Is Teeth Filing With Braces Treatment Impermissible?

Answered by Ustadh Salman Younas

Question: Assalam aleykum

I have braces and sometimes during the treatment you have to fill your teeth down to make them level and some can be bigger than others. I have heard that this is haram and was amongst the things cursed my the Messenger of Allah (Peace and blessings be upon him). Is this true?

Answer: assalamu alaykum

It is permissible to have braces and also teeth fillings when undertaken for valid reasons, such as medical considerations or to correct something considered abnormal/deformed.

The tradition that you inquire about in your question was understood by scholars in various ways. Some scholars stated the prohibition was due to such an act entailing changing the creation of God; others stated that it was due to it being a form of deception. Ibn Ashur, on the other hand, forwarded the argument that this prohibition related to characteristics known of indecent women (e.g. prostitutes) or idolators present during the time of the Prophet (blessings and peace be upon him). Despite this, all these views allow for it when performed for the reasons you mention in your question.

[Ibn Hajar, Fath al-Bari; Ibn Ashur, al-Tahrir]

[Ustadh] Salman Younas

Checked and approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Ustadh Salman Younas graduated from Stony Brook University with a degree in Political Science and Religious Studies. After studying the Islamic sciences online and with local scholars in New York, Ustadh Salman moved to Amman. There he studies Islamic law, legal methodology, belief, hadith methodology, logic, Arabic, and tafsir.