Asalam o alykum scholar, 3: My last question is about work, I have one year old daughter and i want to work when she start go to school. I want to work because i have my per month needs such as buying creams, cloths(not necessary that if i have only need sometimes we buy what we like) and i want to keep some money in my hand if suppose i like something i can buy in market. My husband doesnt accept buying cream and going to salon and groom my self. I feel bad about it because i want to groom my self for him and for my self to feel happy. I read fatwa about providing necessary things to wife, Am i wrong to ask to buy creams beauty stuff and go salon for cleaning feets and hands while my husband can afford it? He said he doesnt have problem with all of things. I dont think he doesnt have problem wife and husband both should groom there selves. When we have guest women they always talk about me that why dont i go and have laser treatment for my face scars but my husband is not agree for this either. he said he doesnt have problem. what if i want to look beautiful for myself even am i wrong while we can afford all of things? Jazzakum Allah khair, Ma salama

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His slave and Messenger.

It is permissible for a wife to ask her husband to buy for her the beauty products that she needs, and the husband is encouraged to fulfil her request if he does not face a financial difficulty as this is an act of kindness. Allaah Says (what means): {And live with them in kindness.}[Quran 4:19]

There is no doubt that a wife beautifying herself for her husband leads to affection and love between them. As regards going to beauty saloons, then it is not permissible for a woman to go out to beauty saloons or other places except with the consent of her husband. If the husband gives her permission and knows or is predominantly sure that there are no prohibited acts in these saloons and the 'Awrah (parts of the body that must be covered in Islam) of the woman will not be exposed, then it is permissible to go to such saloons.

With regard to undergoing a laser operation for the wrinkles on your face, if these wrinkles constitute a harmful deformation, then it is permissible to change and remove them by laser. Moreover, if they are normal and do not harm you, and you only want to do that for the sole purpose of beautification, then this is also permissible provided there are no side effects. However, if this does necessitate surgery (cutting the skin) –as we understood from your question –then it is not permissible unless there is a clear deformation, because this operation leads to changing the creation of Allaah.

Therefore, we first advise you to fear Allaah and then to obey your husband within what is permissible especially that obeying him is obligatory, while what you are requesting is only recommended. You should not make such matters a reason for causing problems between you and your husband especially that the husband generally knows what goes on in beauty saloons and the religious prohibitions which are committed therein.

Similarly, we advise the husband not to be stubborn on something that is permissible and which makes his wife happy; as making one’s wife happy is among being kind to her; this is something which is religiously ordained.

For more benefit on woman’s work, please refer to Fataawa 92407 and 82399.