Getting dimples through surgery or piercing is considered haram (forbidden) in Islam. This is because creating dimples solely for beautification is seen as altering Allah's creation without a justifiable need. However, the permissibility of achieving dimples through natural means, such as facial exercises, is viewed differently.
Dimples and Islamic Law: A nuanced perspective
The Islamic rulings on dimples largely depend on how they are acquired.
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Surgical or Piercing Methods (Dimpleplasty): Creating dimples through surgical or piercing methods is explicitly haram. Multiple Islamic sources [1, 3, 6] clearly state that altering one's appearance for purely cosmetic reasons is prohibited. This is based on the principle of not changing Allah's creation without a valid necessity.
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Facial Exercises: The permissibility of using facial exercises to potentially develop dimples is less clear-cut. Several sources [2, 4, 5] indicate that if the facial exercises lead to natural changes in appearance, without the intention of artificial modification, then they are generally permissible. The key is that the changes are a natural consequence of the exercise, not a direct and deliberate attempt to drastically alter one's appearance. If the aim is to solely create dimples by manipulating the facial muscles, then the permissibility becomes questionable and depends upon the individual interpretation of Islamic scholars.
In summary: Altering one's appearance through surgical or piercing methods to obtain dimples is haram. The permissibility of using facial exercises to potentially develop dimples is dependent on the intent and the nature of the change – whether it's a natural consequence of exercise or a deliberate attempt to artificially modify the face.
[1] AL-KAFI #1744: THE RULING OF DIMPLEPLASTY (DIMPLE SURGERY): https://muftiwp.gov.my/en/artikel/al-kafi-li-al-fatawi/4584-al-kafi-1744-the-ruling-of-dimpleplasty-dimple-surgery
[2] Is doing facial exercises to obtain dimples considered changing the creation of: https://islam.stackexchange.com/questions/55058/is-doing-facial-exercises-to-obtain-dimples-considered-changing-the-creation-of
[3] Islamic Perspective on Dimple Creation Surgery (Dimpleplasty): https://www.dawateislami.net/magazine/en/shari-rulings-of-islamic-sisters/dimpleplasty
[4] Is it haram to get dimples by exercise?: https://www.quora.com/Is-it-haram-to-get-dimples-by-exercise
[5] Is it Permissible to Do Facial Exercises?: https://seekersguidance.org/answers/health/is-it-permissible-to-do-facial-exercises/
[6] Brief Answer: The ruling of dimpleplasty through piercing or surgery is haram. Dimple that is created merely for the purpose of beautification (tahsiniyyah) is prohibited because it is a change towards Allah's creation which clearly holds no need (hajiyyah) on doing so.
