What's the Islamic ideal of beauty?

[hen]

IN the West we have what Madison Ave. and Hollywood say is beauty ( underfed blondes with large breasts) , in Christianity the emphasis is on the beauty of the inner person. Just curious what it is in Islam.

Hen

[jamila]

Fear of, Hope in, Reliance on and Obedience to Allah.

[Consider]

Peace,

I couldnt have said it better...

In islam outward appearance has no part to play at all in terms of ranks. In islam all are equal, the only inequality lies in how good a muslim we are.

The knowledgeable person is far superior to the less knowledgeable

‘Say, are those who know equal to those who do not know?’ [39:9]

‘Allah may raise those among you who believe, and those who have been given knowledge, by ranks’ [58:11]

The only beauty is how well we perform in our islam and true beauty comes from good religion and character.

Peace.

[hen]

In Christianity its like I said the inner beauty of a person. In Christianity women are to dress modestly, not lots of adornment with jewelry. Attitudes of gentleness and fear of the Lord are considered good qualities.

Realisitically speaking though I think there has to be some physical attraction too. Doesnt the woman or the man have to like the others looks? Even in arranged marriages dont the parents look for attractive people who will be suitable for their child?

Hen

[Consider]

Peace,

When choosing a partner for marriage, the firts thing you are supposed to look for is piety, i.e. religion and character.

'A woman is sought in marriage for four reasons welath, social status, baeuty and din (islam). So seek the one with din - may you then be successful' [sahih]

But looks are of some importance, a woman is allowed to turn down a proposal if she doesnt like the appearance of the guy. But appearance is important to an extent....

'The best of women is that who pleases him (i.e. her husband) when he looks at her, obeys him when he orders and does not subject her person or money to what he dislikes'

So it is important to an extent, religion and good character should not be compromised for looks, as looks like factors such as age, financial status etc.. are secondary matters.

I believe (i hope i am not generalising!) that men regard looks as more important than women do.

When looking for a spouse, you look for common things....when two people have the same aim in their life, i.e. their religion is their whole life...what could be more common than that?

[Khawlah]

salaam,

There is a hadith which I'm sorry I do not know word for word or it's reference but it goes something like: A sahabi woman came to the Prophet (sws) and said that she no longer found her husband attractive and wanted a divorce, The Prophet (sws) allowed her to divorce this man but she had to give him back his mahr (the money that he gave her when they got married) I think this is Bukhari. I will check inshaallah. Allah forgive me if I have misquoted this hadith.

So Hen, subhanaallah at the high status of the woman in islam! According to the correct teachings of islam, we muslim women are truly respected and liberated. And boy, I feel the difference. I have been muslim 5 years now and I would find nothing worse than to go back to kufr (disbelief). I'm sure many other converts will agree with me on this. Alhamdulillah that Allah guided me to islam. And alhamdulillah for you Hen that you are so open and polite and willing to learn the truth.

salaam alaikum wa rahmatullah

[hen]

Thanks for you reply Khawlah,

I have another question/observation for you ( or anyone).

You said: "According to the correct teachings of islam, we muslim women are truly respected and liberated. And boy, I feel the difference. I have been muslim 5 years now and I would find nothing worse than to go back to kufr (disbelief). I'm sure many other converts will agree with me on this."

I personally understand and admire the reasoning behind Hijab and modesty. Frankly I wish more of my Christian sisters dressed more modestly. My question: Is there a difference the way Muslim women are treated in the WEst versus the way they are treated in a Muslim country in the East. For example Saudi Arabia and the US. Will there be a difference in how they are treated by their husbands or the amount of freedoms they have in their everyday lives? Just curious to understand how fellow women live their lives I guess. Thanks

Respectfully,
Hen

[Bash ah Rat]

Assalamu alaikum

I cannot believe the blatant hypocrisy of these kuffar in that if a nun was to be covered they would say what a pious lady she is and if a muslim woman was to be covered they would say shes is being oppressed.

[Consider]

Peace hen,

here is an article I found, taken from www.islamicawakening.com, i knew I had read it somewhere,,,,,,,,,


IN SEARCH OF THE BODY BEAUTIFUL
'Itrat Azad


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------




There seems no limit nowadays to the extent that women (and men!) are prepared to go to achieve that "perfect look". Forget false eyelashes and wigs, we are now talking scalpels, implants and liposuction!


Cosmetic surgery amongst the actresses has been commonplace for quite some time now, but these days, we wouldn't be too hard pressed to find ordinary women on the street who are more plastic than real. Indeed, in some circles, having multiple facelifts has become a status symbol: the more you have, the higher you are in the status rankings.


If questioned whether cosmetic surgery was Islamically corrrect or not, then without doubt, most Muslims would instinctively respond by saying that it isn't, for the simple reason that it would be interfering with Allah's creation. And certainly, this would be the correct response. The Companion, Ibn Mas'ud (r) once said (quoting what he had heard the Prophet sallallahu alahi wa sallam say): "Allah has cursed the tattoers and those who have themselves tattooed, and those women who have their teeth filed for beauty and those who have their (facial) hair plucked and thus alter Allah's creation". A woman remarked, "What's all this?". So Ibn Mas'ud (R) said: "Should I not curse one whom Allah's Messenger cursed? And it is in the Book of Allah?!" She said"I have read the Qur'an from cover to cover, but I did not find that in it. He replied: "If you had read it thoroughly you would have found it. Allah says: "Whatever the Messenger gives you, take it and whatever he has forbidden, refrain from it." (Suratul Hashr 59:7)". (1)


So the Prophet Muhammad (saw) forbade women from performing these three practices which the women commonly did for the sake of beauty in their times - seemingly "insignificant" practices for which they would incur the CURSE of Allah. And the prohibition isn't just restricted to the procedures mentioned in the hadeeth. Because Allah says in more general terms in His Book:



"So set your face truly to the faith, Allah's handiwork according to the pattern on which He has made mankind; (Let there be) no change in the creation of Allah (2)" (ar-Rum 30:30)


Therefore it is obligatory for us to accept the creation of Allah as it is, not making any alterations to it (3). More importantly though, it is also obligatory for us to believe that all of Allah's creation is beautiful, because Allah, the Khaaliq (Creator), does not create anyting except with beauty and perfection, which is why He says to mankind:


"You can see no fault in the creation of ar-Rahman. Then look again: can you see any rifts? Then look again and yet again, your sight will return to you in a state of humiliation and worn out." (al Mulk 67:3)


This may all sound quiet strange when we consider how often we hear women complaining about their appearance (and men doing it for them!). In fact, it is estimated that over half of the Western women today actually perceive thmselves to be ugly. In addition, surveys show that nearly all women feel under pressure to "look good". As a result, the quest for beauty has become a serious preoccupation for many women. Open up any womens magazine and you will not fail to find a single one which doesn't contain tips on how to "look good", or which don't contain huge adverts promoting new creams that half the ageing process or concealers to hide wrinkles, etc.


Beauty today is big business. Beauty contests are very profitable and - contrary to popular belief - more are spawned every year. The cosmetics market is a multi-billion dollar industry; the demand for cosmetic surgery is growing at a tremendous rate. All three industries promote the same notions of beauty that women everywhere are expected to meet: mainly a white, European, "Barbie-doll" like standard. The pressures on women to conform to these standards are enormous and few are able to withstand them. (4)


In Islam, beauty is not just in the eye of the beholder, beauty is in the whole of creation, because Allah - the One free of all imperfections - is the one responsible for it. And as Allah says:


"Your Lord creates whatsoever He wills and chooses: no choice have they.
Subhanallah! And far removed is He from the partners they ascribe (to Him)". (28:68)


So it is from the wisdom of Allah that He has chosen to create some of us short, others tall, some fat, some thin, some dark-coloured, some light - all are beautiful and perfect in their own right. That is why we are taught from the sunnah, the beautiful du'a that the Prophet (saw) would say: "O Allah, as You have made my appearance beautiful, likewise make my character beautiful". (Allahumma kamaa hassanta khalaqi fa hassin khuluqi) (5)


As Muslims, we must believe that evil and imperfection cannot be attributed to Allah (6). The desire to change any aspect of ourselves means, in effect, that we are disatisfied with Allah's choice and His handiwork, and that there is imperfection in what He has created. Thus to say about ourselves or anyone else that we or they are ugly is a great sin. This point was reinforced by the Prophet (saw) when he once saw the Companion, 'Amr ibn Fulaan al-Ansari (r), whose izaar (lower garment) was hanging low (to the ground) so he (saw) ordered that he raise it. 'Amr made an excuse saying that he had skinny shins (ie he was embarassed to show them), so the Prophet responded by saying "O 'Amr! Verily Allah azza wa Jal has created everything in the best form" (6)


All this is certainly not intended to discourage women to look after themselves and adorn themselves in lawful ways (e.g. wearing nice clothes, having nicely done hair, etc). Indeed adorning oneself is something that the wives are oblgied to do for their husbands and Allah rewards the woman who pleases her husband when he looks at her (7). But with these tremendous pressures on women to conform to the ideals set by the marketing media, it may be hard for Muslimahs to resist feeling insecure or uncomfortable about their appearance. Consequently, many Muslim women have shed their hijabs for the sake of following fashion; Muslim women too develop inferiority complexes about themselves.


We must bear in mind that this search for the "body beautiful" is, in reality, a deception from Shaytaan. Shaytaan has vowed that he will created such false desires in mankind. He has said (as stated in the Qur'an):


"Surely I will arouse in them (mankind) 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" (an-Nisa 4:119).


May Allah always keep us safe from the false promises of Shaytan, for Verily He is the One who Guides to the Truth.






FOOTNOTES

(1) Reported by Ibn Mas'ud (r) and collected in Sahih Muslim eng transl. vol. 3 pg. 1166, no.5301.
(2) Note that this prohibition applies to the whole of creation, not just human beings. Therefpre, defacing any part of Allah's creation is haram.
(3) This is with the exception of those things which have been prescribed in the Shariah eg. clipping nails, shaving underarm and around the private parts etc.
(4) In fact some women now go to such extremes that it results in them developing health problems, anorexia nervosa for instance. The carcinogenic nature of breast implants are also well documented now. No doubt, the future will reveal more harmful effects of these artificial means of changing creation.
(5) One hadith which contains this supplication mentions that this du'a should be recited on looking in the mirror. However, the chain of this hadith is not authentic. But it is authentically reported as a supplication to be recited at any time. (See Ibn Taymiyyah's "al-Kalimat-Tayyib").
(6) Sahih, collected in Musnad Ahmed vol. 4, p.200
(7) see Musnad Ahmed, an-Nasa'i and others. Also it is forbidden for the husband to invoke ugliness on the wife, as was a common practice amongst the pre-Islamic Arabia.

[AbuMubarak]

http://www.dubaibuzz.com/db/search_Hadith&Sunnah.htm

[.: Anna :.]

well...i agree w/ what everyone was saying about what is most important is your piousness and your character, but where looks are concerned, whatever we look like, with whatever colour hair, colour skin, whatever face we've got, EVERYONE is a creation of Allah swt & we are beautiful cuz noone could have made us better than how he did, if u get wat i mean?

[alifromconroe]

Yes Anna. I understand. Everyone is valuable and beautiful. And it's not because they are rich, or people find them sexy, people are valuable, people are beautiful, because they are created by Allah swt.

Ameen.

[.: Anna :.]

Originally posted by alifromconroe
Yes Anna. I understand. Everyone is valuable and beautiful. And it's not because they are rich, or people find them sexy, people are valuable, people are beautiful, because they are created by Allah swt.

Ameen. :D

[abdulhakeem]

Originally posted by alifromconroe
...Everyone is valuable and beautiful. And it's not because they are rich, or people find them sexy, people are valuable, people are beautiful, because they are created by Allah swt. Ameen.

You Are Beautiful !! (http://www.ummah.com/forum/showthread.php?threadid=24000)

[Lateafha]

Salam

Beauty might not be to you what another thinks is beauty, so beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

Being beautiful is having taqwa and Imaan. Islamic manners are important esp if your thinking of raising mujahideens. A pretty face is not gonna last forever same with the body. Who we truly are deep down inside is what makes us beautiful. Thats what will last for aslong as we'll have our senses. You can't say that much about beauty-by-appearance. What will remain out of a person when it's beauty leaves them? If thats all a person can offer you than you best believe that when the beauty fades ( and it surely will) than so will everything else too.

But with taqwa and Imaan, those will last foever. Thats the Real beauty that reflects itself through years and time.

[Latifa]

Originally posted by LATEAFHA
Salam

Beauty might not be to you what another thinks is beauty, so beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

Being beautiful is having taqwa and Imaan. Islamic manners are important esp if your thinking of raising mujahideens. A pretty face is not gonna last forever same with the body. Who we truly are deep down inside is what makes us beautiful. Thats what will last for aslong as we'll have our senses. You can't say that much about beauty-by-appearance. What will remain out of a person when it's beauty leaves them? If thats all a person can offer you than you best believe that when the beauty fades ( and it surely will) than so will everything else too.

But with taqwa and Imaan, those will last foever. Thats the Real beauty that reflects itself through years and time.

That's a really sweet post sis :crying: I think there are only a minority of muslims who feel that way though, but your post does give me hope.

JazakhAllah Khair

[ze leetle elper]

MashaAllah excellent post Lateafa. :up:

Don't worry Lats, your knight in a shining shalwar kameez will come soon enough. :D

[Latifa]

Originally posted by ze leetle elper
Don't worry Lats, your knight in a shining shalwar kameez will come soon enough. :D

:rotfl:

[baba]

Glittering shalwar kameez.

[Latifa]

Originally posted by baba
Glittering shalwar kameez.

Glittering is a bit freaky no? :nervous:

Come to think of it so is shiny :scratch:

I hope he isn't wearing pink :rolleyes:

[Lateafha]

Originally posted by Latifa
That's a really sweet post sis :crying: I think there are only a minority of muslims who feel that way though, but your post does give me hope.

JazakhAllah Khair

Wayakum My dear Sista latifa, :)..

Hold on to your hope, the most beautiful things in life come knocking at your heart when you least expect them. ;)

[Lateafha]

Originally posted by ze leetle elper
MashaAllah excellent post Lateafa. :up:

Don't worry Lats, your knight in a shining shalwar kameez will come soon enough. :D


Thats really nice, is that what wear in your culture for the wedding feast -nikkah? :)

I know pakistani and indians do, ;)

LOL@ pink,

[ze leetle elper]

:inlove:

[abdulhakeem]

What does it mean when we say that Allaah loves beauty?

Question:

What is the meaning of the hadeeth which says that Allaah is beautiful and loves beauty? What is meant here by beauty? – especially since some people use this hadeeth as evidence that it is permissible to look at beautiful women and to enjoy every beautiful thing. Can you clarify this?

Answer:

Praise be to Allaah.

The hadeeth mentioned in the question was narrated by Muslim in his Saheeh, no. 131, from ‘Abd-Allaah ibn Mas’ood, who narrated that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “No one will enter Paradise who has an atom’s-weight of pride in his heart.” A man said, “What if a man likes his clothes to look good and his shoes to look good?” He said, “Allaah is beautiful and loves beauty. Pride means denying the truth and looking down on people.”

Ibn al-Qayyim (may Allaah have mercy on him) said, commenting on this hadeeth: the phrase “Allaah is beautiful and loves beauty” includes the beautiful clothing which was asked about in the same hadeeth. It is included by way of generalization, i.e., that beauty in all things is what is meant here. In Saheeh Muslim no. 1686 it says: “Allaah is good and only accepts that which is good.” In Sunan al-Tirmidhi it says: “Allaah loves to see the effects of His blessing on His slave.” (Narrated by al-Tirmidhi, no. 2963; he said it is hasan saheeh). It was reported that Abu’l-Ahwas al-Jashami said: The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) saw me wearing old, tattered clothes, and asked me, “Do you have any wealth?” I said, “Yes.” He said, “What kind of wealth?” I said, “All that Allaah has given me of camels and sheep.” He said, “Then show the generous blessings that He has given you.” (Narrated by Ahmad, no. 15323; al-Tirmidhi, 1929; al-Nisaa’i, 5128). Allaah, may He be glorified, loves the effects of His blessings to His slave to be made manifest, for this is part of the beauty that He loves, and that is part of the gratitude for His blessings which forms an inner beauty (beauty of character). Allaah loves to see the external beauty of His slaves which reflects His blessings on them, and the inner beauty of their gratitude to Him for those blessings. Because He loves beauty, He sends down on His slaves clothes and adornments with which they may make their outward appearance beautiful and He gives them Taqwaa which makes their inner characters beautiful. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):

“O Children of Adam! We have bestowed raiment upon you to cover yourselves (screen your private parts, etc.) and as an adornment, and the raiment of righteousness, that is better.”

[al-A’raaf 7:26]

And He says, speaking of the people of Paradise (interpretation of the meaning):

“… and [Allaah] gave them Nadratan (a light of beauty) and joy. And their recompense shall be Paradise and silken garments, because they were patient.” [al-Insaan 76:11-12]

Their faces will be made beautiful with the Nadrah (light of beauty), their innermost being with joy and their bodies with silken garments.

Just as Allaah loves beauty in words, deeds, garments and outward appearance, so He hates ugliness in words, deeds, garments and outward appearance. He hates ugliness and its people, and loves beauty and its people. But two groups are misguided with regard to this issue: a group who say that everything that He has created is beautiful, so He loves all that He has created and we should love all that He has created and not hate anything. They say: whoever realizes that all that exists comes from Him will see that it is beautiful… these people have no sense of jealousy for the sake of Allaah or hatred and enmity for the sake of Allaah, or denouncing what is evil (munkar), or jihaad for the sake of Allaah, or adhering His limits. They regard the beauty of images, male or female, as being part of the beauty that Allaah loves, and seek to worship Allaah through immoral acts. Some of them may even go so far as to claim that the One Whom they worship is manifested or incarnated in those images.

The second group, on the other hand, say that Allaah condemns the beauty of images, forms and outward appearances. Allaah says about the Munaafiqoon (hypocrites) (interpretation of the meaning):

“And when you look at them, their bodies please you…” [al-Munaafiqoon 63:4]

“And how many a generation have We destroyed before them. Who were better in wealth, goods and outward appearance?” [Maryam 19:54]

In Saheeh Muslim it is reported that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Allaah does not look at your outward appearance and your wealth, rather He looks at your hearts and deeds.” (Saheeh Muslim, no. 4651).

According to another hadeeth: “Shabbiness is part of faith.” (Narrated by Ibn Maajah, 4108; Abu Dawood, 3630; classed as saheeh by al-Albaani, may Allaah have mercy on him). Allaah condemns those who are extravagant, which applies to extravagance in clothing as well as in food and drink.

In order to settle this dispute, we may say that beauty in clothing and outward appearance is of three types, one of which is commendable, one is blameworthy and one of which is neither. The kind of beauty which is to be commended is that which is done for the sake of Allaah, to help one to obey Allaah and fulfil His commands, such as when the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) made himself look beautiful (i.e. handsome) when meeting the delegations that came to him. This is like wearing armour or battle-dress when fighting, or wearing silk and showing off (in front of the enemy). This is commendable because it is done to make the word of Allaah supreme and to support His religion and annoy His enemies. The blameworthy kind of beauty is that which is done for the sake of this world, for reasons of power, false pride and showing off, or to fulfil some (selfish) desires. This also includes cases where beauty is an end in itself for a person and is all he cares about. Many people have no other concern in life. As for the kind of beauty which is neither commendable nor blameworthy, it is that which has nothing to do with either of the two purposes mentioned above (i.e., it is neither for the sake of Allaah nor for the sake of worldly purposes).

The hadeeth under discussion refers to two important principles, knowledge and behaviour. Allaah is to be acknowledged for beauty that bears no resemblance to anything else, and He is to be worshipped by means of the beauty which He loves in words, deeds and attitudes. He loves His slaves to beautify their tongues with the truth, to beautify their hearts with sincere devotion (Ikhlaas), love, repentance and trust in Him, to beautify their faculties with obedience, and to beautify their bodies by showing His blessings upon them in their clothing and by keeping them pure and free of any filth, dirt or impurity, by removing the hairs which should be removed, by circumcision, and by clipping the nails. Thus they recognize Allaah through these qualities of beauty and seek to draw close to Him through beautiful words, deeds and attitudes. They acknowledge Him for the beauty which is His attribute and they worship Him through the beauty which He has prescribed and His religion. The hadeeth combines these two principles of knowledge and behaviour.

Al-Fawaa’id, 1/185

Where are these deep meanings of this hadeeth, as explained by Ibn al-Qayyim, in the misguided interpretations of those who follow their whims and desires, who want to follow deviant interpretations in order to justify their evil aims and goals? We ask Allaah to protect us. May Allaah bless our Prophet Muhammad.

Islam Q&A
Sheikh Muhammed Salih Al-Munajjid (www.islam-qa.com (http://www.islam-qa.com))

http://63.175.194.25/index.php?ln=eng&ds=qa&lv=browse&QR=6652&dgn=4

[abdulhakeem]

related threads:

Beauty of Islam lies in submission to will of Allah (http://www.ummah.com/forum/showthread.php?t=33848)


The beauty of Islam through the Quran (http://www.ummah.com/forum/showthread.php?t=3143)

[Nettle]

There are many degrees of beauty. If it is true beauty then what can be said against it. It is the ugliness in ourselves that we need strive to annihilate. foul attributes like unfairness, injustice. Being greedy, oppressive, prejudice, tyrannical and judging outside of what is right (that by which Allah judges). These are the evils that plague this earth. Let's just be beautiful at some level.

[Ahlam]

We are all beautiful in the eyes of our creator (swt) surely one person should not get more attention than the other. Look is not gonna get you a ticket to jannah nor is your body but iman shall, who would have thought that such a small thing could be rewarding in this life and the hereafter. People are blinded by media and this image of beauty…surely beauty is in the eyes of the beholder.

w/s

[Ali_Khan]

beauty is latifa's avatar.

[fearfull_22]

Beauty is all around us, in different forms and shapes, and there are many things also we cannot imagine through our human perception which is even beyound our imagination may Allah swt grant us paradise and everlasting peace Ameen.:insha:

[MaYmUnAh]

asalamu alaikum,

speaking about altering one's physical features in islam, does anyone know the rulings on braces? are they in the same category as cosmetic surgery or are they permissable?

salaam