her teeth, for the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: “Allah has cursed women who attach hair extensions and those who have them attached, women who file teeth and those who have their teeth filed, women who tattoo and those who have themselves tattooed, and women who have facial hair plucked and gaps made between their teeth for beauty, altering Allah’s creation.” The reason for prohibiting these practices is that they involve deception and misrepresentation.
The prohibited tattooing consists of a woman pricking the backs of her hands or her wrist with a needle or a large sewing needle until it leaves marks, then filling the punctures with kohl so that the skin turns green.
Tooth-filing consists of filing her teeth to create gaps between them and sharpen them.
She may dye her hands and feet with henna. There is disagreement over dyeing her fingertips. Mālik permitted this in Ibn al-Qāsim’s transmitted account in the Book of Marriage and saw nothing wrong with it.
A prohibition of this practice has been transmitted from ʿUmar ibn al-Khattāb. It is reported that he delivered a sermon, saying: “Women, when you apply henna, avoid decorative patterns and dyeing the fingertips alone. Let each of you dye her hands up to here”—and he pointed to where a bracelet is worn.
As for dyeing the hair, this means colouring the hair of the head and beard with something other than black, such as henna, katam (a dye plant), and similar substances. Some have held this to be permissible, while others have held it to be recommended. As for dyeing it black, some scholars have permitted it, while others have considered it disliked because it involves misrepresentation and gives the impression that the man retains his youthful appearance. A woman who marries him may thus be deceived. If, however, an elderly man did this in battle to make the enemy think that he was a vigorous young man, he would be rewarded for it, provided his intention was sound. Success comes through Allah. There is no deity but Him.
Section
On Separating Children in Their Beds
Children should sleep in separate beds. According to one opinion, this begins at seven years of age, when they are instructed to pray; according to another: