How to acquire real beauty?

 

How to acquire real beauty?

 

There is a famous quote:  The face is the mirror of the heart.  What it means is that as and when the condition of the heart changes, its effect is clearly perceived on the face as well.  The heart is the organ in the human body which rules over all others.  Even though the face is the noblest part of the body, it still follows the heart.  The relationship between the heart and the face is deep indeed.  It is this deep relationship due to which when one is happy, the face is in smiles and if one is sad, the face portrays that as well.

 

The heart can be the home to the inspirations of the Lord Almighty or can become the victim of satanic whispers.  When those whispers take root in the heart, this can be perceived on the face as well.  Those evil whispers spoil the face in this world as well as in the hereafter.  When this heart becomes the center of divine inspirations and guidance then not only in this world but also in the hereafter the face will appear clear and radiant.  Allah Most High mentioned this difference in the faces in the Holy Quran:

 

The day when many faces will be bright and many others will be dark.  Surah Aale Imran (3:106)

 

This is the reason that instead of being anxious about the complexion of our faces, we should be more anxious about the condition of our hearts.  The purification of the heart affects not only the face but beautifies the whole body, the way a tree is good right from the roots.

 

Allah Most High values the heart

 

Indeed our religion has taught us purity and cleanliness.  For this reason, washing the face is also an essential part of both ablution and bathing.  Having said this, spoiling the natural beauty of the skin in the name of beautification does NOT come under cleanliness.  We ought to understand that simply fair color is not beauty.  There are many dark complexioned people who have sweetness which is one aspect of beauty.

 

More important than this is the fact that with our Lord Almighty, the standard for (His) love is not the fair complexion of the face but the purification of the heart.  The more the person has a heart which is free of worldly blemishes and free of blameworthy traits like jealousy, hatred, holding wrong beliefs the more is that person loved by Allah Most High.

 

We, Muslim men and women, should pay more attention to the purification and perfection of the heart – it is the only way we can gain the pleasure and approval of our Lord Almighty.  There is a Hadith in this regard:

 

Translation: Allah Most High does not see your bodies and your faces, He sees your hearts.  (Sahih Muslim, Hadith No. 6707)

 

Nowadays our Muslim sisters make it a point to beautify their faces.  Hundreds, nay, thousands are spent (wasted?) in this quest.  The question to ask is what are our sisters using to beautify their hearts?

 

Of course, our religion does not stop us from beautifying oneself.  However, it does prohibit spending thousands in this quest.  Beautifying oneself and then revealing oneself before non-Mahram people is truly forbidden and a grave sin.

 

We should contemplate that whatever we use to conceal our natural beauty and beautify ourselves – does this “beauty” stay forever or is temporary – at best?  Is there no other way to ensure the beauty of our face – a way which is neither expensive nor temporary?

 

A natural way to increase the beauty of our face

 

The basic fact is that Allah Most High has created human beings in the best form of all.  Allah Most High Himself says”

 

Indeed, we have created man in the best possible form.  Surah Teen (95:04)

 

The beauty granted by Allah Most High is permanent and safeguarding it is human duty.  Through cleanliness and purity, we can safeguard it.  If diseases etc. assail it, we can treat them with medicines and so forth.

 

However, if one desires to increase the God-given beauty, then chemicals and other artificial stuff just won’t help with this.  Beauty does not increase by their use and in fact, whatever natural beauty we have also might disappear.  Instead of using this stuff, it is better to use a natural remedy.

 

To increase the beauty of the face, the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) has given us a fail-safe remedy.  If Muslim women use this, they can get beauty which will never wither or wilt.  This beauty will hold us in good stead not only in this world but also the hereafter.  Thus, it is mentioned in Hadith:

 

Translation: The more a person offers Salaat in the night, the more beautiful that person’s face is in the day.  (Sunan Ibn Majah, Baabu Maa Jaa'a Fee Qiyaamil Lail, Hadith No. 1394)

 

If increasing one’s beauty is the aim, then Muslim women should not waste time with stuff which has no benefit.  When this remedy given by the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) is used, then such pristine beauty will be ours that we will never need any artificial aids anymore.