Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.  (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

Assalamu Alaikkum wa rahmathullahi wa barakathuhu

I read hadith saying that its forbidden for women to make space between teeth artificially . I would like to know whether it is forbidden to clip teeth to make our teeth in order or to reduce space between our teeth, usuaaly done by a dentist.

(There may be some grammatical and spelling errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in confidentiality.)

Answer:

Clip teeth by dentist

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is none worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 6.408 Narrated by Alqama

Abdullah (bin Masud) said that the Messenger of Allah (saws) said: "Allah curses those ladies who practice tattooing and those who get themselves tattooed, and those ladies who remove the hair from their faces (eye brows), and those who make artificial spaces between their teeth in order to look more beautiful whereby they change Allah's creation."

At the time of the Prophet (saws), the pagan womenfolk who would engage in adorning themselves with tattoos, and considered a manifestation of beauty for women to keep artificial uniform gaps between their teeth….such things were forbidden for the believers by the Messenger of Allah (saws).

If one has un-uniform teeth, or troublesome or irregular growth, or a genuine medical need or pain, etc. that demands repair of one’s teeth, there is absolutely no harm in seeking dental help.

There is absolutely no harm if one seeks bracing, or clipping, or other dental procedures to close the troublesome or irregular gaps amongst one’s teeth, for the prohibition is specifically against the forming of artificial gaps between teeth as a manifestation of beauty, not against the closure of gaps. To create artificial and uniform gaps to the natural growth of one’s teeth only as an enhancement to one’s beauty would be prohibited for the believers who sincerely fear Allah and the Last Day.

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me alone. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

Burhan