Is Wearing Makeup Haram?
Makeup is considered halal for Muslim women to wear if it is worn for their husbands or non-mahram men, rather than to attract men in general. Makeup is often forbidden for Muslim men.
As Muslims, we may encounter situations where we wonder whether makeup is halal or haram for Muslim men or women in Islam. This article contains all of the Islamic cosmetics rulings for men and women.
Can Women Wear Makeup?
Women are generally allowed to wear makeup if it’s for their husbands and for all the non-mahram men. Non-mahram men for a woman are all those men whom she isn’t allowed to get married to. As an example, it is allowed for a woman to wear makeup in front of her brother as the brother is non-mahram to her.
Secondly, women are generally allowed to look good in Islam. Islam teaches and allows women to beautify themselves and it’s in their nature as well. Allah also likes beauty and has suggested that Muslims beautify themselves.
This hadith from Tirmidhi says about beauty:
“Verily, Allah likes beauty”
[Tirmidhi]
Lastly, a woman should also make sure that the makeup she is using is not permanent and is not in any way will harm her as we have an obligation as Muslims to safeguard the body. The makeup is halal if it’s perfectly safe and removable.
Can Muslim Women Wear Makeup In Public?
There is a conflict when it comes to wearing makeup in public. Some scholars say that it is allowed with minimum makeup and some say that it’s totally haram to wear makeup in front of non-mahram men.
As the public appearance will mean that the woman is now in the open eyes she has to be modest here. There is a Quranic verse I would like to add here:
“And tell the believing women to lower their gaze and guard their chastity, and not to reveal their adornments1 except what normally appears.2 Let them draw their veils over their chests, and not reveal their ˹hidden˺ adornments3 except to their husbands, their fathers, their fathers-in-law, their sons, their stepsons, their brothers, their brothers’ sons or sisters’ sons, their fellow women, those ˹bondwomen˺ in their possession, male attendants with no desire, or children who are still unaware of women’s nakedness. Let them not stomp their feet, drawing attention to their hidden adornments. Turn to Allah in repentance all together, O believers, so that you may be successful.”
[Quran 24:31]
This verse suggests that Allah has ordered Muslim women to guard their beauty against the non-mahram eyes. Of course also, in this case, some makeup to an extent will be allowed in public as well such as foundation or some makeup to hide any skin disease.
Islam gives a lot of importance to the intent behind actions. If the intent of wearing the makeup is to hide any abnormalities or just day-to-day makeup a woman wears then it will be considered halal.
If the intent is to simply attract the opposite gender then obviously it’s haram and not allowed for anyone.
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Is It Haram To Wear Makeup While Praying?
Muslims are required to pray five times a day, whether they are men or women. To perform the daily prayers, one must first get clean and perform wudu. The act of wudu is a prerequisite to prayer and is compulsory.
Wudu includes washing up hands, face, and feet with water. Most of the wudu won’t matter with makeup but washing the face will take the makeup off or at least disrupt it. Imagine wearing makeup and washing your makeup five times a day. Won’t that be a hassle?
Some makeup is waterproof meaning that wudu won’t wash it away. But to perform wudu the water needs to touch the skin. Again in this case a Muslim woman would have to take the water-resistant makeup off in order to complete wudu before offering prayers.
It is safe to say that whenever you will perform wudu makeup will be washed away and there so makeup isn’t allowed while praying.
Is It Haram For Muslim Men To Wear Makeup?
Makeup is something for women in general. Islam forbids men to perform acts like that of women or imitate them. In this context, makeup is considered haram for men.
Narrated Ibn ‘Abbas:
[Jami` at-Tirmidhi 2784]
“The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) cursed the women who imitate men and the men who imitate women.”
Although in some cases it’s medically important to wear makeup for men. For example, just think of a rare skin disease that can be displeasing for others to see and someone hiding it with makeup. This will be considered halal in Islam.
Again here the intent is more important than the makeup itself. Please note that this specific person will have to wash it through five times a day as well to perform wudu for offering prayers.
Wearing Kohl is allowed in Islam for Muslim men and is a sunnah of the Prophet (peace be upon him).
“Wearing kohl is one of the sunnas of the Prophet, peace be upon him. It is allowed for both males and females.”
[source]
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Wearing Makeup In Islam For One’s Spouse
It’s perfectly fine to wear makeup for your spouse. Islam suggests that a woman is allowed to look beautiful for her husband. Of course, makeup will make her look good and her husband will be pleased.
Pleasing her husband is also a duty of a woman. It can be by looking after the husband or looking good for him or even doing something he likes. All in all makeup and anything that makes her husband loves her more is not only allowed but also highly advised.
Is Being A Makeup Artist Haram?
Islamic scholars state that working as a makeup artist is halal only when there are no haram activities involved.
Some of the haram Islamic activities related to makeup artists are plucking eyebrows, permanent makeup, working on private parts (nudity), and tattoos.
Some makeup artists are only working in the cinema industry to use makeup for a character for a particular role. Again the same rulings will apply here that if makeup won’t involve ant haram makeup activities it will be considered halal.
“Yes, it is permissible to be a makeup artist as it does not contradict any of the rulings of Islam, such that a woman beautifying herself for her husband is even an act of reward.
However, as you mentioned you should not do anything that contradicts the rulings of Islam, like plucking eyebrows, drawing tattoos or seeing the awrah (private area) of another woman.”
[source]
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Is Semi-Permanent Makeup Haram?
Semi-permanent and permanent makeup includes tattoos, plucking eyebrows, and micro blading. All of these are considered haram in Islam unless it is for medical purposes.
The majority of modern-day permanent make-up uses organic pigments rather than the synthetic pigments utilized in classic permanent make-up.
“Allah has cursed those women who practise tattooing or get it done for themselves, and those who remove hair from their faces, and those who create spaces between their teeth artificially to look beautiful, such ladies as change the features created by Allah. Why then shall I not curse those whom Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) has cursed and who are cursed in Allah’s Book too?”
[Sahih al-Bukhari: 5931]
This hadith clears that tattooing is haram. However, now there are also cosmetic surgeries for burn victims and other abnormalities. Those kinds of surgeries are permanent but will be considered halal.
Lip fillers will also be considered haram in general as it is permanent and a Muslim woman is just performing it to change her physical appearance. Although in one condition lip fillers will also be considered halal when medically it is needed.
Is Wearing Makeup In Ramadan Haram?
During Ramadan, Muslims observe fasting for the whole month. Makeup generally won’t break one’s fast as it is not entered the bloodstream. So any makeup on the face or just the skin is allowed in Ramadan too.
The main thing Muslim women need to take care of is that all that makeup won’t be a problem in performing wudu and the five obligatory prayers. Makeup that can enter the bloodstream like lipstick which can enter the mouth sometimes will be advised not to be used in Ramadan.
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Is It Halal To Wear Makeup That Contains Alcohol?
Makeup that contains alcohol is generally considered halal as that alcohol won’t get you intoxicated. Alcohol is haram only when a person uses it and can get drunk.
Makeup is only used normally on the face and other parts of the outer body that can’t be enough to get one drunk. Alcohol itself is not impure. Some of the many things we use contain alcohol just as vinegar and perfumes.
Read more on why alcohol-based perfumes are considered halal.
Can Women Wear Makeup with Hijab?
Yes, women are allowed to wear makeup if their hijab completely covers their bodies except for their hands and faces. The makeup must not attract non-mahram men in general and would be for the spouse and mahrams.
Final Thoughts
Makeup generally is halal for women if it’s for their husbands and all the mahram men. Makeup will also be allowed in any medical emergency situations. Apart from that makeup that is permanent for example tattoos and lip fillers are haram unless again medically needed. Makeup is totally haram for men.
Makeup is halal when:
- Done for the spouse.
- Done for mahrams only and not to attract non-mahram.
- Is medically needed and an emergency.
- Is not permanent.
- It will not interfere with any of the Islamic obligatory acts like prayers.
- Is done to hide skin diseases and abnormalities.
And Allah Knows Best.
