Hadhrat Maulana Ashraf Ali Thanvi (Rahmatullah alayh) while strongly discouraging nose rings for women, did not say that it is not permissible.

Answer

During Hadhrat Thanvi's time and environment piercing the nose was customary. It was not a practice in emulation of the kuffaar, hence it was permissible at that time despite its reprehensibility. We must, however add that the reprehensibility is sufficient for proclaiming this ugly practice forbidden and sinful (Makrooh Tahrimi).

In our time and society it is not permissible. Many women have lately asked about this practice. Firstly, it is not at all a practice in our society. Secondly, non- Muslim women in the west have recently begun adopting this practice. In view of western white women having initiated this practice, Muslim women who suffer from the disease of gross mental inferiority, are lapsing into the major sin of Tashabbuh bil kuffaar (imitating the kuffaar). They are also desirous of following in their footsteps, hence the fatwa of impermissibility.