Halal & Haram

lip augmentation by use of fillers or botox

Answered

June 3, 2026

The Question

Is lip augmentation by use of fillers or botox permissible?

The Answer

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ
الجواب حامدا ومصليا ومسلما

In relation to beautification and adornment, Islam permits many non-surgical methods such as jewellery, henna, perfume, kohl, etc. However, in principle, any altercation to the body (whether it may be through addition or subtraction) that is permanent will be impermissible and considered mutilation and taghyīr khalq Allāh (changing the nature created by Allah).¹ Hence, cosmetic surgeries are impermissible.

In regards to the aforementioned question, lip augmentation is a non-surgical method that assists in achieving fuller, plumper lips. They also fill lines, wrinkles, and restore volume to the lips that have lost their shape and structure due to their aging process.² Based off the principle mentioned above, lip augmentation will not be considered impermissible in itself. However, there are many factors that affect the following ruling. Consider the following:

1. Dermal fillers or botox may contain impure substances that originate from pig or human albumin. This will be impermissible to apply.³

2. Over recent years, injections that are composed of vegan-friendly ingredients have also been used. However, these vegan-friendly toxins may be prepared with albumin when used in dermal fillers. Albumin is a protein that can be taken from human blood. This would also be impermissible to apply.⁴

3. There are many side effects and could lead to long-term side effects such as lip sagging and deflation. Causing harm to the body and risking one’s health is undesirable.⁵

4. Many have been influenced by the fashion industry as well as social media to imitate the non-believers in a way that the lips have an abnormal look to them. This would also be something that should avoided.

Therefore, based off the factors above, lip augmentation majority of the time will be impermissible or discouraged.

Allāh Ta’āla Knows Best

Answered by

Maulana Bakhtiyar Ahmed

Approved by

Mufti Husain Ahmad Madani

References

قوله: المغيرات خلق الله إشارة إلى قوله تعالى في سورة النساء: ۱۱۸ حكاية عن قول الشيطان: وقالَ لاتَّخِذَنَّ مِنْ عِبَادِكَ نَصِيبًا مَّفْرُوضًا وَلا ضِلَّنَّهُمْ وَلامَنيَنَّهُمْ ولأمُرَبَّهُمْ فَلَيُبَتِّكُنَّ اذآنَ الانْعَامِ وَلآمُرَنَّهُمْ فَلَيُغَيِّرُنَّ خَلْقَ اللهِ». وفيه تصريح بأن الوصل والوشم والنمص وغيرها من جملة تغيير خلق الله الذي يفعله الإنسان بإغواء من

الشيطان والذي نهى عنه الله سبحانه وتعالى في كتابه المجيد. وقال القرطبي في تفسيره :٥ :٣٩٢ ثم قيل: هذا المنهى عنه إنما هو فيما يكون باقيا لأنه من باب تغيير خلق الله تعالى فأما ما لايكون باقيا كالكحل والتزين به للنساء فقد أجازه العلماء مالك، وغيره وكرهه مالك للرجال، وأجاز مالك أيضا أن تشى المرأة يديها بالحنّاء

والحاصل أن كل ما يفعل فى الجسم من زيادة أو نقص من أجل الزينة بما يجعل الزيادة أو النقصان مستمرا مع الجسم وبما يبدو منه أنه كان في أصل الخلقة هكذا فإنه تلبيس وتغيير منهى عنه. وأما ما تزينت به المرأة لزوجها من تحمير الأيدى، أو الشفاه أو العارضين بما لا يلتبس بأصل الخلقة فإنه ليس داخلا في النهي عند جمهور العلماء. وأما قطع الإصبع الزائدة ونحوها فإنه ليس تغييرا لخلق الله، وإنه من قبيل إزالة عيب أو مرض فأجازه أكثر العلماء خلافا لبعضهم

(تكملة فتح الملهم: ٤/١٩٥، مكتبه دار العلوم كراتشى)

اور یہاں جو تغییر کی مذمت مذکور ہے وہ ہر تغییر نہیں بلکہ جس میں افساد ہو اور جس میں افسانہ ہو وہ مذموم نہیں بلکہ عدم افساد کے ساتھ اگر اصلاح بھی ہو جیسے ختان وتسلیم اظفار وہ مؤکد ہے اور جس میں دونوں نہ ہوں جیسے خصاء بہائم اور مقدار مسنون سے زائد ریش کا تر اشنا یہ جائز ہے اور افساد کے وجود عدم کا مدار اعتبار شریعت کے ہے نہ کہ عرف جس میں علاوہ اسکے کہ شارع کے برابر اسکی نظر نہیں خود با ہم عرف عرف میں تعارض بھی ہوا کرتا ہے خوب سمجھ لو۔ اور خَلْقَ اللہ کی تفسیر یہ بھی ہو گئے سکتی ہے الخلق الذي امر الله ان يكون الانسان عليه یعنی حق تعالی کی پسندیدہ وضع پس تفسیر متین میں خلق تکوینی ہے اور اس تفسیر پر خلق تشریعی ۔

قوله تعالى ولأمر هُمْ فَلَيغَيرنَ خَلْقَ الله اس میں بھی داڑھی منڈانا بھی داخل ہے پس یہ دال ہے اس پر کہ جس طریق میں داڑھی منڈانا شعار ہودہ طریق شیطانی ہے اگر چہ اس کا جہلا نے طریقہ قلند ر بینام رکھا ہے

(بيان القرآن: ١/٤٠٦-٤٠٧، اداره تاليفات اشرفيه ملتان)

المغيرات خلق الله قيل: النهي عن تغيير خلق الله إنما هو فيما يكون باقياً، وأما ما لا يكون باقياً كالكحل ونحوه من التزيينات، فقد أجازه مالك وغيره من العلماء

قال أبو جعفر الطبري: في هذا الحديث دليل على أنه لا يجوز تغيير شيء مما خلق الله المرأة عليه بزيادة أو نقص التماساً للتحسين لزوج أو غيره، كما لو كان لها سن زائدة فأزالتها، أو أسنان طوال فقطعت أطرافها

قال عياض: ويأتي على ما ذكره أن من خُلِق له إصبع زائدة أو عضو زائد لا يجوز له قطعه ولا نزعه؛ لأنه من تغيير خلق الله، إلا أن تكون هذه الزوائد مؤلمة فيتضرر بها، فلا بأس بنزعها عند أبي جعفر

قلت: قول أبي جعفر الطبري عندي غير موجه؛ فإن الظاهر أن المراد بتغيير خلق الله أن ما خلق الله سبحانه وتعالى حيواناً على صورته المعتادة لا يُغَيّر فيه، لا أن ما خلق على خلاف العادة مثلاً كاللحية للنساء أو العضو الزائد فليس تغييره تغييراً لخلق الله

(بذل المجهود: ١٢/١٩٦-١٩٧، دار البشائر الإسلامية)

Q: I am a general practioner in UK. My question is it permissible to practice give Botox injections, facial peels, der- mabrasions. Mostly done for patients to look younger and good looks. I am mainly thinking of doing it for earning extra money (being honest} I would like to know If its allowed or not.

What would be the answer if the need is for medicational use?

A: Botox (Botulinum Toxin Type A) is by nature a poison- Aous toxin. It has been approved by FDA in US for specific medicinal use, however it has gained more popularity in the cosmetic surgeries.

Botox serum uses enzymes from pig's milk in its initial stage which is later on purified through industrial process. Although the serum may be clinically categorized void of these enzymes in its final product form, it will still be considered an impure sub- stance according to Shariah.

Moreover, Botox has been clinically classified as a lethal toxin which if consumed in larger quantities can have devastating effects. Even in the lower medicinal usage, it is not free from some side effects. In some cases it may lead to problems in swallowing, speaking, or breathing, all-over muscle weakness, double vision, blurred vision and drooping eyelids, hoarseness or change or loss of voice (dysphonia), trouble saying words clearly (dysarthria), loss of bladder control, trouble breathing. While these may be isolated conditions, they are sufficient enough for the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) to issue caution against Botox usage.

It was perhaps this vital information which pushed many Ulama, locally in South Africa, as well as internationally (Malaysia) to rule against Botox.

While many people have used Botox for beauty treatments it has been equally popular in the medical field. Since Botox is essen- tially a toxin with the ability to weaken or dampen the response in muscles, it has been targeted by many doctors as a temporary relief medication for illnesses due to spasmodic muscles. Some of the practical medical uses for Botox in practice are treatment for inflammation in specific areas, controlling bleeding after intra- muscular injection, excessive weakness or wasting in the muscle, swallowing difficulties (dysphagia) or liquid accidentally going into the lungs (aspiration), chronic breathing problems, Diseases or conditions affecting the nervous system, seizures like epilepsy, closed angle glaucoma (eye disease) etc.

The medicinal usage is still not void of the potential harmful side effects that could emerge from using this serum, hence, Shari- ah affords a balanced approach towards its usage. The rules of Shariah are more relaxed in the case of medical need and neces- sity. However such relaxation is also governed closely by rules. In principle:Necessity renders the restrictions permissible And Necessity warrants (permissibility of the restricted) to the extent of (one's) necessity.

Hence, the use of an impure Botox serum will become permissi- ble for medicinal use only if,

i. The experts of the field opine the need for such a medicine

ii. There is no halal alternative available

As a doctor one will be responsible in providing a permissible or impermissible service to the consumer. If there is a suitable alternative for skin care treatments then that avenue should be adopted.

It is not permissible to use an impure substance to beautify one self. Since Botox is impure because of the use enzymes from pig's milk it will be impermissible to use it for purely beatification purposes.

Facial Peels and dermabrasions or other cosmetic procedures. Facial peels and dermabrasions are skincare procedures which use various techniques like exfoliation of upper layers of skin to rejuvenate a healthier and smoother skin. These procedures are permissible provided that,

i. The creams or lotions used do not contain impure or im- permissible substance;

ii. The procedure does not aim at changing the physical features.

iii. The procedure is not harmful to one's health.

At the same time, we also caution that venturing into the skin- care procedures should not compromise the general Shar'i work ethos (i.e. unnecessary gender interaction etc).

(Comtemporary Fatawa: 1/245-248, Darul Iftaa Mahmudiyyah)

Ahmed, Safiyya (2021, March 08), Are Lip Fillers Or Botox Treatments Permissible, DARUL IFTA BIRMINGHAM, Date Accessed: 2023 November 15, https://daruliftabirmingham.co.uk/home/lip-fillers/

Al-Kawthari, Adam (2011, January 06), Is It Permissible to Get Botox Injections?, Darul Iftaa, Date Accessed: 2023 November 15, https://daruliftaa.com/miscellaneous/is-it-permissible-to-get-botox-injections/

Dr. Mountford, Tracy (2023, September 14), Lip Filler FAQs, Cosmetic Skin Clinic, Date Accessed: 2023 November 13, https://www.cosmeticskinclinic.com/advice-centre/lip-filler-faqs/#faqs-lip8

Marks, Hedy (2023, September 14), Lip Augmentation, WemMD, Date Accessed: 2023 November 13, https://www.webmd.com/beauty/cosmetic-procedures-lip-augmentation

Fischer, Beverly (2020, October 7), The Difference Between Lip Injections and Lip Fillers, Beverly Fischer Beauty Blog, Date Accessed: 2023 November 13, https://www.beverlyfischer.net/blog/difference-between-lip-injections-and-lip-fillers

The Difference Between Botox Lip Flip and Lip Fillers As Explained By Our Edmonton Botox and Filler Specialists, DRADILLADAK, Date Accessed: 2023 November 13, https://albertaplasticsurgery.ca/blog/The+Difference+Between+Botox+Lip+Flip+and+Lip+Fillers+As+Explained+By+Our+Edmonton+Botox+and+Filler+Specialists/

Savini, Loren (2022, November 3), Botox Vs. Fillers: Experts Explain the Difference Between the Injectables, Date Accessed: 2023 November 13, https://www.allure.com/story/fillers-vs-botox

(2010, April 2), The Case of Botulinum Toxin in Milk: Experimental Data, National Library of Medicine, Date Accessed: 2023 November 13, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2869135/

Dr. Mountford, Tracy (2023, September 14), Lip Filler FAQs, Cosmetic Skin Clinic, Date Accessed: 2023 November 13, https://www.cosmeticskinclinic.com/advice-centre/lip-filler-faqs/#faqs-lip8

⁴

Medicalspa (June 15), Which Lip Fillers Are Vegan Friendly And Anti-animal Cruelty?, Medicalspa RX, Accessed: 2023 November 13, https://www.medicalsparx.com/which-lip-fillers-are-vegan-friendly-and-anti-animal-cruelty/

⁵

(2014, February 19), Botox (botulinum toxin type A), Netdoctor, Accessed: 2023 November 13, https://www.netdoctor.co.uk/medicines/brain-nervous-system/a6325/botox-botulinum-toxin-type-a/

Marks, Hedy (2023, September 14), Lip Augmentation, WemMD, Date Accessed: 2023 November 13, https://www.webmd.com/beauty/cosmetic-procedures-lip-augmentation

Savini, Loren (2022, November 3), Botox Vs. Fillers: Experts Explain the Difference Between the Injectables, Date Accessed: 2023 November 13, https://www.allure.com/story/fillers-vs-botox

Dangers of Long-Term Lip Filler, Dr Anna Medical Aesthetics, Accessed: 2023 November 13, https://drannamd.com/dangers-of-long-term-lip-filler/