The woman who supplies fake hair and the one who asks for it, the woman who pulls out hair for other people and the woman who depilates herself, the woman who tattoos and the one who has it done when there is no disease to justify it have been cursed.
Abu Dawud said: Wasilah means the woman who adds false hair to the hair of women. Mustawsilah means the one who asks for adding the hair to her hair. namisah means a woman who plucks hair from the brow until she makes it thin; mutanammisah means the woman who depilates herself ; washimah is a woman who tattoos in the face with antimony or ink ; mustawshimah is a woman with whom it is done.
Hadith Commentary: Prohibition of Artificial Beautification
This profound narration from Sunan Abi Dawud 4170 addresses various forms of artificial beautification that alter Allah's natural creation. The comprehensive curse mentioned encompasses both the practitioner and the client, indicating the gravity of these actions in Islamic law.
Scholarly Analysis of Terms
Al-Wāṣilah: The woman who attaches false hair to another's head, creating deception about natural beauty. Scholars consider this a form of deception (ghish) and alteration of Allah's creation.
Al-Mustawṣilah: The one who seeks such artificial hair attachment, equally culpable for demanding the alteration of divine creation.
Al-Nāmisah: The professional who plucks eyebrows to reshape them, making them unnaturally thin. This falls under the prohibition of "an-nams" mentioned in other authentic narrations.
Al-Mutanammisah: The woman who has her eyebrows plucked, sharing in the sin by consenting to this alteration.
Al-Wāshimah: The tattoo artist who permanently marks skin, changing Allah's creation without legitimate medical need.
Al-Mustawshimah: The one who receives tattoos, participating willingly in this permanent alteration of the natural form.
Legal Rulings & Exceptions
Classical scholars from all madhāhib agree on the prohibition of these acts based on this hadith. The exception for medical necessity (such as reconstructive surgery after injury or disease) demonstrates Islam's balanced approach - prohibiting vanity while permitting genuine need.
Imam Nawawi explains that these prohibitions aim to preserve natural creation and prevent deception in marriage contracts. Ibn Qudāmah emphasizes that the curse indicates major sin status, requiring sincere repentance.
Contemporary Applications
Modern scholars extend these rulings to include: hair extensions, microblading, permanent makeup, cosmetic tattooing, and eyebrow threading. The principle remains - any permanent or semi-permanent alteration of natural features without medical necessity falls under this prohibition.
Temporary adornments like henna or non-permanent cosmetics are generally permitted, as they don't permanently alter Allah's creation.