Is piercing prohibited?

Egypt's Dar Al-Ifta

Is piercing prohibited?

Question

Is piercing prohibited?

Answer

Women's love for adornment is something innate. Allah Almighty created women and endeared adornment to them. Allah described women in the Qur'an as a creature who is naturally brought up on adornment. He Almighty says:

"A creature who is brought up in adornments (wearing silk and gold ornaments, i.e. women), and in dispute cannot make herself clear?" [Qur'an 43: 18).

Since the religion of Islam is a primordial religion [Deen al-Fitra], it permitted for women all kinds of adornments. Scholars unanimously agreed that it is permissible for women to use all kinds of gold and silver adornments such as all types of necklaces, rings, bracelets, anklets, amulets and all what they like to wear and it doesn’t reach the degree of extravagance or imitating men.

Women's adornments differ from one culture to another

Scholars stated that it is permissible for women to adorn themselves with gold according to the customs prevailing in their communities and cultures. The Hanbali scholar, Ibn Qudama said in "al-Mughni" (3205/2): "It is permissible for women to wear all kinds of gold and silver adornments as well as jewelry according to what is common in their customs, such as bracelets, anklets, earrings, rings and what they wear on their faces, necks, hands, legs, ears and the like. However, it is prohibited for women to wear what is not familiar to them to wear, such as the belt and the like of men's adornment. This is likewise if a man wears female ornaments."

Harm is prohibited in the Islamic law

On the other hand, Islamic law prohibited harm. It is generally established by the legal axiom: "Do not cause harm and do not reciprocate harm". Therefore, scholars differed over the kind of adornments that cause pain for a woman such as the earrings that require piercing the ear. The accomplished scholars maintained that Islamic law gave women's love for adornment according to the degree of necessity. Based on this, it is permitted for women to adorn themselves in this way [piercing] as long as it is in agreement with their customs and provided it does not pose harm.

The ruling

Based on this, there is no objection to women piercing any part of the body with the purpose of adornment if it is the custom in such countries provided it doesn’t cause harm. However, if it is proved that it causes harm or the procedure is not carried out through a correct medical way, it is then prohibited.
 

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