Shar’i rulings pertaining to Islamic sisters

What is the Islamic ruling on applying colours or shades to a bride’s eyebrows?

Question 1: What do the blessed ‘Ulama [Islamic scholars] and Muftis [Islamic jurists] state regarding the following matter: While applying make-up to a bride’s face, we apply a little colour, kajal, Surmah [a type of kohl], pencil, shades, etc. to the eyebrows, and this colour is applied according to the colour of the eyebrows. For example, if the eyebrows are black, kajal or Surmah is applied, and if they are brown, we use a shade of similar colour so that their features can also be made dominant and beautiful like other parts of the face (such as cheeks, nose, jaws and lips). Similarly, the colour of the extra black hairs of the eyebrows is changed to the bride’s complexion by applying bleach, colour and dye. Is it permissible to beautify the eyebrows in this way as well? (Questioner: Umm-e-Haydar)

بِسْمِ اللّٰہِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِیْمِ

اَلْجَوَابُ بِعَوْنِ الْمَلِکِ الْوَھَّابِ اَللّٰھُمَّ ھِدَایَۃَ الْحَقِّ وَالصَّوَابِ

Answer: It is permissible for you to beautify the eyebrows in the aforementioned way as well provided that you do not make the eyebrows thinner by plucking them, do not apply creams or powders containing Najas [impure] substances, and do not use black dye or colour, or the one similar to the black for white hairs. However, if you carry out any of the aforementioned acts or beautify by using a method contrary to Shari’ah, beautifying will not be then permissible. Having the eyebrows plucked and making them thinner or having it done is impermissible and a sin.

وَاللہُ اَعْلَمُ عَزَّوَجَلَّ وَ رَسُوْلُہٗ اَعْلَم صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ

Islamic ruling on attaching artificial hair for a hairstyle

Question 2: What do the blessed ‘Ulama and Muftis state regarding the following matter: Is it permissible to temporarily attach a wig or a hair bun made of an animal hair such as the hairs of a horse or monkey, or artificial hairs of plastic to the hair of women through needles, hairpins, etc., in order to beautify their hairstyle? (Questioner: Umm-e-Haydar)

بِسْمِ اللّٰہِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِیْمِ

اَلْجَوَابُ بِعَوْنِ الْمَلِکِ الْوَھَّابِ اَللّٰھُمَّ ھِدَایَۃَ الْحَقِّ وَالصَّوَابِ

Answer: In the aforementioned case, it is permissible to attach a wig or a hair bun made of the hairs of any animal except swine, such as a horse, monkey, etc., or made of artificial hairs of plastic. However, it is impermissible and Haraam [prohibited] to attach a wig or a hair bun made of the hairs of a human.

Remember! If this temporary wig serves as an obstacle to the Mash ‘مَسْح’ [moistening] of the head in Wudu or washing of the actual hairs of the head in Ghusl, it will be compulsory to make Wudu and do Ghusl after removing it.

وَاللہُ اَعْلَمُ عَزَّوَجَلَّ وَ رَسُوْلُہٗ اَعْلَم صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ

Vegetables are great blessings bestowed by Allah Almighty. Some of them have even been mentioned in the Glorious Quran such as spinach, cucumber and onion etc. (Part 1, Surah Al-Baqarah, Ayah 61) Whereas, we see some vegetables being mentioned in blessed Ahadees too. Such as the Holy Rasool صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ used to love eating gourd. (Sahih Bukhari, vol. 3, pp. 536, Hadees 5433) Moreover, eating cucumber is also proven from the Holy Rasool صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ . (Sahih Muslim, pp. 870, Hadees 5330)

The Holy Rasool صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ has stated: Mushroom is from that Mann [مَن] which Allah Almighty descended upon Musa عَلَيْهِ السَّلَام and its water contains cure for the eye. (Sahih Muslim, pp. 872, Hadees 5346)

Looking at these blessings does not only feast one’s eyes but they also contain different tastes and benefits when consumed. Sometimes, such mistake is made while cooking vegetables which turns the tasty and beneficial vegetable into being harmful, or it reduces its benefit or taste. For example:

٭Being hasty in cooking, as vegetables are not cooked properly in hastiness. Moreover, due to not being cooked properly, same tasty and beneficial vegetable becomes harmful for stomach and health.

٭Similarly, vegetable is cut or boiled and then kept inside a fridge for several hours before cooking. This although saves the vegetable from rotting but it reduces its taste and benefit. Therefore, cut the vegetable a few minutes before cooking and then cook by washing it thoroughly so that it becomes beneficial for the stomach and health.

٭Some vegetables, such as turnip, carrot, radish, peas etc., should be cooked thoroughly; because until they are not cooked thoroughly, they are unable to be consumed.

٭Skinned vegetables such as bottle-gourd, potato, brinjal, apple gourd, radish, turnip, beetroot, carrot and cucumber etc., are more beneficial to be cooked and consumed with the skin because peeling the skin off can take the vitamins away that it [the skin] contains.

٭Sometimes, mistake is made in cooking those vegetables which are cooked after being boiled, such as spinach, fenugreek, courgette and gourd etc., that after boiling them, the water is thrown away. Then, they are cooked in a different utensil by putting spices in it. This shall not be done because by doing so, its nutrients also get wasted along with the water. Rather, boiled water shall be saved as much as required and vegetables shall be cooked in it properly by adding spices in it thus gaining full benefits from its nutrients.

٭Vegetables shall be cooked simple. Because eating spicy vegetables is harmful to one’s health. It causes heartburn and acidity etc.

٭Vegetables shall be cooked on a low gas because cooking it on a high gas can burn the food which would make it tasteless and useless.

May Allah Almighty enable us to benefit from vegetables!

اٰمِيۡن بِجَاهِ النَّبِيِّ الۡاَمِيۡن صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ