Al-Dihyani: Tattoos Are Visible Adornments, But Behind Them Lies a Trial

Dr. Fayez Al-Daihani, Imam and Preacher at the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, affirmed that tattooing brings upon the perpetrator the curse, expulsion, and exclusion from the mercy of Allah. He stated that the claim that tattooing has become a trend practiced by celebrities, athletes, and many others does not render the forbidden permissible; the prevalence of an act does not make haram halal, truth is not determined by numbers, Sharia is not measured by fashion, and what is permissible is not gauged by the fame of those who perform it.

Dr. Al-Daihani addressed in an interview the differences between permanent and temporary tattoos, whether tattooing applies to men or is exclusive to women, and discussed the rulings on tattooing in detail, citing the Quran and the Sunnah. The following is the text of the interview:

Tattooing has become a trend among Arab youth, imitating the West. What is your view on this?

Praise be to Allah, who perfected the creation of man and fashioned him in the best form, granting him beauty and adornment sufficient to make him refrain from altering his creation and transgressing. Tattooing is among the adornments that some people may find appealing, and which some young men and women pursue, becoming for a group of them a symbol of distinction, a memento of a relationship, an image of a person, or a symbol of a meaning. However, a Muslim does not judge matters merely by desire, nor does he use beauty as a scale to determine what is permissible or forbidden. His scale is as Allah the Exalted said and as His Messenger (peace be upon him) stated.

In essence, tattooing involves piercing the skin with a needle or something similar until blood flows, then placing dye or color into the punctured area, so the color remains under the skin and is difficult to remove. This is forbidden.

What is the evidence for the prohibition of tattooing?

A clear and authentic text from the Prophet (peace be upon him) states: “May Allah curse the tattooed women and those who have themselves tattooed, the women who file their teeth for beauty, and those who alter the creation of Allah.” This hadith is not merely a passing prohibition; it includes a curse. A curse signifies expulsion and exclusion from the mercy of Allah. Therefore, the matter is severe and its gravity is immense. Whoever seeks adornment must beware lest it become a cause for a curse. Whoever seeks beauty, let her beware of seeking a beauty that brings calamity upon her.

Why did the Prophet (peace be upon him) strictly prohibit tattooing?

Because tattooing combines several meanings that are prohibited, the most prominent of which is altering Allah’s creation in pursuit of beauty. Allah the Exalted narrated from Iblis: “And I will command them so they will alter the creation of Allah.” In a hadith narrated by Ibn Mas’ud (may Allah be pleased with him), these individuals are described as “those who alter the creation of Allah.” The problem lies not merely in the color or the image alone, but in the method, meaning, and effect: the skin is pierced, the color is trapped beneath it, and the change is made permanent in pursuit of adornment. Scholars have mentioned that the prohibition applies to what is done for beautification and altering creation. However, what is done for treatment or to remove a recognized defect has a different ruling.

Why does the prohibition include both the tattooist and the one who gets tattooed?

The precision of the hadith is evident in the Prophet’s (peace be upon him) words: “The tattooed women and those who have themselves tattooed.” The tattooist is the one who performs tattooing on others, and the one who gets tattooed is the one who requests it. It is not valid for a person to say, “I do not draw it myself; I go to someone who draws it for me,” because the text addresses both parties. Thus, scholars have established that tattooing is forbidden for both the perpetrator and the recipient, if done by choice. Do not be a hand that draws the forbidden, nor a skin that seeks the forbidden. Do not be the maker of tattoos nor the seeker of tattoos.

How did the Companions understand this hadith?

One of the most significant demonstrations of the seriousness of this issue is the stance of the noble Companion Abdullah ibn Mas’ud (may Allah be pleased with him). When he informed a woman from the Banu Asad that he curses those who tattoo and those who get tattooed, she said to him, “I have read the Quran and found nothing about that in it.” He replied, “How could I not curse whom the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) cursed, and that is in the Book of Allah?” He then cited the verse: “And whatever the Messenger has given you—take it; and whatever he has forbidden you—refrain from it.” The story is authenticated in Sahih Muslim. Here lies a great lesson: not every legal ruling requires you to search for it in a standalone verse. The Sunnah is revelation, and obedience to the Prophet (peace be upon him) is obedience to Allah. So whoever says, “Where is the prohibition of tattooing in the Quran?”

The answer is: Allah, the Exalted, says: “And whatever the Messenger has given you—take it; and whatever he has forbidden you—refrain from it.”

How do you respond to those who consider tattooing a trend practiced by many?

Tattooing is not a trend. To those who claim that tattooing has become fashionable and is practiced by celebrities, athletes, and many people, we say: The prevalence of an act does not render the forbidden permissible. Truth is not determined by numbers, religious law is not measured by trends, and what is lawful is not judged by the fame of those who perform it. How many practices have become widespread among people yet are prohibited by Allah? And how many traditions with few adherents are elevated in the sight of Allah? When a believer hears the Prophet’s statement, “May Allah curse those who practice tattooing and those who have it done,” he says, “We hear and we obey.” He does not ask, “What do people say?” or “What does fashion dictate?” or “What do celebrities do?”

What is the difference between permanent and temporary tattooing?

Here, a distinction must be made. Permanent tattooing, which involves inserting a needle and injecting pigment beneath the skin, is the type of tattooing about which the curse and prohibition were mentioned. However, temporary drawing on the surface of the skin, which does not involve piercing or injecting pigment under the skin and fades after a period, is not the prohibited permanent tattooing referred to in the hadith.

Regarding the reality of tattooing, some scholars have equated it with visible adornment, provided it does not include another prohibited element, such as an impermissible image, a false symbol, uncovering the awrah (intimate parts), or causing harm. Therefore, one cannot confuse temporary drawing with permanent tattooing; the ruling depends on the actual nature of the act, not merely its name.

Is tattooing only for women, or does it apply to men as well?

The hadith uses the term “women” because tattooing was prevalent among them. However, the ruling, in principle, is not exclusive to women if the underlying cause (‘illah) is present. Commentaries on the hadith explicitly state that tattooing is prohibited for both men and women. Although it occurs more frequently among women, a man cannot argue that the hadith specifically addresses women. The warning pertains to the act itself, and the legal principle is that rulings do not apply to one gender to the exclusion of the other unless there is specific evidence.

What should someone do who has gotten a tattoo?

The door of repentance is open. Whoever got a tattoo out of ignorance, before knowing the ruling, or who later learned of its prohibition, should not despair of Allah’s mercy. Allah, the Exalted, says: “Say, ‘O My servants who have transgressed against themselves, do not despair of the mercy of Allah. Indeed, Allah forgives all sins.’” Repentance involves ceasing the sin, feeling remorse, and resolving not to return to it. As for removing the tattoo, if it can be removed without significant harm, it is commendable. However, if removal would cause severe harm, disfigurement, or significant injury, a person is not required to do something that harms himself; sincere repentance from the sin suffices. Scholars have detailed the rulings on tattoo removal based on the possibility of removal and the absence of resulting harm.

What is your message to those considering getting a tattoo?

I say to you, who stand before an image and say, “I will place it on my body,” remember that it will not be an image on your phone that you can delete with a button press. It will be a mark that remains with you for years. To you who say, “It is a memory of someone I love,” do not let a human memory on your body become a reason to disobey the Lord of humanity. And to you who say, “It is merely for beauty,” remember that the most beautiful beauty is that which is found in obedience to Allah.

And to those who say, “Everyone does it,” remember that the grave does not inquire about fashion, nor does the scale weigh fame. A servant stands alone before God; so do not let a moment’s pleasure become the cause of lasting regret, do not let a mark on the skin become a wound in your faith, and do not let transient adornment be the reason for a coming punishment.

I say: Whoever seeks beauty through forbidden means corrupts his beauty and ruins his standing. Whoever seeks adornment through disobedience replaces joy with sorrow and happiness with brokenness. Whoever holds God’s matters in high esteem safeguards his skin, his faith, and his adornment from becoming a burden and a calamity upon him.

O servant of God, do not be deceived by adornment that fades while leaving behind an enduring mark. Do not pursue the beauty of appearance through the ugliness of conduct, and do not treat the body, which God has entrusted to you as a sacred trust, as a field for disobedience. True beauty lies in obedience, and true adornment lies in chastity. What matters is a good end. Whoever leaves something for God’s sake, God will replace it with something better. Whoever avoids doubtful matters will be saved from regret.

Tattooing is an adornment you may see, but behind it lies a trial you will recount. It is an engraving on the body and a threat for eternity. So protect your skin from needles, your heart from burdens, and your faith from danger.