The majority opinion of Islamic scholars is that plastic surgery is haram for the purpose of beautification. However, they consider it permissible if there is an explicit need, such as a medical need or to correct a physical defect.
Is Plastic Surgery Haram?
Islamic scholars consider plastic surgery haram unless there is a need for it, such as a medical need or to correct a deformity. Otherwise, Islamic authority figures believe that cosmetic surgery is haram in general.
We researched many sources to understand why scholars formed this opinion. Let’s take a look at the evidences and what authority figures have to say.
Islam Q&A, an Islamic authority site, discussed how plastic surgery is performed either by choice (for beautification) or out of need. They clarified that plastic surgery is only halal if there is a need for it, which may arise because (source):
- There is a defect:
- There is a deformaty or a body part is destroyed (e.g. burnt skin);
- There is a missing part;
- There is a medical need.
Additionally, the authority site clarified that both physical and congenital faults (resulting from illness) can be corrected or removed using plastic surgery. The authority site clarified that these faults can cause psychological or physical harm, and it’s, therefore, halal to perform surgery on the afflicted.
We also consulted a Fatwa by Dar Al-Ifta, in response to a question about undergoing rhinoplasty to reduce an abnormally large nose’s size. The nose caused the person breathing problems and mental distress.
Dar Al-Ifta responded clarifying that, although plastic surgery is prohibited, it’s halal if a physician deems it necessary for physical reasons, or to correct a congenital defect. (source)
Some examples Islam Q&A gave of faults include twisted fingers or toes, scars left by skin diseases such as leprosy, and scars caused by burning. The authority source further clarified that certain cosmetic surgical procedures are haram without excuse, because they are performed for beautification and there is no need for them (source).
They specified the following procedures:
- Face-lifts;
- Breast enlargement surgery;
- Procedures that aim to reduce ageing signs;
The authority figures further clarified that these operations are deceitful and tamper with Allah’s creation, and many of them result in ongoing pain post-operation. Thus, Islam Q&A concluded that these procedures are haram.
Why Is Plastic Surgery Haram?
Plastic surgery without any need is haram because it alters Allah’s creation. However, if there is a need, such as a medical need, then it is considered halal. This is a majority opinion held by Islamic scholars.
Is Face Lift Haram?
Facelifts are performed to make you appear younger, which, according to Islamic scholars, is deceitful and haram.
We consulted sources including Islam Q&A and IslamWeb.net, and both authority sites shared the same understanding regarding facelifts.
IslamWeb.Net clarified that plastic surgery for beautification is haram, and they believe facelifts fall under this category because they’re performed to make one look younger. Thus, they stated that it’s haram and considered as changing Allah’s creation (source).
Many Islamic authority sites and scholars cite the following hadith as evidence for beautification-related surgery being haram:
The Prophet said: Abdullah (bin Masood) said, “Allah curses those ladies who practice tattooing and those who get themselves tattooed, and those ladies who remove the hair from their faces and those who make artificial spaces between their teeth in order to look more beautiful whereby they change Allah’s creation.”
[Reported by Imam Al-Bukhari] (source)
Islam Q&A has the same stance on the matter. They clarified that since face-lifts are usually done for beautification and to appear younger, the surgery is considered as changing the appearance of Allah’s creation, and is therefore haram. (source)
Is It Haram To Get a Nose Job?
Islamic authority figures clarified that nose jobs, or rhinoplasty, follow the general Islamic guidelines about surgery. Thus, it is haram to get a nose job unless there is a need (such as to correct a deformity).
We referenced a fatwa earlier addressing a situation where getting a nose job is halal. In that fatwa, Dar Al-Ifta clarified that getting the nose job is halal provided it’s deemed necessary by a physician (source).
Islam Q&A shares their view regarding nose jobs. The authority site answered a question about undergoing a physician-recommended rhinoplasty, and here’s the summary (source):
If there is some defect in the nose and the purpose of the cosmetic surgery is to remove that defect, then there is nothing wrong with nose jobs (rhinoplasty). But if the purpose is simply to make it more beautiful, then it is not permissible to do this cosmetic nose surgery.
Islam Q&A (source)
In their full response, the Islamic authority figures clarified that nose jobs follow the same Islamic laws as other types of plastic surgery. So, they are permissible only if there is a need, and not for beautification.
They also cited the following hadith, which indicates operations of this kind are permissible provided there is no intention to change Allah’s creation (source):
“‘Arfajah ibn As’ad narrated that he lost his nose in the battle of al-Kulab during the Jahiliyyah, so he wore a nose made of silver but it became putrid, so the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) told him to wear a nose made of gold.”
Narrated by al-Tirmidhi, 1770; Abu Dawud, 4232; al-Nasai, 5161. This hadith was classed as hasan by Shaykh al-Albani in Irwa al-Ghalil, 824.
Additionally, many Islamic authority figures, including Islam Q&A, reference the following verse from Surah al-Nisa as evidence that changing Allah’s creation is haram:
“They (all those who worship others other than Allah) invoke nothing but female deities besides Him (Allah), and they invoke nothing but Shaytan (Satan), a persistent rebel! Allah cursed him. And he [Shaytan (Satan)] said: ‘I will take an appointed portion of your slaves. ‘Verily, I will mislead them, and surely, I will arouse in them false desires; and certainly, I will order them to slit the ears of cattle, and indeed I will order them to change the nature created by Allah’”
[al-Nisa’ 4:117-119]
They further clarified that Shaitan (Satan) encourages people to change Allah’s creation.
Is Nose Thread Lift Haram?
Although a nose thread lift isn’t surgical, most Islamic authority figures use the same evidences as for rhinoplasty to justify its impermissibility. The reason is that, according to Islamic scholars, nose thread lifts still alter your physical appearance, and are therefore only permitted if there is a need.
Mufti Ebrahim Desai shared his detailed fatwa regarding nose thread lifts on Idealwoman.org (source). He clarified the following points:
- Nose thread lifts involve changing your physical appearance, i.e. Allah’s creation, and ‘mutilating’ your body.
- Therefore, the procedure is only permitted if there is a need, such as to correct a defect or due to medical reasons.
- Despite the procedure’s effects being temporary, the Mufti stated that it is “still not be permissible since it is still an aesthetic cosmetic procedure meant to change one’s appearance.”
Finally, the mufti referred the questioner to a detailed fatwa on the Islamic laws regarding cosmetic surgery (which includes procedures like liposuction – learn more about what Islamic scholars have to say on the ruling of getting liposuction surgery). So, the indication is that nose thread lift follows the same principles.
Is Non Surgical Rhinoplasty Haram?
Non-surgical rhinoplasty is only halal if there is a need for it, e.g. to correct a defect or to improve breathing. Otherwise, rhinoplasty for the purpose of beautification is impermissible.
To understand this, we referred to the fatwa on AskImam regarding non-surgical nose jobs (source) and Mufti Menk’s discussion about nose jobs and braces (source).
On AskImam, the question asked about the permissibility of non-surgical nose jobs and nose thread lifts. The question was answered by a student of Dar al-Ifta, Usamaah Dadipatel, and checked by Mufti Ebhrahim Desai. They clarified that non-surgical rhinoplasty is haram unless there is a need for it.
Mufti Menk addressed the permissibility of nose jobs in general, both surgical and non-surgical. He shares the same viewpoint as AskImam, and clarified some situations where a nose job is permitted, such as (source):
- To correct the septum or a bent that is causing breathing problems.
- To correct a physical defect.
Is Rhinoplasty Haram?
Rhinoplasty is considered haram by the majority opinion of Islamic scholars, unless there is a need for the surgery such as to correct an abnormality or to improve breathing.
Rhinoplasty is the medical term for a nose job, and thus the Islamic rulings regarding it are the same as we discussed in a previous section.
Final Word
Islamic scholars consider plastic surgery haram except for specific cases where exceptions apply. These exceptions are usually made when there is a medical need.
If you’re looking to get cosmetic surgery for a specific reason, you might want to share your situation with a scholar and ask them for advice. They can guide you better about whether it is halal or haram for your specific case.
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