The Book of Adornment - Sunan an-Nasa'i 5252

"May Allah curse Al-Mutanammisat and who have their teeth separated. Shall I not curse those whom the Messenger of Allah [SAW] cursed?"

Commentary on the Prohibition

Al-Mutanammisat refers to women who artificially create gaps between their teeth for beautification, while "who have their teeth separated" indicates those who undergo this alteration. This practice constitutes unlawful modification of Allah's creation, falling under the general prohibition of changing Allah's natural form without legitimate cause.

Scholarly Explanation

The severe condemnation stems from this being a form of deception and artificial alteration that mimics the practices of immoral women seeking to attract unlawful attention. Scholars classify this under the category of "taghyeer khalqillah" (changing Allah's creation), which is strictly forbidden unless for medical necessity.

The rhetorical question "Shall I not curse those whom the Messenger of Allah cursed?" emphasizes the obligation to align with the Prophet's judgments and avoid what he prohibited, particularly in matters of physical alteration for mere vanity.

Legal Ruling

This hadith establishes the prohibition of creating artificial gaps between teeth for cosmetic purposes. The ruling applies regardless of gender, though the term "Al-Mutanammisat" specifically addresses women as they were the primary practitioners of this custom in pre-Islamic ignorance.