Fatwa ID: 09257
Answered by Mufti Yusuf Badshah
Question:
Assalamu alaykum,
I have been diagnosed with a deviated septum that causes breathing difficulties, especially during sports, sleep, and daily activities. My doctor recommended surgery (septoplasty) to correct it.
The surgeon mentioned that during the same procedure it would also be possible to slightly adjust the external shape of my nose, such as reducing a hump and refining the nasal tip.
I would like to mention that I have felt verry insecure about my nose since I was young. It affects my confidence and I wear glasses to make my nose less noticeable.
My intention is not to become more attractive. My real intention is to 1. Fix my breathing and 2. Feel more confident.
My questions are:
- Is it permissible to have surgery to correct a deviated septum due to breathing problems?
- If the surgery is already being done for medical reasons, is it permissible to make a small cosmetic adjustment at the same time?
- Does long-term psychological insecurity about appearance affect the ruling?
Jazakum Allahu khayran.
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
Answer:
It is permissible to have surgery to correct a deviated septum that is causing breathing difficulties [1]. It is not permissible to make other unnecessary cosmetic adjustments to improve one’s appearance [2]. Surgery is permitted only in cases of severe health issues or genuinely debilitating disfigurement, not in the case of personal insecurity regarding one’s beauty. Surgery is for cases of necessity or genuine need, not want, and long-term psychological insecurity about one’s appearance does not change that ruling.
Only Allah ﷻ knows best.
Written by Mufti Yusuf Badshah
Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah
Darul Ifta Birmingham
References:
[1]
مِمَّا فِيهِ ضَرُورَةٌ ظَاهِرَةٌ تُبِيحُ الْخُرُوجَ عَنْ أَصْلِ الْمَذْهَبِ مِنْ طُرُوُّ الْمَنْعِ
Raddul Muhtar, vol. 6, pg. 56, Darul Fikr
[2]
{… وَلَا تُلْقُوا بِأَيْدِيكُمْ إِلَى التَّهْلُكَةِ ۛ وَأَحْسِنُوا ۛ إِنَّ اللَّهَ يُحِبُّ الْمُحْسِنِينَ ۞}
Surah Al-Baqarah 195
{فَأَقِمْ وَجْهَكَ لِلدِّينِ حَنِيفًا ۚ فِطْرَتَ اللَّهِ الَّتِي فَطَرَ النَّاسَ عَلَيْهَا ۚ لَا تَبْدِيلَ لِخَلْقِ اللَّهِ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ الدِّينُ الْقَيِّمُ وَلَٰكِنَّ أَكْثَرَ النَّاسِ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ ۞}
Surah Ar-Rum 30
حَدَّثَنَا آدَمُ بْنُ أَبِي إِيَاسٍ، حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ، حَدَّثَنَا عَدِيُّ بْنُ ثَابِتٍ، سَمِعْتُ عَبْدَ اللَّهِ بْنَ يَزِيدَ الأَنْصَارِيّ َ ـ وَهُوَ جَدُّهُ أَبُو أُمِّهِ ـ قَالَ نَهَى النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم عَنِ النُّهْبَى وَالْمُثْلَةِ
Sahih Al-Bukhari 2474