Tattooing in Islam

Question :

Are Tattoos haraam (prohibited) in Islam ? if not , which symbols are haram ? I know hurting the body on purpose is Haram , but if tattoo doesn't hurt the body , is it still Haram , can u please clear all that for me.


Answer :

Praise be to Allaah.

Tattooing, in which the skin is pierced with a needle and a blue or other coloured dye is injected, is haraam in all forms, whether it causes pain or not, because it involves changing the creation of Allaah, and because the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) cursed the one who does tattoos and the one for whom that is done. In al-Saheehayn it is narrated that ‘Abd-Allaah ibn Mas’ood (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: “May Allaah curse the women who do tattoos and those for whom tattoos are done, those who pluck their eyebrows and those who file their teeth for the purpose of beautification and alter the creation of Allaah.” (al-Bukhaari, al-Libaas, 5587; Muslim, al-Libaas, 5538).

With regard to all these matters, the haadeeth testify that the one who does them is cursed and that they are major sins. There is some difference of scholarly opinion as to the reason why they are forbidden. It was said that it is because they are a form of deception, and it was said that it is because it is a way of changing the creation of Allaah, as Ibn Mas’ood said – which is more correct and also includes the first meaning. And it was suggested that what is forbidden is only that which is permanent, because that is changing the creation of Allaah; as for that which is not permanent, such as kohl which used for adornment by women, that is permitted by the scholars. (Tafseer al-Qurtubi, 5/393).


Dan kalau aku tidak silap, tatu diharamkan dalam agama Islam adalah kerana prosesnya menimbulkan kesakitan secara sengaja (intentionally) kepada anggota badan, selain daripada mengubah kejadian Allah s.w.t. Dan mungkin sesetengah orang berpendapat bahawa proses bertatu ini tidak menimbulkan kesakitan disebabkan aliran hormon adrenalin tetapi ia masih tergolong dalam kesakitan kerana mengeluarkan darah. Perbuatan seumpama ini adalah tergolong dalam dosa besar (major sin) yang mana sama seperti meminum arak, berzina ataupun membunuh.


Maaf sekiranya tulisan aku ini kurang jelas disebabkan pengetahuan aku yang cetek dalam soal jawab agama. Ini hanyalah untuk peringatan kepada diri sendiri dan orang lain. Sama-samalah kita mengingatinya.