Make Up For That

Editor

From the time my church banned the wearing of make-up, its purpose and uses have been a topic of reflection for me.  Why do women wear make-up?  "Make-up" is an interesting word indeed calling to mind fantasy and some sort of enhancement.  This leads one to wonder and what kind of fantasy and what form of enhancement is being sought.  What compels one to cover up the natural state of one's face with a layer or layers of colored powders and oils?

With a quick search of the internet, one discovers that cosmetics of various sorts have been used for thousands of years.  One also finds that the purposes for and consequences of using such items varied.  For example, the painting of ones eyes has long since been in existence.  But do we ask, "Why did they do this, or what exactly did they use?"  Fortunately, we have the example of the Prophet to guide us.  We know that he advised the use of olive oil, henna, and kohl not for glamour or show but for our health. 

Of course, more recent times have seen many negative extremes in the pursuit of glamour.  In modern times, it was primarily prostitues that wore make-up.  With a departure from the use of natural cosmetics for the health of the skin and eyes, side effects like the thinning of eyelashes, deformities, blindness, and even death have occurred.  Even today the danger of make-ups containing toxic substances exists.  Ironically, something that started out as beneficial has been so distorted that the "how and why" of skin, hair, nail, and eye care has gotten lost in the hype promoting artifical beauty.

Before becoming a Muslim, I used such products due to peer pressure to fit in and to attract attention to my beauty, so I know the reasons why a non-Muslim female would alter her appearance when going out in public.  What I can't grasp is why a young Muslim girl would set off on or follow that path. 

So I asked one of my young sisters in Islam why she was wearing eyeliner.  "I do it because it makes me feel good," she replied.  "But don't you realize that that feeling is artificial like the unbeneficial cosmetic you are using?" I replied.  "Don't you realize that only deeds done to please Allah can truly satisfy this inner need to feel good?"  Still not wanting to let go of this "pleasure-inducing" path, she went on, "But if you go to such-and-such a place and see what worse is out there, you will be thanking me for only doing this much."  "What others are doing is irrelevant," I countered, "They are not the standard by which you are supposed to gage your behavior.  You are better than that because you are a Muslim who knows that it is Allah's expectations that count above everything else."

Although she seemed to understand, like so many others among our young sisters it seems the pressure of the rampant portrayal of immorality that is saturating the radio and television airwaves is taking its toll.  Each time I see this dear sister of mine, it seems she has made yet another compromise.  Either her skirt is that much shorter or her pants are that much tighter or her figure is that much more apparent or there is just a little bit of hair intentionally exposed.  My heart aches for her and all those like her who are so blinded by the glaring lights of fashion that they are gradually losing themselves.  If only they could see the dangers that lie ahead on this fashion runway... lost integrity, a bad reputation, lustful advances, and much, much worse.

As Nu'man ibn Bashir related, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) warned us:

The halal is clear, and the haram is clear.  But between the two there lies matters which are doubtful and not known to a large number of people.  Whoever avoids them, preserves his religion.  But whoever falls into them may fall into the haram.  It is like a shepherd who grazes his flock around a forbidden area; thus he is not far from trespassing upon it.  (Bukhari and Muslim)

Once that line is crossed coming back across can be very difficult.  Allah is merciful and desires our repentance, but if one stubornly persists in treading on risky grounds there is the real danger that the last step in this life will be across that outer boundary surrounding what is evil.  How then can you expect His mercy?  Once your time has run out, how then do you make up for that?