Dubai Grand Mufti on is 'halal' nail polish really 'halal'?

Many international beauty and cosmetic brands have come up with a new type of nail polish, which they claim to be “halal” or “breathable” .

These brands claim that Muslim women can pray while wearing these nail polishes, as it does not prevent water and air from reaching the nails during ablutions before prayer.

Many beauty salons in Dubai are promoting this type of nail polish, with the word ‘halal’ widely advertised.

Most salons are also reporting high demand for the same.

Emirates 24|7 spoke to Dr Ali Ahmed Mashael, Grand Mufti at the Islamic Affairs and Charitable Activities Department in Dubai, who explained that women must be very careful and not believe claims from companies and saloons, unless a fatwa comes from the right party.

“If this is claimed to be a breathable nail polish which does not make a coat on the nail, a woman must try to peal it away. If it does not peal, then yes it might be ‘halal’.

“However, if the woman tries to peal it and finds a pealed part coming out, then it is not ‘halal’, as it covers the nail and creates a shield on it. Thus, women cannot put it and pray.”

The Grand Mufti further explained that henna, for example, does not prevent women from praying as it does not peal, and it does not create a coat.

Dr Mashael requested Emirates 24|7 to supply the Islamic Affairs and Charitable Activities Department in Dubai with samples of these halal nail polishes for study and experiments to find out if they really are halal or not.

Women in UAE confused

Women in the UAE are confused over whether to use these nail polishes or not.

Najla Al Shamsi, an Emarati mother of four said that she has been hearing about this type of nail polish for the past one year.

“A friend of mine from Canada told me about it and said that a famous makeup brand is selling them.

“However, it was difficult for me to find it as it was always out of stock. Then during Eid, I found a famous beauty salon in Dubai selling these halal nail polishes for Dh50 per bottle.

“This made me try it and I liked the idea of keeping it on for as long as I want as it does not prevent water and air from reaching the nails, and thus, I can pray with it.”

Maryam Ahmed, another Emirati woman said that she was using this halal nail polish and by mistake, while she was putting henna for Eid, a small piece of henna got stuck on her nail.

“When I reached home and washed my hands and removed the nail polish, I had henna stains on my nail. This I believe makes it really breathable nail polish as the other nail polishes do not allow henna to reach the nail.”

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