Botox, Threading, Fillers And Other Cosmetic Surgeries

Although Islam does permit certain forms of beautification and adornment for both male and female, great emphasis is put on the beautification of one’s inner self and treating the maladies of the heart. Nevertheless, the use of perfume, various creams and balms which do not have any Haraam ingredients, Kohl (Surma), jewellery for women, henna etc. are permitted in Islam; these do not change the way Allah b created us.

However, there are limits set by Shari’ah restraining us from going too far in pacifying our desires. Many a surgery carried out for cosmetic and beautification purposes are in fact tampering and altering the nature created by Allah b (تغيير خلق الله) and considered mutilation according to Shari’ah and therefore impermissible.

It is narrated that ‘Abd-Allaah ibn Mas’ood I said: May Allah b curse the one who does tattoos and the one who has a tattoo done, the one who plucks eyebrows and the one who has her eyebrows plucked, and those who file teeth for the purpose of beautification, changing the creation of Allaah. Bukhaari (5931) Muslim (2125).

If there is a genuine need, then based on the confirmation of a knowledgeable, reliable and pious scholar you may conduct such a surgery. However, if there any impure and impermissible substances sourced from swine or human albumin in such an injection; it would not be permissible to use even for genuine medicinal purposes except in dire circumstances, and that too with the following 4 conditions: 1) it is an absolute necessity, 2) it is an established fact that such a medicine is effective, 3) there are no known Halaal alternatives 4) it is based on the advice of a genuine professional doctor, preferably a pious muslim doctor.  If any of the four conditions are not found, it will not be permissible to use such Haraam substances dire circumstances either.

Furthermore side effects of such surgery have also been cited.[v] Botox for example, essentially weakens or paralyses the muscle and blocks signals from the nerves to the muscles. Small doses are purportedly considered safe but an unnecessary risk nonetheless. The body is a trust we have been entrusted with from Allah b and it is our duty to ensure it is not wasted in violating the commandments of Allah b.

As a medical Doctor, we urge you to discourage your patients and those seeking your advice from such futile involvements which not only stem from an inferiority complex and dissatisfaction and often lead to depression, but also drive our attention away from the purpose of our extremely short life in this temporary world and sucked into the devil’s snare.

Rather you should instill confidence in them and highlight the temporary nature of such injections, the drawbacks and the difficulty they will have to undergo in maintaining this unnatural lifestyle. Emphasise how the standard bar and criterion of a believer is not what we are coerced into by the immoral agents of the devil, rather our standard bar is the Messenger H and his companionsM.

Allah b says in the Qur’an:

وَتَعَاوَنُوا عَلَى الْبِرِّ وَالتَّقْوَى وَلَا تَعَاوَنُوا عَلَى الْإِثْمِ وَالْعُدْوَانِ وَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ شَدِيدُ الْعِقَابِ  (المائدة: 2)

And help one another to benignancy and piety, and do not help one another to vice and hostility, and be pious to Allah; surely Allah is strict in punishment. (Al-Qur’an 5:2) 

You may rest assured that Rizq (sustenance/wealth) predestined for you is sure to reach you one way or another and you will be rewarded handsomely for your abstention.

 Says Allah b in the Qur’an:

وَمَنْ يَتَّقِ اللَّهَ يَجْعَلْ لَهُ مَخْرَجًا (2) وَيَرْزُقْهُ مِنْ حَيْثُ لَا يَحْتَسِبُ وَمَنْ يَتَوَكَّلْ عَلَى اللَّهِ فَهُوَ حَسْبُهُ إِنَّ اللَّهَ بَالِغُ أَمْرِهِ قَدْ جَعَلَ اللَّهُ لِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدْرًا  (الطلاق: 2، 3)

And whoever fears Allah – He will give him a way out and provide for him from where he does not expect. Whoever puts his trust in Allah he will be enough for him.

Allah always achieves his aim. Allah has appointed a measure for all things (Al-Qur’an 65:2-3) 

Furthermore,

وَحَدَّثَنِي عَنْ مالِكٍ أَنَّهُ بَلَغَهُ أَنَّهُ كَانَ يُقَالُ: إِنَّ أَحَدًا لَنْ يَمُوتَ حَتَّى يَسْتَكْمِلَ رِزْقَهُ فَأَجْمِلُوا فِي الطَّلَبِ

)موطأ امام مالك(

“No one will die until his provision is completed for him, so act correctly in your seeking it.”

We must encourage one another to let nature take its course as destined by Allah b and be happy with it.

In conclusion it will NOT be permissible for you to conduct Botox surgery, surgical threading, or inject fillers for cosmetic purposes.

 Allah b has informed us in the Qur’an of the way the devils promised to lead us astray:

وَلَأُضِلَّنَّهُمْ وَلَأُمَنِّيَنَّهُمْ وَلَآمُرَنَّهُمْ فَلَيُبَتِّكُنَّ آذانَ الْأَنْعامِ وَلَآمُرَنَّهُمْ فَلَيُغَيِّرُنَّ خَلْقَ اللَّهِ وَمَنْ يَتَّخِذِ الشَّيْطانَ وَلِيًّا مِنْ دُونِ اللَّهِ فَقَدْ خَسِرَ خُسْراناً مُبِيناً

“I will lead them astray and fill them with false hopes. I will command them and they will cut off cattle’s ears. I will command them and they will change Allah’s creation.”

Anyone who takes Shaytaan as his protector in place of Allah has clearly lost everything.