`Abdullah cursed those women who practiced tattooing and those who removed hair from their faces and those who created spaces between their teeth artificially to look beautiful, such ladies as changed what Allah has created. Um Ya'qub said, "What is that?" `Abdullah said, "Why should I not curse those who were cursed by Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) and are referred to in Allah's Book?" She said to him "By Allah, I have read the whole Qur'an but I have not found such a thing. `Abdullah said, "By Allah, if you had read it (carefully) you would have found it. (Allah says:) 'And what the Apostle gives you take it and what he forbids you abstain (from it).' (59.7)
Exegesis of Sahih al-Bukhari 5939 - Book of Dress
This narration from Abdullah ibn Mas'ud concerns the prohibition of altering Allah's creation through artificial means for mere beautification. The three practices specifically cursed are: tattooing (al-washm), facial hair removal (al-nams), and creating gaps between teeth (al-mutafallijāt).
Scholarly Analysis of Prohibited Acts
Tattooing involves permanently marking the skin, which scholars consider a violation of the body Allah created. Facial hair removal refers to plucking or shaping eyebrows beyond cleaning, altering natural features. Creating gaps between teeth artificially falls under deceptive beautification.
The phrase "changed what Allah has created" indicates these acts constitute tampering with Allah's natural design without legitimate medical necessity. This principle extends to all similar alterations that serve no therapeutic purpose.
Legal Foundation from Quran and Sunnah
Abdullah ibn Mas'ud cites Surah Al-Hashr (59:7): "Whatever the Messenger gives you, take it; whatever he forbids you, refrain from it." This establishes that Prophetic prohibitions carry divine authority, even if not explicitly mentioned in Quranic text.
The ruling derives from multiple authentic hadiths where the Prophet cursed those performing these acts, indicating the gravity of such alterations. Scholars classify these as haram (forbidden) based on the strength of these narrations.
Exceptions and Contemporary Applications
Scholars permit medical treatments that require altering appearance for health reasons. Cosmetic procedures to correct deformities or restore normal appearance after accidents are also exempted from this prohibition.
Modern applications include: permanent makeup tattoos, cosmetic dental procedures for beautification, and elective plastic surgery without medical need - all falling under the same principle of avoiding unnecessary alteration of Allah's creation.