For a Muslim’s life, every aspect and decision is guided by the Islamic teachings and principles in the Quran. There are quite a few controversies regarding personal adornment using makeup and other beautification items including nail polish and fake nails. Many of you might have a question in mind about press-on nails being Haram in Islam. Today, The Nails Girl will offer you some clarity on Islamic teachings about nails and whether it is permissible for Muslim women to wear artificial nails.
Understanding Haram in Islam
The term ‘Haram’ refers to a forbidden act as per Islam. Muslims have a belief that certain acts are explicitly forbidden by Allah and His Messenger. If any Muslim believer conducts a Haram act, it is considered a sin in the eyes of Islam. Contrarily, a Halal act is the one permitted by Allah in the fundamentals of Islamic laws.
Islamic Perspective on Beauty Ornaments
It is a myth that Islam does not permit beauty products and personal adornment. Cleanliness and beautification are encouraged and appreciated in Islam. The only concern is that Islam has certain set boundaries that do not permit personal adornments to become lavishness or pride. It is believed that trust in Allah doesn’t permit a beautification procedure to harm the believer’s body.
There are primarily two occasions when wearing fake nails is a concern in Islam:
1) Imitation or Lavishness
As stated, Islam doesn’t encourage unnecessary lavish lifestyles and extravagance. It is also not appreciated to imitate non-Islamic religions. It may be considered that wearing press-on nails or other nail enhancements comes under this category. It is particularly Haram if it is done to imitate fashion or beauty trends involving excessive expenses eventually contradicting Islamic modesty.
2) Wudu or Ghusl
In Islam, wudu and ghusl are two important rituals that Muslims perform for ablution before offering prayers. Wudu is the act of partial ablution and Ghusl is the complete ablution; both require cleaning the body with water. Press-on nails sitting on top of the natural nail bed may act as an obstacle in performing these two activities. That is the reason, it may be said that it is not permissible for Muslim women to wear fake nails.
Are Press-On Nails Haram in Islam?
If we look at the Islamic rules regarding fake nails, there is no explicit rule to prevent women or anyone from wearing any type of false nail enhancements, including press-on nails. The Quran does not address this topic specifically. However, the Islamic teachings, as mentioned above, warn believers against the sin of imitating trends practiced by non-Muslims.
Different scholars of Islam have varying opinions on this matter. Some suggest that if the press-on nails are removed before performing wudu or ghusl, then it won’t be considered haram. If you believe this practice, you may use the adhesive glue tabs for applying and removing the press-ons again and again, though it isn’t recommended as the frequent use of glue every few hours may cause harm to the natural nails.
Considering the matter of imitation or lavishness, some Islamic scholars believe that fake nails are a part of non-Muslim fashion and trends and hence cannot be permissible in Islam. They also emphasize modesty and so they discourage the use of press-ons to avoid attracting attention. Thus it is considered undesirable for Muslim women.
Is it Haram to Pray with Press-On Nails?
Again, observing the potential impact of wearing press-on nails during the wudu ritual, may be a concern when praying with fake nails. It is permissible for you to either wear halal nail polishes or remove your press-ons before offering prayers.
If you perform wudu and the water doesn’t reach your natural nails, it is considered invalid. And, offering prayers after an incomplete ritual is also invalid. So there is no point praying with press-on nails, as per some Islamic scholars and hence they vouch against using press-ons altogether to avoid potential conflicts.
Are Press-On Nails Haram During Ramadan?
Since press-on nails are considered the same as fake nails, the rules of Islam are the same. Press-ons are not explicitly deemed haram in the Islamic teachings but whether they are permissible is a debatable topic and depends on the beliefs of the Islamic scholars you follow.
Ideally, any form of nail enhancements, including press-on nails, are considered formidable because of them being a form of beauty adornment. This kind of beautification is generally discouraged unless done during Ramadan only in front of close male relatives such as fathers or husbands, also known as Mahrams.
If the press-on nails are acting as a barrier in wudu and ghusl during Ramadan, they could potentially lead to the invalidation of the prayers being offered during the sacred month.
When is it Permissible for Muslims to Wear Fake Nails?
There are certain specific circumstances when it is permissible for Muslim women to wear fake nails:
1) Removing Press-Ons Before Prayers
If you don’t want to compromise on performing wudu and offering prayers, the only solution you have is to apply your press-ons using adhesive tabs and remove them before the rituals. This way you can continue wearing them because they aren’t considered haram otherwise.
2) During Periods
When you are menstruating, you are exempted from performing wudu and offering prayers. This is the best time for you to flaunt your press-on nails for a few days without having to remove them again and again or being worried about them being haram.
3) Post-Delivery
Again, since you are exempted from performing wudu and offering prayers until your postpartum bleeding is completed, you can wear your press-on nails if you feel it is comfortable with the baby.
The Final Word
In our opinion, using fake nail enhancements or press-on nails is your personal choice. If you feel comfortable doing so, you should not hold yourself back. Just make sure you keep a balance between your religion and fashion so that one thing won’t come in the way of another.
