Answer
In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
All praise and thanks are due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger.
In this fatwa:
It is better to avoid eye makeup in public while wearing the Niqab, so that the purpose of modesty is not compromised.
Responding to your question, Sheikh Ahmad Kutty, a senior lecturer and an Islamic scholar at the Islamic Institute of Toronto, Ontario, Canada, states:
My dear sister, may Allah reward you for your modesty and your desire to live by His guidance. Islam does not deny beauty—it honors it—but also places boundaries to protect a woman’s dignity.
The purpose of the Niqab is to reduce unnecessary attention. If the eyes are naturally visible, there is no sin in that. But applying makeup that beautifies or enhances the eyes in public, where unrelated men may notice, goes against the spirit of covering. Allah the Almighty says: {And do not display your adornment except what is apparent.} (An-Nur 24:31)
Scholars explain that makeup is part of adornment, which should be reserved for private settings—with family, one’s husband, or women-only gatherings. The light kohl known in the Prophet’s (peace be upon him) time was used for health and personal care, not for public display.
For this reason, it is better to avoid eye makeup in public while wearing the niqab, so that the purpose of modesty is not compromised.
Let me, however, remind you, this is not about blame but about sincerity—choosing to cover for Allah’s sake. The Prophet (peace be upon him) advised: “Leave what makes you doubt for what does not make you doubt.” (At-Tirmidhi)
By avoiding doubtful matters, you safeguard both your modesty and your peace of heart. In private, beautification for one’s husband and family is not only allowed but encouraged and rewarded. Modesty in Islam is not meant to suppress your beauty, but to protect it and channel it where it is most cherished and honored.
👉 Explore more rulings on modesty and adornment in Islam:
- Is Wudu with Makeup Allowed?
- Is Makeup Permissible for Muslim Women?
- Is It Haram to Wear Makeup while Praying?
- Is it Permissible to Wear Makeup to Women-Only Gatherings?
- Can You Do Wudu with Makeup on?
- Can You Wear Makeup during Ramadan?
- Can I Use Cosmetics to Make My Face Appear Thinner?
- Is Microblading Halal?
- Can We Apply Moisturizer while Fasting?
Almighty Allah knows best.