Does Wearing Henna in Public Count as Tabarruj?

Answered by Mawlana Ilyas Patel

Question

Is it considered tabarruj to have decorative henna on my hands in public?

I wear henna for Eid and weddings, but the stain remains when I return to daily life. Must I cover it with my sleeves? Some say it’s tabarruj because it’s beautification, but I thought tabarruj referred to the intentional display of beauty to attract attention. I’m confused and concerned—does wearing cultural henna without the intent to attract fall under tabarruj?

Answer

In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful and Compassionate.

I pray you are in good faith and health. Thank you for your question.

Women can adorn themselves in various ways, such as using henna and wearing jewelry like rings and earrings.

What is Public Display of Beauty (Tabaruruj)?

Allah Most High said,

“And remain fast in your homes; And make not public display of your beauty as was done in the bygone age of pagan ignorance. And keep well the prayer and give the due alms. And obey Allah and His Messenger…” [Quran, 33:33]

The word “تَبَرُّ‌جَ” (tabarruj) essentially means public display of beauty and, at this place, it means the display of personal adornment before non-Mahram men, as it appears in another verse: غَيْرَ‌ مُتَبَرِّ‌جَاتٍ بِزِينَةٍ (not displaying adornment). [Quran, 24:60]. [Shafi‘, Ma‘arif al-Quran]

Permission of Henna Hands

Below are a few hadith permitting to do so.

‘Aisha (Allah be pleased with her) narrated that a woman extended her hand from behind a curtain, holding a letter for the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace). The Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) withdrew his hand and said: “I do not know whether this is the hand of a man or a woman.”

‘Aisha said: “Rather, it is a woman.” He said, “If you were a woman, you would have dyed your nails,” meaning, with henna. [Abu Dawud]

From Ibn Dumra bin Sa‘id, from his grandmother, from a woman among their people who had prayed facing both Qiblas with the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace), she said:

“The Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) entered upon me and said: ‘Apply henna (use dye), one of you leaves off dyeing until her hand becomes like a man’s hand.’ She said: ‘I never stopped using henna until I met Allah, and she used to dye her hands even when she was eighty years old.’”  [Ahmad]

The Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) is encouraging women to use henna as a form of beautification, criticizing the neglect of this practice by likening undyed hands to men’s hands, which typically lack the ornamental appearance expected of women’s hands in that cultural context.

The woman narrating the hadith took this advice seriously and continued using henna even into old age.

Remember: Not to Intentionally Display

There may be instances when even fully covered women cannot hide their hands (not considered awra anyway), and the henna or rings on their hands may become visible to others. Obviously, they should not intentionally display them, but there will be occasions when they are visible to others.

The scholars have stated that there is no problem with this since this unintended display comes under the provision of the verse:

“And tell the believing women to lower their gaze and guard their chastity, and not to reveal their adornments, except what normally appears. Let them draw their veils over their chests, and not reveal their (hidden) adornments.” [Quran, 24:31]

And for men to lower their gaze:

“(O Prophet!) Tell the believing men to lower their gaze and guard their chastity. That is purer for them. Surely Allah is All-Aware of what they do.” [Quran, 24:31]

Exception from the Injunction of Hijab

The first exception is that of “مَا ظَهَرَ‌ مِنْهَا” (except that which appears thereof). It means that “Women are not permitted to show their beauty (zeena زينة) to men, except that which is revealed on its own.” The indication is that while women work, some body parts get uncovered automatically, and their covering is difficult. Hence, the exception of such parts is permitted. There is no sin in their uncovering. [Ibn Kathir]

Which Parts Fall Under This Exception?

On this subject,  ‘Abdullah Ibn Mas‘ud and ‘Abdullah Ibn ‘Abbas have given different explanations. ‘Abdullah Ibn Mas‘ud has explained that what has been excepted in “مَا ظَهَرَ‌ مِنْهَا” is the outer covering, such as a veil or the sheet used for hijab. These overclothes cover up the everyday garments of beauty (zeena). Hence, the meaning of the verse would be that it is not permitted to show anything from the beauty (zeena), i.e, garments, except the over-clothing like a veil, whose hiding is not possible when going out for some work.

On the other hand, ‘Abdullah Ibn ‘Abbas has interpreted that it is purported for the face and palms because when a woman is forced to go out because of necessity, it is difficult to hide her face and palms while engaged in her work.

Therefore, according to the explanation of  ‘Abdullah Ibn Mas‘ud, women are not permitted to uncover their faces and palms before non-Mahram men. Only the overclothes, like a veil, etc., are excepted under necessity. But by the explanation of  ‘Abdullah Ibn ‘Abbas, it is permitted to uncover the face and palms before the non-Mahrams.

Thus, religious scholars differ on whether it is permissible to uncover the face and palms before a non-Mahram. However, all agree that if looking at a feminine face and palms poses a risk of temptation (fitna), uncovering is not allowed, and women are not permitted to reveal their faces and palms in that situation.

All scholars also agree that women can uncover their faces and palms during prayers, and their prayers will be considered valid if they do so in the uncovered position. [Shafi‘, Ma‘arif al-Quran]

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I pray this helps with your question.
Wassalam,
[Mawlana] Ilyas Patel
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Mawlana Ilyas Patel has received a traditional education in various countries. He started his schooling in the UK and completed his hifz of the Quran in India. After that, he joined an Islamic seminary in the UK, where he studied secular and Aalimiyya sciences. Later, he traveled to Karachi, Pakistan, and other Middle Eastern countries to further his education. Mawlana has served as an Imam in the Republic of Ireland for several years and taught the Quran and other Islamic sciences to both children and adults. He also worked as a teacher and librarian at a local Islamic seminary in the UK for 12 years. Presently, he lives in the UK with his wife and is interested in books and gardening.