Lightening the eyebrows

The contemporary scholars differed concerning the ruling on
lightening the eyebrows. Some of them said it is not allowed, as stated in
the answer of the Standing Committee to the following question: 

Recently it has become a common practice among women to
lighten the eyebrows; they dye the top and bottom of the eyebrows so that
they look as if they have been plucked and thinned. This is obviously done
in imitation of the west. The substance used for dyeing is also dangerous to
the hair from a medical point of view. What is the Islamic ruling on doing
such things? 

After studying the matter, the Committee for Issuing Fatwas
replied: 

Lightening the top and bottom of the eyebrows in the manner
mentioned is not permissible, because it is changing the creation of Allaah
and it imitates the plucking that is forbidden in sharee’ah, because it
achieves the same effect. The prohibition is even more emphatic if that is
done in imitation of the kuffaar or if using it causes harm to the body or
hair, because Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning): 

“and do not throw yourselves into destruction”

[al-Baqarah 2:195]

and the Prophet
(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “There should be neither
harming nor reciprocating harm.” 

And Allaah is the Source of strength. 

Fatwa no 21778, dated 29/12/1421 AH. 

Shaykh ‘Abd-Allaah al-Jibreen (may Allaah preserve him)
said: 

I think that it is not permissible to use these dyes and
change the colour of the eyebrows because the Prophet (peace and
blessings of Allaah be upon him) cursed those who pluck the eyebrows, those
who have that done, and those who change the creation of Allaah. By His
wisdom Allaah has created differences in eyebrows; some are heavy, some are
fine, some are long and some are short. This is one of the ways in which we
can tell people apart, and know each person by his own characteristics.
Based on this, it is not permissible to dye them because it is changing the
creation of Allaah. 

Fataawa al-Mar’ah, compiled by
Khaalid al-Juraysi, p. 134. 

Other scholars have said that it is permissible, such as
Shaykh Muhammad al-Saalih al-‘Uthaymeen. See questions no.
8605 and
11168. 

So this is an area concerning which the scholars have
differed. 

But it is better and more on the safe side not to do that. 

Those who are qualified to engage in ijtihaad should do what
they think; those who are qualified in the area of tarjeeh [comparing
opinions and deciding which are more likely to be correct] should do what
they think is most likely to be correct; the ordinary people should follow
the trustworthy scholars in their own lands or those whose fatwas reach
them. 

And Allaah knows best.