Question

Are fake eyelashes and eyelash extensions allowed?

Answer

Both fake eyelashes, which are a one-piece eyelash glued to the existing eyelash, and eyelash extensions, where synthetic hair is glued to each eyelash are normally not allowed. This is because any form of transient / temporary beauty treatments done just for the sake of it, are not allowed.

The only times they WOULD be allowed is when a woman has seriously stunted eyelashes that make her look ugly, and she needs the eyelash extensions to make her look normal. Similarly, a wife who does it for her husband (and not anyone else) would also be allowed.

We, however, would recommend using natural, long term methods. The daily use of good quality Kuhl (which is also called ‘surma’ and ‘kajal’) is recommended. It is Sunnah, and was used by the Prophet (Saw) and sayyida Aisha (ra), along with many other sahaba. To learn more about the Sunnahs of the Prophet, please read “shamail tirmidhi”, by the Hadith expert Imam Tirmidhi, and its commentary by a modern hadith expert, Sheikh Zakariyya: http://www.inter-islam.org/hadeeth/st7.html and http://www.amazon.co.uk/Shamaail-Tirmidhi-Imam/dp/B001LBD5JK