I am a 18 year old girl and I dont know why I have got wrinkles ,under eyelines and etc onmy face ,these are signs of aging at a very tender age … When asked few my friends they said may be coz of misbehavour with your parents…I wasn’t into the reigion before but alhamdulillah started knowing the beauty of Islam since last 2 to 3 months But I am unable to understand what and to react to my problem,Sometimes it doesnt bother me much but then my mom keeps reminding me look at you face . Please need an answer
Jazakallah

This article may be an avenue for people to reflect on the real essence of beauty which doesn’t only focus on the physical aspect but also on the INNER aspect which doesn’t fade unlike the former. May ALLAH (SWT) grant the author the ability and strength to publish more articles related to this and more relevant perspectives about the value of spiritual BEAUTY.

As salaamu alaykum Br. Ra’shaan,

Jazak Allahu khayran for your comment! I really appreciate you sharing your thoughts. Throughout the series, I think all of us authors have been trying to make sure that our articles do not seem to push an opposite extreme, of NO attention to one’s physical appearance or neglecting one’s health (which some of us need to work on more than others!) The main goal I think was to do two things really:

1) To expand what’s considered a ‘beautiful’ physical image, to one that is more open to diversity and variety and beyond what mainstream media teaches us.

and

2) To talk about developing an inward beauty – when our society puts so much emphasis on the physical, it’s nice to step back sometimes and put things in context and realize there are other dimensions to one’s being that should be developed and worked on too.

I hope this is not misunderstood to mean that we shouldn’t care about how we dress, look etc.

Take care,

salaam
shazia

I’m elated that this issue is being brought to the fore by your sisters and I hope that Allah grant you ample good deeds for your efforts. I work as a personal trainer at a large corporate gym in a very “posh” sector of Atlanta and I’ve seen first-hand how warped conceptions of beauty can have enduring effects on perception, mostly, though not exclusively, from the side of women. Everyday I am reminded of the potency that television, Hollywood (or color-conscious Bollywood…as if Hollywood isn’t race-conscious), and these stupid magazines have on our perception of reality. How ironic is it that these things, which are often the farthest things from reality, are what inform our perceptions of what is real the most. And how terrifying that we – our children especially – are being inundated with these images constantly. It’s hard for me to penetrate the depths of the inner beauty in people when they can’t see the light for themselves…because they’re to busy worrying about how some model looks in Vanity Fair or whatever. We live in dark and strange times…

I have found, though, that the injunctions of the Prophet do help to keep one healthy and vivacious, such as the mandate to abstain from alcohol (and intoxicants in general), the order to eat wholesome foods, and the example of being physically active (I have in mind the Prophet’s predilection for archery and the Companions love of wrestling, in the masjid of all places :D). With these, I think one can age gracefully, as we say in American culture, but without the cognizance that life serves a greater purpose, it’s totally futile and meaningless, so far as I’m concerned.

Anyway, jazaks again.

Salaam/Peace