The desire to beautify ourselves is an urge that the Almighty himself has implanted in humans. Furthermore, the Islamic Shari`ah has not imposed any restraint on the materialization of this natural urge nor does it restrict you from helping others in fulfilling this natural need. Therefore you have very right to proceed with your plans of setting up a beauty parlor. I think you have only been cautioned by your well-wishers because of the existing state of affairs where women adorn themselves to show off their sparkle in mixed gathering and thus promote vileness and vulgarity in the society. Such a behavior is clearly against the recommendations of the Shari`ah . Islam has laid great emphasis upon the virtue of hayaa (modesty) in its adherents. The Holy Qur'an has provided detailed directives regarding the prescribed etiquettes of social interaction between men and women for the purpose of maintaining the virtue of hayaa . It directs us to refrain from even going close to lewdness. This overwhelming importance attached to hayaa needs special attention and must not be taken lightly. Nonetheless, it is up to your customers to observe the limits set and respect the etiquettes prescribed by the Shari`ah . If, however, some of your customer women are careless with respect to the directives and recommendations of the Shari`ah , the sin of violating the divine directives will be upon them. I hope this helps. Tariq Hashmi February 8, 2003 Answer published by Tariq Mahmood Hashmi