What is the ruling on contact lenses that are placed on the eye instead of glasses, whether these lenses are medical, cosmetic, or both medical and cosmetic at the same time?
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The questioner : What is the ruling on contact lenses that are placed on the eye instead of glasses, whether these lenses are medical, cosmetic, or both medical and cosmetic at the same time? Please guide us in light of this?
The Shaykh : If the lenses are medical and the eye needs them, there is no harm in them, but on the condition that the doctor is consulted regarding this, because the matter is serious, so it is necessary to investigate and verify their benefit and lack of harm. As for if they are cosmetic, there is no harm in them for women either, but on the condition of consulting the doctor, and on the condition that these lenses are not colored like the eyes of animals, for example. Because if they are colored like the eyes of animals, that becomes a degradation for the children of Adam, because the children of Adam are more noble than animals. And the likeness of animals was not mentioned except in a context of blame, as He the Exalted said:[Al-Jumu'ah 62:5] And as He the Exalted said: [Al-A'raf 7:175] up to His saying: [Al-A'raf 7:176] And as he (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Sahih Muslim 1622g.
So it is not befitting for a person to degrade himself to the point of placing on his eye something that resembles the eyes of animals, rather he is prohibited from that. But if the beautification of the eye means making its blackness lean toward another color, there is no harm, but on the condition of consulting the doctor.
The questioner : May Allah reward you with good.
The Shaykh : If the lenses are medical and the eye needs them, there is no harm in them, but on the condition that the doctor is consulted regarding this, because the matter is serious, so it is necessary to investigate and verify their benefit and lack of harm. As for if they are cosmetic, there is no harm in them for women either, but on the condition of consulting the doctor, and on the condition that these lenses are not colored like the eyes of animals, for example. Because if they are colored like the eyes of animals, that becomes a degradation for the children of Adam, because the children of Adam are more noble than animals. And the likeness of animals was not mentioned except in a context of blame, as He the Exalted said:
The example of those who were entrusted with the Torah and then did not take it on is like that of a donkey who carries volumes [of books].
مَثَلُ الَّذِينَ حُمِّلُوا التَّوْرَاةَ ثُمَّ لَمْ يَحْمِلُوهَا كَمَثَلِ الْحِمَارِ يَحْمِلُ أَسْفَارًاAnd recite to them, [O Muhammad], the news of him to whom we gave [knowledge of] Our signs, but he detached himself from them; so Satan pursued him
وَاتْلُ عَلَيْهِمْ نَبَأَ الَّذِي آتَيْنَاهُ آيَاتِنَا فَانسَلَخَ مِنْهَا فَأَتْبَعَهُ الشَّيْطَانُAnd if We had willed, we could have elevated him thereby, but he adhered [instead] to the earth and followed his own desire. So his example is like that of the dog: if you chase him, he pants, or if you leave him, he [still] pants
وَلَوْ شِئْنَا لَرَفَعْنَاهُ بِهَا وَلَكِنَّهُ أَخْلَدَ إِلَى الأَرْضِ وَاتَّبَعَ هَوَاهُ فَمَثَلُهُ كَمَثَلِ الْكَلْبِ إِنْ تَحْمِلْ عَلَيْهِ يَلْهَثْ أَوْ تَتْرُكْهُ يَلْهَثْOne who gets back his gift is like a dog which vomits and then swallows that vomit.
العائد في هبته كالكلب يقيء ثم يعود في قيئهSo it is not befitting for a person to degrade himself to the point of placing on his eye something that resembles the eyes of animals, rather he is prohibited from that. But if the beautification of the eye means making its blackness lean toward another color, there is no harm, but on the condition of consulting the doctor.
The questioner : May Allah reward you with good.