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Fatwa CenterWants to Use Medical Makeup to Cover Scars on His Face
Question
Dear Shaikh, I’m a man with a big surgical scar on my cheek. I’ve suffered a lot of depression because of this scar for many years including hurtful comments, constant stares and disgusted expressions. Recently I came across a special type of medical makeup that can be used to cover such scars. This makeup can be worn for 1-2 days without taking it off.
My question is, can I use this makeup on my face once in the morning and then do masah over it for every salah for the day?
If I take it out for every salah, it will be very inconvenient and expensive.
Please suggest as to what i should do. I’m in a really miserable situation.
Jazakallah khayran
Answer
All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad 
is His slave and Messenger.
First of all, we ask Allah to help you and amend your affairs. We advise you to be content and patient with what happened to you, to seek the reward from Allah for that, and to not exaggerate the matter and open the doors of discontent and pain on yourself; the matter is easier than that.
As for the treatments, you should refer to the specialists.
From the Islamic point of view, the treatment of abnormalities and physical deformities, which lead to moral harm, is considered a necessity and a need.
The decision of the Islamic Fiqh Council reads:
“It is Islamically permissible to perform necessary plastic surgery, which are intended to: Repairing physical defects if their existence causes effective physical or moral harm.” [End of quote]
The Shaafi’i jurists have stated that the fear of an obscene apparent abnormality is one of the justifications for resorting to Tayammum and wiping over the barriers instead of washing with pure water.
Thus, if you are applying the medical makeup [that can be used to cover such scars] to treat an obscene deformity or defect, then it is permissible for you to wipe over it, and you do not have to remove it as long as removing it nullifies its effect or causes an unusual material cost.
However, the problem about what can be understood from your question is that the makeup is not for treatment, but rather to cover and conceal these scars; if this is the case, then is concealing and covering the scars a concession that permits not using the pure water [and resorting to Tayammum]?
We have not come across any statements of the scholars for such a case, especially that the concealment of defects does not have an end to its time-period, unlike the treatment that has a temporary period.
In any case: the basic principle is that the organ must be washed, until a reason is proven for the permission of wiping over the barrier instead of washing the organ with water.
For more benefit on the ruling of undergoing plastic surgery, please refer to Fataawa 400975, 385405, 242377, 87848, 84384, 83177 and 94487.
Allah knows best.
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