Answered by: Maulana Muhammad Asadullah Anwar Adam
Question:
Is plastic surgery haram to look better?
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
Answer:
“We have shaped mankind in the best mould.” [1]
In another verse, Allah (SWT) says:
“We bestowed on the children of Adam (as) a specific honour and sanctity.” [2]
Finally, Allah (SWT) quotes Satan’s saying,
“Verily I will mislead them, and surely I will arouse in them false desires, and certainly I will order them to still the ears of the cattle, and indeed I will order them to change the nature created by Allah (SWT).” [3]
From the aforementioned Qur’anic verses the point we can derive is that anything which is against the sanctity of mankind and changes one’s God-given features will be totally prohibited.
However, if there is a genuine need due to something being abnormal or deformed, then there is scope for permissibility.
If the surgery is being done purely for the purpose of beautification, then this will not be permissible, as it involves mutilating one’s body and changing one God-given feature.
[1] [Surah Teen ayat 4]
[2] [Surah Israh ayat 70]
[3] [Surah Nisaa ayat 117-119]
Only Allah knows best
Written by Maulana Muhammad Asadullah Anwar Adam
Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah
Darul Ifta Birmingham