Question: We report to your Eminence that the performance of cosmetic surgeries has been observed in recent times in some dispensaries, and medical clinics specifically. From these surgeries is what is called: belly-button piercing. It is an expression for piercing the belly-button and putting a ring on it like an earring. Then [a woman] exposes her belly-button when attending occasions/events by wearing a short blouse which extends until just before the belly-button. We kindly hope your Eminence will benefit us with the legislative ruling on the likes of these surgeries, especially when some of them are performed using a device which squeezes [the belly button] and is performed without the use of anesthetics.
After the Permanent Committee studied the issue, they answered that:
“What is called belly-button piercing is from the cosmetic surgeries which are unlawful due to the intent by it, which is exposing that place of the body in public events/occasions. It involves the exposing of the awrah which is impermissible to expose and this [body part] is not from the well-known places in which jewelry is placed according to the Muslims. This is also due to what it involves of displaying one’s beauty which is blameworthy as in the statement of the Exalted:
وَلا تَبَرَّجْنَ تَبَرُّجَ الْجَاهِلِيَّةِ الأُولَى
And do not display yourselves like that of the times of ignorance [33:33]
And with Allah is Tawfeeq. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family/followers, and Companions”.
[Fatwa number (no. 22869) found here]
Translated by
Faisal Ibn Abdul Qaadir Ibn Hassan
Abu Sulaymaan
