"The Muslim Woman's Makeup Book" - Classification of Decorations

Sanjar Said:
"The Muslim Woman's Makeup Book" - General Standards for a Woman's Adornment

Striving for beauty, trying to look beautiful, and for this, adorning yourself and applying makeup is inherent in women. However, as in every matter, there are instructions and guidelines of our religion in this regard. Your sister Maknuna, who has studied Islamic sciences in higher institutions and has been serving in the religious field for many years, has collected and sorted information on this subject and prepared for you the "Book of Makeup for a Muslim Woman". Part 8 - "Division of Decoration into Types".

Classification of ornaments

Beauty is divided into several types depending on its type: original beauty, which is innate, and beauty that is acquired later. The latter is permissible and forbidden depending on the ruling. We will study these in detail.

Part One

It is divided into two:

Natural beauty is the beauty that Allah Almighty has naturally created in a person, and He has adorned him with beautiful colors even without any makeup. That is, Allah Almighty created man in the most beautiful form and shape, with a harmonious figure and balanced limbs. This also represents adornment.

In turn, this is also divided into two: external and internal natural beauty.

- The basis of external beauty is facial beauty, which represents the original and generalizing beauty in the human structure. Facial beauty contains features that benefit a person and make them recognizable.

- Good build. This includes being tall or short, thin or plump.

- A beautiful voice. It can be sweet and soft, rough and harsh, or just average.

- Two palms. This is a sign of whether a person's hands are blessed or not.

Secret beauty.

This beauty is the beauty of a woman that is not shown to anyone except her husband and the mahrams mentioned in the Quran.
The reason this hidden beauty is revealed to the husband is because all the beauty in a woman belongs to her without any boundaries.

The husband is given the right to look at her whole body, and to touch and use it. This is in accordance with the verse 223 of Surah Al-Baqarah of the Holy Quran: “ Your women are your crops. So come to your crops as you wish. Provide for yourselves (good things). And fear Allah and know that you will surely meet Him. And give warning to the believers .”

The verse mentions that other mahrams may look at a woman's visible and hidden adornments. The hidden adornments in this context refer to the wrists, neck, head, and the lower part of the legs, which are often not covered tightly and are sometimes visible. This does not include the chest, back, and abdomen, which are always covered.

Artificial beauty, that is, enhancing beauty with the help of tools.

It is a woman's attempt to enhance her natural appearance with additional means - beautiful clothing, jewelry, and makeup - and to look more beautiful.

Perfect beauty is the use of adornments that further enhance one's appearance. It varies from country to country and from era to era, depending on the customs, needs, and demands of each country.

Perfect beauty can take several forms:

1. The adornment of cleanliness, neatness. This is the basis of human beauty, and all acquired beauty is built on this cleanliness. The Holy Quran also contains verses encouraging cleanliness. Allah Almighty says in Surah Al-Baqarah, verse 222, "Say: Indeed, Allah loves those who repent and loves those who purify themselves ."

1. Ablution and ghusl are also considered spiritual adornments and are of great importance in the sight of Allah. The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said: "Indeed, my nation will be resurrected on the Day of Resurrection with their hands and feet shining like white sand from the traces of ablution."

2. Another means of adornment for a person is all kinds of perfumes, which are loved by both men and women. The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) called upon his followers to wear perfume. Anas, a great companion of our Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), who served him for ten years, also said that he would not refuse perfume, and the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) would not turn it down.

3. Beautiful clothes. It is also an independent means of beauty, as Allah Almighty says in the Quran: “ O children of Adam, take your adornment at every time of prayer. Eat and drink and do not be extravagant. For He does not love the extravagant .” The word “adornment” in this verse has been interpreted by commentators as clothing.

4. Painting the palms of the hands and feet with henna is also considered a woman's adornment. Allah Almighty made them special for women and emphasized that they should be shown only in front of their husbands and mahrams. The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) did not like his women to go around without henna on their hands.

Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: "Indeed, the Jews and Christians do not use paint. So, you should differ from them."

5. Wearing jewelry and adornment. Wearing rings on the fingers is also a characteristic of women, and there are many hadiths that encourage them to donate their jewelry. They would bring gold and silver jewelry and jeweled rings to the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him).

6. Applying kohl to both eyes. This is one of the types of worship that takes care of the eyelashes and brings one closer to Allah. Kohl has been known to mankind since ancient times and has been used for treatment. There are many calls in the Sunnah to apply kohl. It is narrated from Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him): “Indeed, the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “The best of your kohl is kohl. It brightens the eyes and makes the eyelashes grow.”

7. Cosmetics that women use today for their face, hair, hands, and other parts of the body.

These are some of the tools that enhance a person's natural appearance. As the seasons change, existing and new ingredients are added to them, changing their appearance and condition.

Although a person's adornment is actually permissible, there are also places where it is forbidden depending on the situation and the type of means used. Below, we will provide information about the types of adornment that are permissible and forbidden.

To be continued...