 4/2512)