Cosmetic Surgery Islamic Perspective

1. Cosmetic Surgery Islamic Perspective AGA-KHAN HOSPITAL MEDICAL WORKSHOP THE THEME: Islamic Ethics in Medical Practices DATE: 28th Jan 2007 VENUE: Aga-Khan Hospital Theatre Hall TIME: 8.00 am – 2.00 pm PRESENTOR: Dr. Arif Islam DISCUSSANT: Sheikh Abdallah Kheir TOPIC: Cosmetic Surgery Islamic Perspective

2. Introduction ?????? ?? ??? ??? ??? ?? ?????? ??? ??? ????? ??????. ????? ????? ?? ??????? ??????? ??? ??????? ????? ???? ????? ?? ????? ????: Objectives: At the end of this presentation, you should be able to: Identify the Islamic verdict on the concept of beautification Acknowledge that, the ownership of human body belongs to Allah (sw) Appreciate the Islamic viewpoint on cosmetic surgery

3. The Meaning of Key words: Cosmetic: beauty, makeup, superficial, decorative etc. Cosmetic is therefore a substance for putting on the body (e.g. the face), to make it beautiful. Lipstick and hair conditioner are cosmetics. Surgery: operation, surgical procedure or surgical treatment etc. Surgery is a treatment of injuries or diseases by cutting or removing parts of the body. Saving of life or improving quality of life is necessary so long there is Maslah or Manfa’ah.

4. In its literal meaning, they mean “benefit” or “utility”. In other words, the word maslaha/ Manfa’ah means, “seeking of benefit and the preventing of harm.” In Arabic we say, ??? ?????? ? ??? ??????

5. Beautification in Islam: Beautification is permissible in Islam so long it causes no harm to the subject or the object. Hence, Allah (sw) says “And spend of your substance in the cause of Allah, and make not your own hands contribute to (your) destruction; but do good; for Allah loves those who do good.” (2: 195)

6. The Prophet is also reported to have said. “?? ??? ? ?? ????”. Beautification is therefore permissible when it goes not contrary to the teaching of Islam.

7. Does man have partial ownership over his body or full ownership? The word ownership in Arabic language is milkiya. Literally, means possession. Metaphorically, (Islamic Jurisprudence) it means total possession and free disposal of a property. In Islam, human body is not a personal property and therefore cannot be possessed and be free disposed. Instead, it is a divine trust (Amanah) from Allah (sw) which we are obliged to preserve it.

8. Allah says in the Qur’an “We have honoured the sons of Adam, and provided them with transport on land and sea, and given them for sustenance things good and pure; and bestowed on them special favours, above a great part of Our Creation.” (17:70)

9. There are several evidences in both the Qur’an and Sunnah to prove that the ownership human’s body is in the hand of Allah (sw). “Say O Allah! Possessor of the power, you give the power to whom you will….” (3:26)

11. What is plastic surgery? Plastic surgery means repairing or replacing injured or damaged tissue on the surface of the body, (e.g. after a person has been badly burned). Plastic surgery in Islam is only permissible under necessity. Both the Qur’an and Sunnah approve this scholarly view.

13. Similarly, the Sunnah has allowed replacement of an injured or damaged party of the body when the situation necessitates that. scholars of Hadith, Abu-Daudi, At-Tirmidhi and An-Nasaii, reported that the Prophet (pbuh) permitted ????? ?? ???? to use a nose made of gold when his nose was mutilated in Kulaib war during Jahiliya.

14. ????? ???? ?? ??????? ????? ?? ??? ???? ??????? ?????? ???? ??? ??? ?????? ?? ??? ?????? ?? ???? ?? ??? ????? ?? ???? ??? ???? ??? ?????? ????? ???? ?? ??? ????? ???? ????? ????? ??? ???? ???? ???? ????? ???? ?? ???4232AbuDaud vol.2p.552 The same Hadith is reported in Sunnan At-tirmidhi[1] ????? ???? ?? ???? ?? ???? ?? ?????? ???? ??? ??????? ?? ??? ?????? ?? ??? ?????? ?? ???? ?? ????? ?? ???? ??? ???? ???? ??? ?????? ?? ???????? ?????? ???? ?? ??? ????? ??? ?????? ???? ???? ??? ???? ???? ???? ?? ???? ???? ?? ??? \1772 And finally in Sunnan An-nasaii[2] ?? ????? ?? ???? ??? ???? ???? ??? ?????? ?? ???????? ????? ???? ?? ??? ????? ????? ????? ????? ??? ???? ???? ???? ?? ???? ???? ?? ???. [1] At-tirmidhi, (ed) Al-Baniy, Sahih Sunnan At-tirmidhi vol.2p.284 [2] An-nasaii (ed) Al-Baniy, Sahih Sunnan An-nisaii, vol.3.p.379

15. Is Cosmetic Surgery therefore allowed in Islam? it is prohibited in Islam by the following reasons: -Side effects: Allah says: “And make not your own hands contribute to (your) destruction; but do good; for Allah loves those who do good.” (2: 195) Similarly, the Prophet said, “?? ??? ? ?? ????” -playing with Allah’s creation without just cause: ?????? ???? ?? ??? ?????? ??? ????? ???? ?? ???? ??? ????? ????? ?? ???? ?? ?????? ?? ?????? ??? ?? ???? ???? ??? ???? ???? ???? ??? ?? ?????.(falsehood)

16. ?? ???? ?? ???? ?? ???? ??????? ??? ???? ?????? ?? ??? ????? ??? ?????? ???? ?? ??? ??? ?? ??? ??????? ?? ???? ???? ?? ??? ???????? ????? ??? ??? ??? ???? ???? ???? ??? ???? ???? ???? ???? ???? ????? ???? ?? ????? ???? ??? ??? ???? ??????? ???.[1] In another Hadith[2] ?? ????? ?? ????? ??? ??? ???? ?? ????? ????? ??? ????? ?????????? ?? ??? ?? ???? ???? ?? ???? ??? ????? ?? ???? ???? ??? ???? ???? ???? ?? ???? ?? ???? ???? ??? ?? ?? ????? ?? ???? ???? ??? ???? ???? ???? ????? ?? ???? ???? ???? ?????? [1] An-nasai, (ed) Al-Baniy, Sahih Sunnan Nasai vol.3.p367 [2] Ibid,vol.3.p.368

17. Under the same issue of changing the creation of Allah for beautification another Hadith reported by Abdaullahi ibn Mas’oud[1] ?????? ??? ?????? ?? ???? ?? ???? ??? ????? ??? ???? ?????? ?? ????? ?? ????? ?? ??????? ?? ????? ?? ??? ???? ??? ??? ???? ???? ??? ???? ???? ???? ???????? ?????????? ??????????(?????? ???? ??? ?????? ????) ?????????? ????? ????????. [1] Ibid,vol.3p.368

18. -Abuse of trust and of human nobility is (Khiyanah) Allah say, “O you who believe! Betray not the trust of Allah and the Messenger, nor misappropriate knowingly things entrusted to you.” (8:27) -Extravagance (israf) and wastage of resources: 7:31, 10:83, 21:9, 26:151, 40:43, 44:31. all of these verses Allah says he likes not those who waste by extravagance.