Temporary Lip Fillers

Ustadh Tabraze Azam is asked if having one’s lips filled for beautification is permissible in Islam.

Question:

Assalam alaykum wa rahmat Allah wa barakatuh.

Are lip fillers permissible in Islam given that they are non surgical and of temporary nature, lasting up to approximately six months? It has become very common now and something that is very easily accessible to the youth so I was wondering if you could shed some light on this topic.

Answer:

Wa alaykum assalam wa rahmat Allah wa barakatuh.

The basis is that cosmetic treatments for purposes of mere beautification (tajmil) are impermissible because they entail changing or altering the natural form of a human being without due need. The jurists considered this to be a form of unnecessary mutilation (muthla).

Abd Allah ibn Mas‘ud, may Allah be well-pleased with him, is reported to have said, “Allah’s Mercy is distant from women who tattoo others and get tattoos, women who pluck their eyebrows and have their eyebrows plucked, and women who file their teeth to make gaps for beauty, altering Allah’s creation.” (Muslim)

This is the judgement of some major international fiqh academies, and also many contemporary scholars. As for corrective procedures, and exceptional cases, their ruling is clearly different. But whenever the limb is within the realm of normality, it is not acceptable to surgically alter it.

It’s often healthier to simply work on your contentment (rida) and gratitude (shukr) than to seek ways of making yourself seem “more attractive,” according to the standards of those lacking in much faith or certitude.

(Qurra Daghi/Muhammadi, Fiqh al-Qadaya al-Tibbiyya al-Mu‘asira 539; Majma‘ al-Fiqh al-Islami al-Hind 271)

Please also see Is It Permissible to Get Botox Injections? and Can I Remove Hair on My Cheeks?

And Allah Most High knows best.

Wassalam,

Tabraze Azam

Checked and approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani.