Good appearance consists of five things, namely, the clipping of the moustache, that is, trimming of hair surrounding the mouth and not cutting it off - God knows best; the paring of the nails; the plucking of the armpits; and the shaving off of the pubic region. There is no harm, however,in shaving off the hair on other parts of the body. Circumcision for men is a tradition (sunnah) of the Prophet (P.B.U.H.), while for ladies it is a mark of honour.
The Prophet (P.B.U.H.) commanded that beards should be left to grow thick and should not be clipped. According to Malik there is no harm in clipping a little when it is too long.
Some other jurists from among the Companions of the Prophet and the generation that came after them said it is reprehensible to colour it black, but this is not prohibited. However, there is no harm in colouring the beard with henna or 'katam' (the latter gives the hair a yellow colour while the former gives it a red one).
The Prophet (P.B.U.H.) prohibited men from wearing silken clothes, and gold or iron rings. There is no harm in wearing rings decorated with silver or having sword or Qur'an cases decorated with silver, but this does not apply to bridles, saddles or knives, nor to other things.
However, women are allowed to have golden rings but not iron ones. In the choice of the finger upon which to wear rings, it is narrated that the left hand is preferred, since the right hand is employed in most actions. The wearer of the ring shall take it by the right hand and put it on the left. Opinions of jurists differ as to the lawfulness of the wearing of 'khazz' material (a mixture of silk and wool). Some say it is lawful and others consider it reprehensible. Similarly, it is reprehensible to make designs on cloth with khazz except where these are thin lines.
Women are forbidden to wear thin clothes which reveal their shapes when they go out. A man must not wear oversized clothes out of arrogance or some dress out of conceit. A man's clothes must be above his ankles. Doing this keeps his cloths cleaner, and this is a greater mark of piety.
It is prohibited for a person to wrap his body in his blanket in such a way that he joins its two ends on the left shoulder and the dress coming from beneath the right shoulder - this when he has no underwear. Jurists are at variance as to the lawfulness of this when the person is wearing underwear.
Besides, a Muslim shall be ordered to always cover his private parts. The wrapper of a believing Muslim shall extend to his shins. The thigh, besides, is deemed to be a part of the private parts, although strictly speaking it is not part of the private parts. A man must not enter a public bath without pants on. A woman must not enter a public bath except out of necessity. Two men or two women must not wrap themselves in a single blanket.
A woman must not come out into the public unless moved by necessity, such as attending the funeral ceremonies of her parents or near relatives, or occasions of a similar nature, which are lawful to her. She must not attend a funeral ceremony at which professional mourners scream. Nor is it lawful for her to attend ceremonies where clarinets and lutes or similar musical instruments are played. However, she is permitted to attend weddings were tambourines are played. But opinions of jurists differ as to whether it is lawful for her to go a wedding ceremony where 'kabar' (a kind of drum) it beaten.
A man must not seclude himself with a woman other than one whom between him and her a bar to marriage exists. But there is no harm in him seeing her for a lawful cause such as testifying against her, or other such reasons, or when he courts her. However he is permitted to see the face of an elderly woman, for any reason.
Women are forbidden to attach someone else's hair to their own; they are also prohibited from tattooing their body.
When a person comes to wear boots and shoes let him start with the right foot. However, there is no harm in putting shoes on in a standing posture. It is however reprehensible to walk about with a single shoe on.
It is reprehensible to make designs on beds, domes, walls, and rings. There is no harm in drawing numbers on clothes; however it is preferable to leave it.