http://www.arabnews.com/?page=5§ion=0&article=73015&d=13&m=11&y=2005
Friday, 11, November, 2005 (09, Shawwal, 1426)
Things Allowed With the Hijab
Adil Salahi, Arab News
Q. Is it permissible for a Muslim woman to wear make-up when she goes out
wearing the hijab? Is she allowed to wear an ornamented dress?
N. Sultana
A. Scholars have wide differences with regard to the first point. Many
scholars, particularly contemporary ones, take a very strict view, maintaining
that a Muslim woman must not be seen wearing make-up by any man other than
those of her relatives whom she is forbidden to marry. Other scholars say that
wearing decent make-up that is not designed to attract people's gazes is
permissible. Both groups support their views with the same Qur'anic verse that
defines how Muslim women should appear. The verse in question states: "Tell
believing women to lower their gaze and to be mindful of their chastity, and
not to display their charms except what may ordinarily appear thereof. Let them
draw their head-coverings over their bosoms and not display their charms to any
but their husbands, or their fathers, or their husbands' fathers, or their
sons, or their husbands' sons, or their brothers, or their brothers' sons, or
their sisters' sons, or their womenfolk, or those whom they rightfully possess,
or such male attendants as are free of physical desire, or children that are as
yet unaware of women's nakedness. Let them not swing their legs in walking so
as to draw attention to their hidden charms.
Believers, turn to God in repentance, so that you may achieve success."
(24: 31)
The operative clause in this connection is that believing women must not
"display their charms except what may ordinarily appear thereof." Scholars
understand the phrase "what may ordinarily appear thereof" in different ways.
Some say that it refers to the overall shape of the woman, such as her height
and aspects of her figure that are not disguised by clothes. These say that
wearing make-up is not permissible. Others say that it refers to the face and
the arms. Ibn Abbas goes further to say that it means "the face, arms, kohl and
the coloring a woman wears." Kohl is a black stuff used as make up for the
eyes. The coloring he refers to is a red color which women may wear on their
hands or faces.
As for the second point, concerning "ornamented dress", I am not clear
what is meant by "ornament" in this phrase. If it refers to ornaments that are
put on clothes such as a broche, then these are permissible, unless they
contain something to make them otherwise. If, on the other hand, it refers to
printed material, then the design should be of decent nature. Although some
societies impose certain colors on women's clothes, such as black, dark blue or
gray, the fact is that Islam does not require such restrictions. All decent
colors are permissible.
What we mean by decent is that which is considered to be decent in one's
community. A woman's clothes must be such as not to be eye-catching or inviting
criticism or a hard gaze. Otherwise, there is no particular restriction on
color.
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
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