Other Considerations
Here are a few other important aspects for daily living of the practicing Muslim that one should be aware of:
- Music – Practicing Muslims should not listen to music. Music can lead to a form of idolatry and clouds one's mind. Also, the time which one could be spending memorizing Qur’an or some other fruitful activity (reading, gaining knowledge, etc.) is lost while listening to music. Further, in many ways music can manipulate emotions, which could certainly have serious consequences such as leading to zina. See Nasheed
Nail polish – As discussed on the Purifications page, Muslims complete a process of ablution (wudoo) before praying. In this process, we are cleaning our bodies of all impurities. However, nail polish prevents water from reaching the finger tips and hence prevents this cleansing process from being completed. Islamic Scholars have therefore ruled that nail polish should not be worn when one is fit for prayer i.e. when one is not menstruating or in state of post-natal bleeding). It is considered permissible during times when women must abstain from praying (when one is menstruating or in state of post-natal bleeding).
- Perfume - Is completely permissible, however for Muslim women they should not wear it outside the home. The reasoning behind this ruling is that it is alluring, it can provoke a man's desire and can therefore lead to temptation. (Click here to read a complete ruling on this subject.) Men, in contrast, are permitted to wear cologne outside and actually are encouraged to do so on occasions such as Jumu'ah (Friday) prayer and Eid holidays.
See more Practices of Muslims