Ruling on wearing coloured contact lenses for men

Praise be to Allah.

We are deeply saddened by the trends in modern society which are pushing people in general, and the youth in particular, to do things that are of no benefit and encourage them to consume and spend extravagantly, and cause them to ignore sublime matters and becomes preoccupied with trivia. 

In principle, it is sufficient for a man to have a little adornment without going to extremes or being extravagant, for man has been created to strive and work and shoulder responsibilities. That does not mean that he should refrain from some permissible types of adornment occasionally, so as to allow himself to rest and relax, so that he can continue to strive and work hard. 

But the main preoccupation of men and youth should not be adornment and beautification. The Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) forbade going to extremes in that. Abu Dawood (4160) narrated that the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) forbade us to be overly concerned with our outward appearance. Classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Sunan Abi Dawood. 

Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen (may Allah have mercy on him) said: 

The woman is the one who needs to wear gold, silk and the like, because she needs to beautify herself for her husband. The man is the one who has no need of that because of his manliness and because he should care less about his outward appearance and should focus on his religious and worldly concerns. End quote. 

Majmoo‘ Fataawa wa Rasaa’il Ibn ‘Uthaymeen (11/60). 

He also said: 

Firstly: we should ask about wearing contact lenses before anything else. There is nothing wrong with prescribed contact lenses that are used to strengthen the vision, because that is something with which Allah has blessed His slaves and made available for them, and they are easier then regular glasses. This is on condition that they do not cause any harm to the eye, even if that is in the future. 

Secondly: with regard to contact lenses that are worn for adornment, we do not recommend men to wear them, especially young men, unless there is some defect in the pupil of the eye, in which case there is nothing wrong with it, because this is removal of a fault and it is not done to increase beauty. Rather it is a woman who needs beautification as Allah, may He be glorified and exalted, says (interpretation of the meaning): “…a creature who is brought up in adornments (wearing silk and gold ornaments), and who in dispute cannot make herself clear?” [al-Zukhruf 43:18], i.e., women. There is nothing wrong with a woman wearing them for the purpose of beautification on condition that they do not look like the eyes of animals, such as the eyes of cats, rabbits and the like, because resembling animals is not mentioned in the Qur’aan or Sunnah except by way of condemnation, as in the verses in which Allah says (interpretation of the meaning):

“So his parable is the parable of a dog: if you drive him away, he lolls his tongue out, or if you leave him alone, he (still) lolls his tongue out”

[al-A ‘raaf 7:176]

“The likeness of those who were entrusted with the (obligation of the) Tawraat (Torah) (i.e. to obey its commandments and to practise its laws), but who subsequently failed in those (obligations), is as the likeness of a donkey which carries huge burdens of books (but understands nothing from them)”

[al-Jumu ‘ah 62:5]. 

And as in the words of the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) concerning the one who takes back his gift: “[he is] like the dog that vomits then goes back to its vomit.” 

So she should not wear anything that looks like animals’ eyes. End quote. 

Liqa’ al-Baab al-Maftooh, 182/15.