A woman asks: Is it permissible for a woman to apply makeup, meaning cosmetics, and then go out to the mosque?
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The questioner : Is it permissible for a woman to apply makeup, meaning cosmetics, and then go out to the mosque?
The Shaykh : First: We must look at this makeup or these cosmetics and ask whether they have a negative effect on the woman's face? The doctors know this. Some of these cosmetics or these makeups may be harmful to the woman, even in the long term. If it is harmful, then it is not permissible to use it, because anything that is harmful is prohibited for a person, because the person's own self is a trust that must not be exposed to destruction. Look at the hadith of 'Amr ibn al-'As (may Allah be pleased with him). The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) sent him on a military expedition, and one night he had a sexual discharge. The night was cold, and when a person has a sexual discharge, he must perform the full ritual bath. But he feared that if he bathed, the cold would strike him. So he performed dry ablution and led his companions in prayer. When they returned to the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), he said to him: أصليت بأصحابك وأنت جنب؟ قال: يا رسول الله ذكرته قول الله تعالى: ولا تقتلوا أنفسكم إن الله كان بكم رحيماً -يعني فخفت من البرد فتيممت- فضحك النبي صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم حتى بدت نواجذه Did you lead your companions in prayer while you were in a state of major ritual impurity? He said: O Messenger of Allah, I remembered the saying of Allah the Exalted: "And do not kill yourselves. Indeed, Allah has been to you Merciful" - meaning I feared the cold so I performed dry ablution - so the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) laughed until his molars were visible. Now, did 'Amr ibn al-'As fear death or did he fear illness?
The student: Illness.
The Shaykh : From illness. So, anything that a person fears for himself, whether it is illness or harm, it is not permissible for him to proceed with it, because your self is a trust in your keeping. As for if the doctors say that this makeup does not affect the skin, even in the long term, then there is nothing wrong with a woman using it to adorn herself for her husband. But as for using it when she wants to go out to the mosque or to the market, this is a place of fitnah (trial, discord or temptation), because someone who may be tempted by her might see her.
On this occasion, I would like to point out an issue that happens to many married people whom Allah blesses with marriage. If it is the night of the celebration, meaning the wedding night, and they set up a platform, meaning what?
The student: ... .
The Shaykh : A koshah, what is it?
The student: The koshah.
The Shaykh : A koshah with a hah.
The student: Yes.
The Shaykh : Yes, this is a word I do not know about, but the platform is a raised thing, a raised chair or a bench, where the husband and wife sit together in front of the women. And the women are usually uncovered in their faces, and those who attend the wedding are usually also wearing perfume and makeup. So if the man sits with his wife and these beautiful women are in front of him, yes, perhaps among these women there is one who is more beautiful than his wife. And at that time, he laments and grieves, how he was afflicted with this woman, yes. And among the women there is one who is better than her, so it becomes a calamity for him and for the woman. And so I am amazed how the wife's family is pleased for the husband to do this matter, this act. How are their hearts pleased? Do they not fear that among the women there is one who is more beautiful than their daughter? Perhaps this makes him lose interest in this woman, and after it was, as Allah willed, his chest was open and it was his wedding night and everything was as it should be, if he sees one who is more beautiful than his wife, he becomes depressed. So this is truly forbidden by the Shari'ah.
And it is also foolishness rationally. It is not a problem for the woman to come herself and be on the chair so that the women can see her, there is nothing wrong with that. But for the husband to come to her and sit with her in front of the women, this is a great evil by the Shari'ah and foolishness rationally.
When the woman finishes the wedding celebration, she goes to her room and the husband comes to her, and the matter is with modesty, and there is no sadness, no regret, and nothing at all. Yes.
The questioner : He says:The questioner : Some people criticize a woman for wearing a bra, claiming that it outlines her breast. Is this forbidden?
The student: The race.
The Shaykh : What?
The student: The race.
The Shaykh : The race... and the race for... the previous one has no legs, glory be to Allah, and one who has no legs cannot race. Did you not give us questions?
The student: You gathered.
The Shaykh : You gathered? Good, fine. Repeat the question.
The Shaykh : First: We must look at this makeup or these cosmetics and ask whether they have a negative effect on the woman's face? The doctors know this. Some of these cosmetics or these makeups may be harmful to the woman, even in the long term. If it is harmful, then it is not permissible to use it, because anything that is harmful is prohibited for a person, because the person's own self is a trust that must not be exposed to destruction. Look at the hadith of 'Amr ibn al-'As (may Allah be pleased with him). The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) sent him on a military expedition, and one night he had a sexual discharge. The night was cold, and when a person has a sexual discharge, he must perform the full ritual bath. But he feared that if he bathed, the cold would strike him. So he performed dry ablution and led his companions in prayer. When they returned to the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), he said to him: أصليت بأصحابك وأنت جنب؟ قال: يا رسول الله ذكرته قول الله تعالى: ولا تقتلوا أنفسكم إن الله كان بكم رحيماً -يعني فخفت من البرد فتيممت- فضحك النبي صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم حتى بدت نواجذه Did you lead your companions in prayer while you were in a state of major ritual impurity? He said: O Messenger of Allah, I remembered the saying of Allah the Exalted: "And do not kill yourselves. Indeed, Allah has been to you Merciful" - meaning I feared the cold so I performed dry ablution - so the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) laughed until his molars were visible. Now, did 'Amr ibn al-'As fear death or did he fear illness?
The student: Illness.
The Shaykh : From illness. So, anything that a person fears for himself, whether it is illness or harm, it is not permissible for him to proceed with it, because your self is a trust in your keeping. As for if the doctors say that this makeup does not affect the skin, even in the long term, then there is nothing wrong with a woman using it to adorn herself for her husband. But as for using it when she wants to go out to the mosque or to the market, this is a place of fitnah (trial, discord or temptation), because someone who may be tempted by her might see her.
On this occasion, I would like to point out an issue that happens to many married people whom Allah blesses with marriage. If it is the night of the celebration, meaning the wedding night, and they set up a platform, meaning what?
The student: ... .
The Shaykh : A koshah, what is it?
The student: The koshah.
The Shaykh : A koshah with a hah.
The student: Yes.
The Shaykh : Yes, this is a word I do not know about, but the platform is a raised thing, a raised chair or a bench, where the husband and wife sit together in front of the women. And the women are usually uncovered in their faces, and those who attend the wedding are usually also wearing perfume and makeup. So if the man sits with his wife and these beautiful women are in front of him, yes, perhaps among these women there is one who is more beautiful than his wife. And at that time, he laments and grieves, how he was afflicted with this woman, yes. And among the women there is one who is better than her, so it becomes a calamity for him and for the woman. And so I am amazed how the wife's family is pleased for the husband to do this matter, this act. How are their hearts pleased? Do they not fear that among the women there is one who is more beautiful than their daughter? Perhaps this makes him lose interest in this woman, and after it was, as Allah willed, his chest was open and it was his wedding night and everything was as it should be, if he sees one who is more beautiful than his wife, he becomes depressed. So this is truly forbidden by the Shari'ah.
And it is also foolishness rationally. It is not a problem for the woman to come herself and be on the chair so that the women can see her, there is nothing wrong with that. But for the husband to come to her and sit with her in front of the women, this is a great evil by the Shari'ah and foolishness rationally.
When the woman finishes the wedding celebration, she goes to her room and the husband comes to her, and the matter is with modesty, and there is no sadness, no regret, and nothing at all. Yes.
The questioner : He says:The questioner : Some people criticize a woman for wearing a bra, claiming that it outlines her breast. Is this forbidden?
The student: The race.
The Shaykh : What?
The student: The race.
The Shaykh : The race... and the race for... the previous one has no legs, glory be to Allah, and one who has no legs cannot race. Did you not give us questions?
The student: You gathered.
The Shaykh : You gathered? Good, fine. Repeat the question.