4th November 2023
السلام عليكم و رحمة الله و بركاته
Question: What is the Islamic ruling on having a nose job (rhinoplasty) if the nose is large in proportion to my face keeping in mind that I have generally been harassed by family members because of my nose.
الجواب حامداً و مصلياً
In the name of Allāh, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
Answer
In general, alteration of physical attributes for the sake of beauty is not permissible. This is derived from the ayah:
وَلَأُضِلَّنَّهُمْ وَلَأُمَنِّيَنَّهُمْ وَلَـَٔامُرَنَّهُمْ فَلَيُبَتِّكُنَّ ءَاذَانَ ٱلْأَنْعَـٰمِ وَلَـَٔامُرَنَّهُمْ فَلَيُغَيِّرُنَّ خَلْقَ ٱللَّهِ ۚ وَمَن يَتَّخِذِ ٱلشَّيْطَـٰنَ وَلِيًّۭا مِّن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ فَقَدْ خَسِرَ خُسْرَانًۭا مُّبِينًۭا
I will certainly mislead them and delude them with empty hopes. Also, I will order them and they will slit the ears of cattle1 and alter Allah’s creation.” And whoever takes Satan as a guardian instead of Allah has certainly suffered a tremendous loss.[1]
Scholars have commented under this verse the prohibition of physically altering any body parts against its purposeful nature. If one must undergo a certain treatment to treat the deformity, in other words restoring the limb to its natural condition or removing an existing illness then this is permissible due to necessity. This is derived from the following legal principle,
الضَّرُورَاتُ تُبِيحُ الْمَحْظُورَاتِ
Necessity permits prohibitions [2]
This is usually applied in the context of there being an absolute need such that without it, one would experience severe harm. In the case of what is considered necessity when it comes to altering physical attributes, the jurists have given examples of having extra fingers on the hand, or generally anything outside of what is considered to be ‘normal physical attributes.’ In such a case, so long as there is an overriding belief that, for example, removing that extra finger, will not cause a loss of life, it is permissible for that that extra digit to be removed.[3]
In your case, having a larger nose does not in principle fall under the conditions of necessity. There is an element of anguish that you may experience for having a larger nose, but when that is part of your natural look then reducing its size to make yourself look better does not necessarily fulfil the criteria of necessity. I would recommend referring to counselling which could be a very useful tool to come to terms with what you have. As Muslims, should be grateful with what Allāh Almighty has ordained for us and note that physical appearance is not the criterion to happiness but good character and piety.
لَئِن شَكَرْتُمْ لَأَزِيدَنَّكُمْ
If you are grateful, I will certainly give you more [4]
The Messenger of Allāh said, “Indeed Allāh does not look at your appearances or your wealth but He looks at your hearts and your deeds.” [5]
[Allāh Knows Best]
Written by: Maulana Hafiz Mahmud Ali Reviewed by: Mufti Abdul Waheed
Attested by: Shaykh Mufti Saiful Islam
JKN Fatawa Department
[1] Surah An-Nisa: [4:119]
[2] Ibn Nujaim. Al-ashbah wa An-Nadhair, p.73
[3] Fatawa Hindiyyah, Kitāb al-Karahiyyah, vol 5, p. 360
إذا أراد الرجل أن يقطع إصبعا زائدة أو شيئا آخر قال نصير رحمه الله تعالى إن كان الغالب على من قطع مثل ذلك الهلاك فإنه لا يفعل وإن كان الغالب هو النجاة فهو في سعة من ذلك رجل أو امرأة قطع الإصبع الزائدة من ولده قال بعضهم لا يضمن ولهما ولاية المعالجة وهو المختار
[4] Surah Al-Ibrahim [14:7]
[5] Sahih Muslim No: 34