‘God is beautiful, and He loves beauty’ goes the tradition of our Prophet Muhammad, God’s peace and blessings be upon him. Divine beauty, however, is not always the sole focus of human endeavour; cosmetic surgery is an increasingly popular solution to men and women’s desire to be beautiful. These procedures, when performed in the absence of any clinical need, challenge traditional Muslim beliefs on the inviolable nature of the human form, and raise questions about our understanding of human sexuality and gender.

This series will, God willing, address the following questions:

What is the legal ruling on cosmetic enhancements?

Can mental distress be a cause for exception?

How are transgender individuals to be viewed?

Are sexuality and gender biological realities, or societal constructs?