The Ruling on Using Skin Lighting Creams
【 حكم إستعمال الكريمات لتغيير لون البشرة ؟ 】
Translated
by
Abbas Abu Yahya
Shaykh Muhammad bin Salih al-Uthaymeen was asked
What is the ruling on using skin lighting creams?
The Answer:
‘If this lightning of skin actually occurs then it is prohibited, in fact, it is from the major sins. This is because it is exceeding in changing the creation of Allaah than is tattooing.
It is affirmed from the Prophet sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam that he cursed the woman who wore hair extensions, the woman who requested hair extensions, the woman who got tattoos and the woman who requested tattoos.
It is reported by Bukhari and Muslim from Abdullaah bin Mas’ood who said:
لعن الله الواشمات والمستوشمات، والنامصات والمتنمصات، والمتفلجات للحسن، المغيرات خلق الله
Abdullaah bin Mas’ood said:
ما لي لا ألعن من لعنه رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم
‘How can I not curse the one whom the Messenger of Allaah sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam cursed.’
The Waaseelah الواصلة : the woman whose hair on her head is short and she wears extensions either from hair or what resembles it.
The Mustawseelah المستوصلة : the woman who requests someone to put extensions into her hair.
The Washimah الواشمة the woman who gets Tattoos: this is to prick the skin with a needle etc to apply a tattoo on it. Then to apply the place of where the needle pricked with alcohol etc which changes the colour of the skin to another colour.
The Mustawshimah المستوشمة: the woman who requests tattoos.
The Namisah النامصة: the woman who plucks facial hair, like eyebrows etc, from herself or from another woman.
The Mutanamisah المتنمصة: the woman who requests another to pluck her facial hair.
The Mutfalijah المتفلجة: the woman who requests someone to put a gap between her teeth. To scrap teeth with a file until there is a gap between the teeth.
All of these are changing the creation of Allaah.
What is mentioned in the question is more exceeding in changing the creation of Allaah Ta’ala than what is mentioned in the hadeeth.
However, if the change is not permanent like using henna etc then there is no problem with that.
This is because it can be removed like Khol and colouring the cheeks and lips.
Therefore, it is obligatory to be careful and to warn against changing the creation of Allaah. Also to circulate warning against this among the Ummah so that evil does not spread and the situation becomes worse and returning back from it becomes difficult.’
[Majmoo Fatawa Ibn Uthaymeen 20/17]