Question

Are fat dissolving injections permissible?

Answer

The default ruling is that making permanent or semi permanent body modifications is not permissible in Islam except where the shari’ah explicitly permits. For example, Botox injections for cosmetic purposes would not be permissible but piercing the ears and dying the hair will be, as these acts have been permitted in the shari’ah. Modifications are also permissible in cases of extreme medical need such as correcting deformity.

As for the case in question, reducing fat in and of itself is not problematic and can be achieved through exercise, good diet etc. If done within reason it can lead to a more healthier body and thus would be permissible. As for using injections to dissolve fat this would also be permissible as it would just be another method to reduce the fat in one’s body. However, one should only opt for this method if they have consulted a reliable medical professional and have been advised that this would be beneficial for them. One must also ensure that there are no harmful side effects.

صحيح مسلم (3/ 1678)

عَنْ عَبْدِ اللهِ، قَالَ: «لَعَنَ اللهُ الْوَاشِمَاتِ وَالْمُسْتَوْشِمَاتِ، وَالنَّامِصَاتِ وَالْمُتَنَمِّصَاتِ، وَالْمُتَفَلِّجَاتِ لِلْحُسْنِ الْمُغَيِّرَاتِ خَلْقَ اللهِ

[2] الفتاوى الهندية (5/ 360)

إذَا أَرَادَ الرَّجُلُ أَنْ يَقْطَعَ إصْبَعًا زَائِدَةً أَوْ شَيْئًا آخَرَ قَالَ نُصَيْرٌ – رَحِمَهُ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى – إنْ كَانَ الْغَالِبُ عَلَى مَنْ قَطَعَ مِثْلَ ذَلِكَ الْهَلَاكَ فَإِنَّهُ لَا يَفْعَلُ وَإِنْ كَانَ الْغَالِبُ هُوَ النَّجَاةُ فَهُوَ فِي سَعَةٍ

Answered by:
Ifta Research Fellow

Checked & Approved by:
Mufti Abdul Rahman Mangera
Mufti Zubair Patel