Using food for cosmetic purposes...?

Allah has created man in the best shape and form; He says:

"He Created the heavens and earth in truth and Formed you and perfected your forms; and to Him is the (final) destination." [64:3]

"Who Created you, Proportioned you, and Balanced you?" [82:7]

Allah created everything in the universe to suit the nature of man as well as to be in harmony with the way Allah assembled him. Allah made everything on earth able to meet the needs of man that vary and differ according to time and place.

Hence, man lives in an environment and climate suitable for him. Allah says: "Do you not see that Allah Has Made subject to you whatever is in the heavens and whatever is in the earth and amply Bestowed upon you His favors, (both) apparent and unapparent?" [31:20]

One of the most important aspects of this life is food, which helps man survive and obtain various benefits. It is the source of energy and growth for the body and it resists diseases that weaken it. It was proven through medicine and experimentation conducted throughout the course of time that some kinds of food increase beauty and adornment and help to remove defects that may afflict the body and affect its beauty, or hide it.

There are two aspects of types of food that are involved in beauty:

The basic purpose for using them is treatment, and then other beneficial uses evolved from this.

Examples of this are the following:

·        Using honey to remove freckles that appear on the face.

·        Using black seed to treat Alopecia and leprosy.

·        Using lemon juice to remove the spots that surround the eyes, or any spots on the face.

There is no doubt that this kind of treatment is lawful as long as it is within the limits of Shari‘ah as these types of food are used as a kind of treatment. The Prophet (saws) said: “Allah has sent down both disease and cure and appointed a cure for every disease. So treat yourselves medically, but use nothing that is prohibited.” [Abu Dawood]

The second aspect is to use these types of food for the sake of beautification. Examples of these uses are the following:

·        Using cucumbers to remove rough skin and wrinkles.

·        Using parsley to help in purifying the skin and the face.

·        Activating the skin by using strawberry.

This category is included in the general benefits that Allah made lawful. This is according to the Fatwa that was issued by the Permanent Committee for Islamic Research and Issuing of Fatwas, as proven by the following:

First: Allah created everything on earth and made them subject to us in all forms, whether for a necessary or a complementary benefit, or a benefit that man uses to relax and renew his activity and power for the best of this worldly life and the Hereafter.

There is no doubt that using these permissible types of food in seeking beauty and adornment is one of the benefits that Allah has created for us; He says:

"It is He who Created for you all of that which is on the earth. Then He Directed Himself to the heaven, (His being above all creation), and Made them seven heavens, and He Is Knowing of all things." [2:29]

"Do you not see that Allah has Subjected to you whatever is on the earth and the ships which run through the sea by His command? And He Restrains the sky from falling upon the earth, unless by His permission. Indeed Allah, to the people, is Kind and Merciful." [22:65]

Whoever contemplates upon these verses will find that this creation and subjugation are not restricted to a certain aspect or one creature alone, but they are general as they include everything that is of benefit, as is indicated in the phrase which means "to you".

Second: Beautification and adornment are among man’s basic instincts and are innate in the sons of Adam. Thus, it is one of the needs that man seeks to fulfill. The Prophet (saws) said: “The one who has in his heart the weight of a mustard seed of pride will not enter Paradise.” A man said, “O Messenger of Allah, everyone of us likes that his dress should be fine, and that his shoes should be fine.” The Prophet (saws) responded: “Indeed, Allah is Beautiful and He loves beauty.” [Muslim]

The Prophet (saws) liked wearing perfume and had a bottle of perfume that he would use. He would say: “Three things are rendered beloved to me in the present life: women and perfume - and the coolness of my eyes lies in performing prayer.” [Ahmad]

The Prophet (saws) also had a Kohl (antimony) container for his eyes. He used to oil his head and beard and comb them. He also used to have certain clothes for meeting prominent persons and the chiefs of the tribes. This is also required under Shari‘ah within the limits that Allah has set. Allah says: "And it is He who Subjected the sea for you to eat from it tender meat and to extract from it ornaments which you wear. And you see the ships plowing through it, and (He Subjected it) that you may seek of His bounty; and perhaps you will be grateful." [16:14]

Moreover, Allah has disapproved of prohibiting anything of this without evidence; He says: "Say, ‘Who has forbidden the adornment of Allah which He has Produced for His servants and the good (lawful) things of provision?’ Say, ‘They are for those who believe during the worldly life (but) exclusively for them on the Day of Resurrection.’ Thus do We Detail the verses for a people who know." [7:32]

At the same time, however, the following should be borne in mind:

·        Using these things should be according to the need that achieves what is needed. A person should not be extravagant while using them as Allah The Almighty has forbidden this.

·        It is better to use other means that are, by default, used for cosmetic purposes, as these types of food were not originally created for cosmetic purposes. This is so as to not indulge in wastefulness.

Beautification and Adornment

 

The Shari‘ah has approved of this as indicated by the following:

 

·        Advising man to look after his body and cleanliness, which is considered one of the aspects of adornment. The Prophet (saws) said: “Five acts are from Fitrah (natural disposition): circumcision, shaving the pubic hair, clipping the nails, plucking the hair under the armpits and cutting the moustache short.” [Muslim]

 

·        The Prophet (saws) forbade the traveler who returns at night from surprising his wife, so as not to see her in a bad condition. The Prophet (saws) said in this regard: “(Do not return) until the woman removes the pubic hair and combs her hair.” [Muslim]

 

·        The Prophet (saws) urged us to purify ourselves and made this purification a reason for being forgiven by Allah in some cases. For instance, the Prophet (saws) said: “Whoever takes a bath on Friday, purifies himself as much as he can, then uses his (hair) oil or perfumes himself, then proceeds (for the Friday prayer) and does not separate two persons who are sitting together (in the mosque), then prays as much as he can according to what was predetermined by Allah and remains silent while the Imaam is delivering the Khutbah, his sins between the present and the past Friday would be forgiven." [Al-Bukhari]

 

Third: The basic rule for adornment and beautification is permissibility unless something that is prohibited under Shari‘ah is used like impurities and alcohol that is part of the perfume industry with a high percentage. Also, gold and silk for men and the use of perfume for women at a time that she will pass by non-Mahram men.