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Fatwa CenterWearing lipstick in daytime of Ramadan—an Islamic perspective
Question
What is the ruling on wearing lipstick during the daytime in Ramadan?
Answer
All perfect praise be to Allaah, the Lord of the worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His slave and Messenger.
It is impermissible to wear lipstick during the daytime in Ramadan while fasting if the lipstick will dissolve, mix with the saliva, and go down to the stomach. Nevertheless, it is still strongly disliked to wear lipstick during the daytime in Ramadan if it does not contain any substance that dissolves and enter the stomach or if the woman spits it out whenever she finds its taste in her mouth. This is based on the scholarly opinions regarding chewing gum when fasting. Scholars stated that it is impermissible for the fasting person to chew gum during fasting if it dissolves or contains any substance that may dissolve and enter the stomach. If it does not dissolve and does not contain any substance that dissolves and enter the stomach or the fasting person spits it out whenever he finds its taste in his mouth, it is still strongly disliked. The fasting person should guard his fast and be careful not to invalidate it in any way. Therefore, it is impermissible for a woman to wear lipstick while fasting, and she may wear it at night instead. An-Nu‘man ibn Basheer 
reported that the Messenger of Allaah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said:
"What is lawful is evident and what is unlawful is evident, and in between them are doubtful things which many people do not know. So he who guards against doubtful things keeps his religion and honor blameless, and he who indulges in doubtful things indulges, in fact, in unlawful things, just as a shepherd who grazes his animals round a private pasture—he might trespass on it at any moment. Behold, every king has a private pasture, and the private pasture of Allaah is his prohibitions." [Muslim]
The indication of this Hadeeth in relation to this topic is that it is forbidden for the Muslim to engage in doubtful acts so as to avoid falling into sin. If the fasting woman wears lipstick in front of non-Mahram (permanently unmarriageable kin) men, then the prohibition becomes more severe and it detracts from the reward of the fast and causes its fruit to be lost! The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: "Whoever does not give up false speech and deeds and foolishness, Allaah is not in need of his giving up his food and drink." [Al-Bukhari]
Allaah Knows best.
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