What does Islam say about beauty and making yourself attractive?

Of course, one must be modest...but what do the Quran and Hadiths say about trying to look beautiful.What does Islam say about beauty and making yourself attractive?
Modesty is a virtue which Islam demands of Muslim men and women. The most powerful verses commanding the believers to be modest occur in Surah al-Nur and begin with the words:





';Say to the believing men that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty; that will make for greater purity for them: and Allah is well aware of what they do.';


[Noble Quran 24:31]





The rule of modesty is equally applicable to men and women. A brazen stare by a man at a woman or another man is a breach of correct behavior. The rule is meant not only to guard women, but is also meant to guard the spiritual good of men. Looking at the sexual anarchy that prevails in many parts of the world, and which Islam came to check, the need for modesty both in men and women is abundantly clear. However it is on account of the difference between men and women in nature, temperament, and social life, that a greater amount of veiling is required for women than for men, especially in the matter of dress. A complete code of modesty is laid down in the Quran as follows:





';And say to the believing women that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty; and that they should not display their beauty and ornaments except what (must ordinarily) appear thereof; that they should draw their veils over their bosoms and not display their beauty save to their husbands, or their fathers or their husbands' fathers, or their sons or their husbands' sons, or their brothers or their brothers' sons, or their sisters' sons, or their women, or the slaves whom their right hands possess, or male servants free of physical desire, or small children who have no sense of sex; and that they should not stamp their feet in order to draw attention to their hidden ornaments. And O believers! Turn all together towards Allah, that you may attain bliss.';


[Noble Quran 24:31]





A key term in the above verse is Zinat. It means both natural beauty and artificial ornaments. The word as used in the above verse seems to include both meanings. Women are asked not to make a display of their figures, not to wear tight clothing that reveals their shapeliness, nor to appear in such dress except to:





their husbands,





their relatives living in the same house with whom a certain amount of informality is permissible,





their women, that is, in the strict sense, their maid-servants who are constantly in attendance on them, but in a more liberal sense, all believing women,





old or infirm men-servants, and





infants or small children who have not yet got a sense of sexWhat does Islam say about beauty and making yourself attractive?
basically...do it for yourself and your mahram (aka: immediate family + those of the same sex)...not for or in front of others!





';What is the meaning of the hadeeth which says that Allaah is beautiful and loves beauty?';


http://www.islam-qa.com/en/ref/6652/





';Is hijab obligatory for beautiful women only or for all women?';


http://www.islam-qa.com/en/ref/47569/





last three paragraphs refer to beauty:


http://www.islam-qa.com/en/ref/84903/





...modesty is the distinct characteristic attributed to identify Islam...and making oneself attractive is the opposite of being modest..ya?...





so keep yourself clean and neat, but don't over do it to the point of purposefully attracting attention





Allahu Alim
I'm looking for the hadith;


I read it; it was something like; ';what do you say of the one who wears beautiful garments'; and the answer was somthing like ';Allah is beautiful and loves beauty';.... something then saying but you shouldn't think your better then those who don't


I'll find the direct quote inshallah
Allah made you beautiful, but you should probably shower, properly groom, brush your hair, keep your teeth healthy, and wear clean clothes.
You should not look beautiful to attract the attention of the opposite gender, however Islam teaches to be clean and dress appropriately.





http://thetruthexposed.webs.com/
It is encouraged if done for husband. It is even encouraged to make you look sexy if done for husband.
You should not care because our flesh is just temporary!!! So don't worry about looks ! Think ,more about how ur soul looks and the only way to make thatlook better is be rightous


May peace be upon you.
Al-Mussawar...we should mimick...good job