Are tattoos allowed in Islam?

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Kamil Hassaan

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I want to get a tattoos on my arms. I am not willing to draw a picture only a barb-wire and a simple design on the the other arm. My Islamic studies teacher told me, "Getting a picture tattooed(for example: animals and people) on yourself is forbidden but simple designs like the barb-wire and other "designs" are ok." He also said, "In older times people got scar-tattoos, that is also forbidden." Please tell, are tattoos forbidden in Islam? And also give a solid proof. If you are going to use a harsh language, then please go away, this is not a place for you.
 
To start off this post, let me just say that I am not a scholar, nor am I an expert on the Qur'an or the ahadith.

The proofs are strictly from the ahadith (as it is not directly mentioned in the Qur'an) , specifically here Volume 7, Book 72 (Dress) from Sahih Bukhari which I have sourced from an English translation by M. Muhsin Khan:

Hadith 815

Narrated 'Abdullah
"Allah has cursed those women who practice tattooing and those who get themselves tattooed, and those who removed their face hairs, and those who create a space between their teeth artificially to look beautiful, and such women as change the features created by Allah. Why then should I not curse those whom the Prophet has cursed? And that is in Allah's Book"

Hadith 816

Narrated Humaid bin 'Abdur-Rahman bin 'Auf
"...and the one who tattoos (herself or someone else)." (contracted, contains similar information to Hadith 815)

Hadith 820

Narrated Ibn Umar
"Allah's Apostle said, 'Allah has cursed such a lady as lengthens hair artificially or gets it lengthened, and also a lady who tattoos or gets herself tattooed.'"

Hadith 826

Narrated Ibn Mas'ud
"Allah has cursed those women who practice tattooing or get it done for themselves..."

Hadith 827

Narrated Abu Huraira
"Allah's Apostle said, "The evil eye is a fact," and he forbade tattooing"

Hadith 828

Narrated 'Abdullah
"Allah's Apostle said, "The evil eye is a fact," and he forbade tattooing"

Hadith 829

Narrated Abu Juhaifa
"The Prophet forbade...the woman who practices tattooing and the woman who gets herself tattooed"

Hadith 830

Narrated Abu Huraira
"I heard the Prophet (addressing the ladies), saying 'Do not practice tattooing and do not get yourselves tattooed'"

Hadith 831

Narrated Ibn 'Umar
"The Prophet has cursed...the lady who practices tattooing and that who gets it done for herself"

Hadith 832

Narrated 'Abdullah
"Allah has cursed the women who practice tattooing and those who get it done for themselves"


So, aside from Ahadith 828 and 829 which are contradicted by other ahadith from Abu Huraira and 'Abdullah which are mentioned in the same group, it would appear that tattooing is not allowed for women to have it done to themselves or to tattoo others. So, if the prohibition is only for women (which is what the consensus of these ahadith appear to say), then tattooing is technically allowed for men and must also only be performed by men.

That being said, once again I must reiterate that I am not a scholar or expert on the Qur'an or ahadith. Also, in life, we must choose our own paths, but we will all be taken to account when we face Allah on the Day of Resurrection.

Hope this helps.
 
Kamil Hassaan said:
My Islamic studies teacher told me, "Getting a picture tattooed(for example: animals and people) on yourself is forbidden but simple designs like the barb-wire and other "designs" are ok." He also said, "In older times people got scar-tattoos, that is also forbidden."
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Salaam Brother Kamil Hassaan.

Alhumdulillah I believe you respect your Islamic studies teacher a lot. And this is really good, keep on studying Islam and your efforts to learn and seek more knowledge of Islam. This will grant you Paradise in the hereafter.

As for your question; it is an opinion based question. This means that you will get a variety of different answers from different people.

Here are some threads YOU MUST READ before considering to follow through with getting a tattoo or not.

Temporary and permanent tattoos – types and rulings - islamqa.info
Are Tattoos Haram in Islam - islamqa.info
Are Tattoos Allowed in Islam? Guidelines for Muslims
http://www.islamicboard.com/general/134313773-tattoo-body.html

So before you decide to get a tattoo or not, why not ask your parents, friends, and maybe the Imams around your area. Personally I don't care whether a Muslim brother standing next to me in prayer has a tattoo on his body. But I would prefer that he try to cover it. Keep in mind this; You cannot cover it on the day of judgement though. So be vary with people telling you about religion, sometimes it's best to get the answer from the best sources. This means searching online, and considering your Imam's advise. Why change something that doesn't need changing?

Whatever you choose, I hope you continue your Islamic studies.
 
The problem is, I live in Pakistan. Finding a scholar with vast knowledge is not easy. Majority of Imams in Pakistan don't have much knowledge, they only know the basics. The scholars I know, don't live close to me, they live in different cities. Since I am a student, I cannot extract time to meet them. This is why I chose this site. And I will consult my parents.
 
:salam:

jkekeis said:
So, aside from Ahadith 828 and 829 which are contradicted by other ahadith from Abu Huraira and 'Abdullah which are mentioned in the same group, it would appear that tattooing is not allowed for women to have it done to themselves or to tattoo others. So, if the prohibition is only for women (which is what the consensus of these ahadith appear to say), then tattooing is technically allowed for men and must also only be performed by men.

That being said, once again I must reiterate that I am not a scholar or expert on the Qur'an or ahadith.
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We cannot come to our own conclusion that one ahadeeth by one companion contradicts another by the same companion (may Allah be pleased with them). Different ahadeeth may be at different times, circumstances, and to different witnesses. We cannot come to the conclusion by ignoring two ahadeeth that the restriction applies to women only. Scholars do not take ahadeeth in isolation. In those days, tattooing and plucking of the eyebrows was mainly done by women. However this does not mean that the ruling on tattoos being forbidden does not apply to men. Some ahadeeth may be addressed to specified groups of people, but their ruling may to all. As an example there is a verse in the Qur'an addressed to the wives of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, and may Allah be pleased with them all), about not being soft of speech (Qur'an Surah 33 verse 32), but its ruling applies to all Muslim women, the verse being addressed to the wives of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, and may Allah be pleased with them all) because they are an example for the women of the ummah to follow, so the verse is general in meaning. As mentioned in the list above, there are some hadeeth which do not specify women, but the act of tattooing itself.

Brother Kaamil Hassaan, it is better for you to refrain, because tattooing is forbidden (as mentioned in hadeeth). It also, as another point, involves changing the appearance of the skin itself which scholars have said classes as changing the creation of Allah (mentioned in the second link in Brother Iceees post). This is also forbidden. So forbidden not even from one ground, but two. Some also give additional reasons too, such as inflicting unnecessary pain, which is not allowed, and wasting money, which is also not allowed.

And Allah knows best in all matters, and may He forgive me if I said anything wrong.
 
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sort of the same topic but is henna tattoos forbidden too?they only last couple days or a week but is that forbidden also?
 
Marina-Aisha said:
is henna tattoos forbidden too?they only last couple days or a week but is that forbidden also?
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What we think with regard to temporary tattoos is that they come under the same ruling as dyeing with henna, if they are done in the manner mentioned in the question and not in the way that is forbidden. This permissibility is subject to several conditions:

1- That the drawing should be temporary and will disappear, and not permanent
2- She should not put any drawings of animate beings
3- She should not appear with that adornment before non-mahram men
4- Those colours and dyes should not be harmful to the skin
5- There should be no resemblance to immoral or kaafir women
6- She should not put any drawings of symbols that venerate deviant religions, corrupt beliefs or misguided ways
7- If it is done by someone else, it should be another woman and it should not be put on any place that is ‘awrah.


If these conditions are met, we do not see any reason why she should not adorn herself wit
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Temporary and permanent tattoos – types and rulings - islamqa.info
 
Just to add, I heard in Pakistan that children are given tattoos of the name of their parents (or something like that), so that if the child becomes lost, then someone else who finds the child will know who their parents are. I was wondering, even if tattoos are forbidden, this seems like one of those exceptional cases in which allowing it seems beneficial. This would have to be a permanent tattoo.

Let's face it, Pakistan is a dangerous country. Kids aren't very safe there. I remember visiting there for a few months' time, and when I went off once on my own for a bit, my uncles and mom completely freaked out. I wasn't lost or anything, I was with one of my uncles' trusted friends just buying something nearby. So it seems like this worry has some basis. I was five then, by the way. I didn't have a tattoo. But if I lived there and grew up there, I can see why I would've needed one. I heard of many cases where kids got kidnapped. It's a fact of life there.
 

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