Is it permissible for a veiled woman to use cosmetics on her face?
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The questioner : Is it permissible for a veiled woman to use cosmetics on her face? Is this permissible for her? We ask for guidance.
The Shaykh : The veiled woman is the one who covers herself from non-mahram men in what is obligatory for her to cover, by covering the face and other parts of the body that invite the gaze to fitnah. This is the Shari'ah hijab indicated by the Book of Allah, the Sunnah of His Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him), and sound reasoning, as its evidence has been explained in many treatises written by the scholars. Although the concept of hijab for many people is covering the body except for the face and hands, the stronger opinion is that the first and most important thing that must be hidden from view is the face, because the face is the place of adornment and desire and the focus of men's gazes. The obligation to cover and conceal it has been indicated by the Book of Allah, the Sunnah of His Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him), and sound reasoning, and many treatises have been written on this matter.
No one doubts that a woman is desired if her face is beautiful and avoided if her face is not beautiful, and that the suitor is most concerned with the beauty of her face when seeking beauty. I do not think a suitor would send someone to look at his prospective bride if he could not look at her himself; I do not think he would ask him about anything before asking about her face; I do not think he would ask how she presented herself or how her hair was or the like, and have the same concern for that as he has for the face. This is a known matter.
Accordingly, we say: It is not permissible for a woman to show her face to anyone other than her mahram and her husband, whether she is adorned with cosmetics or otherwise. As for showing the face to mahram and the husband, there is no harm in it, but she should not put on it anything that causes fitnah and attachment of the heart to her, except if it is in her uncovering for her husband. For the woman is commanded to adorn herself for her husband and to do the things that bring affection from her husband to her, which is a cause for his inclination toward her and desire for her, because one of the strongest causes of happiness between the two spouses is that Allah places love and affection in their hearts. Indeed, this is among the most important things between the two spouses, as Allah the Exalted said:[Ar-Rum 30:21].
Therefore, a woman putting on cosmetics and what beautifies the face for her husband is a desired and recommended matter. As for it in relation to others who are permitted to look at her face, if there is fear of fitnah, she should not put anything on her face, and if there is no fear, the matter in this is broad.
And let it be known that if some of the cosmetics prevent water from reaching the skin of the face, it is obligatory to remove it during wudu', because Allah the Exalted said: And if there is a barrier that prevents water from reaching, the person is not washing his face. For this reason, the scholars said: One of the conditions for the validity of wudu' is the removal of anything that prevents water from reaching the skin.
The Shaykh : The veiled woman is the one who covers herself from non-mahram men in what is obligatory for her to cover, by covering the face and other parts of the body that invite the gaze to fitnah. This is the Shari'ah hijab indicated by the Book of Allah, the Sunnah of His Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him), and sound reasoning, as its evidence has been explained in many treatises written by the scholars. Although the concept of hijab for many people is covering the body except for the face and hands, the stronger opinion is that the first and most important thing that must be hidden from view is the face, because the face is the place of adornment and desire and the focus of men's gazes. The obligation to cover and conceal it has been indicated by the Book of Allah, the Sunnah of His Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him), and sound reasoning, and many treatises have been written on this matter.
No one doubts that a woman is desired if her face is beautiful and avoided if her face is not beautiful, and that the suitor is most concerned with the beauty of her face when seeking beauty. I do not think a suitor would send someone to look at his prospective bride if he could not look at her himself; I do not think he would ask him about anything before asking about her face; I do not think he would ask how she presented herself or how her hair was or the like, and have the same concern for that as he has for the face. This is a known matter.
Accordingly, we say: It is not permissible for a woman to show her face to anyone other than her mahram and her husband, whether she is adorned with cosmetics or otherwise. As for showing the face to mahram and the husband, there is no harm in it, but she should not put on it anything that causes fitnah and attachment of the heart to her, except if it is in her uncovering for her husband. For the woman is commanded to adorn herself for her husband and to do the things that bring affection from her husband to her, which is a cause for his inclination toward her and desire for her, because one of the strongest causes of happiness between the two spouses is that Allah places love and affection in their hearts. Indeed, this is among the most important things between the two spouses, as Allah the Exalted said:
And of His signs is that He created for you from yourselves mates that you may find tranquillity in them; and He placed between you affection and mercy. Indeed in that are signs for a people who give thought.
ومن آياته أن خلق لكم من أنفسكم أزواجاً لتسكنوا إليهما وجعل بينكم مودة ورحمة إن في ذلك لآيات لقوم يتفكرونTherefore, a woman putting on cosmetics and what beautifies the face for her husband is a desired and recommended matter. As for it in relation to others who are permitted to look at her face, if there is fear of fitnah, she should not put anything on her face, and if there is no fear, the matter in this is broad.
And let it be known that if some of the cosmetics prevent water from reaching the skin of the face, it is obligatory to remove it during wudu', because Allah the Exalted said: