Is kohl considered an adornment that prohibits a woman from going out while wearing it? Is it permissible to use it while wearing sunglasses when going directly to the family's home from the car? Or are sunglasses themselves suspicious? Is it permissible to go out after lightening some stray eyebrow hairs located at the edges without altering the main part of the eyebrows, if the woman is wearing a hijab but not a niqab?
Scholars differ on the ruling concerning a woman going out with kohl. Some are of the view that it is an apparent adornment that is permissible to display, while others believe it is an inner adornment that must be concealed from non-mahram men. The latter opinion is more preponderant because kohl enhances a woman's beauty and draws attention to her. The objection to kohl is removed by covering it with sunglasses, provided that this is not done extravagantly or with the intention of attracting the attention of men.
As for lightening the eyebrows by dyeing them, it is permissible as long as there is no deception towards a suitor or imitation of immoral women. However, removing some eyebrow hair (plucking) is forbidden, whether with tweezers, plucking, or other methods, because it is an alteration of Allah's creation. This is unless the hair is very thick and disfigures the appearance to the extent of attracting attention and ridicule, or for the necessity of treatment; in such cases, it is permissible to remove only the amount that alleviates the harm caused.
Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026
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