Should Tattoos be Removed after Conversion?

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

The following is taken from “Should Tattoos be Removed after Conversion?” by Shaykh Nur ad-Din Abu ‘Ubadah ‘Ali ibn Juma’ah. 

“Tattoo” as a term has two meanings.  The first of which is the process of stitching a needle into the skin until blood oozes out and then different kinds of dyes are placed in these opening wounds to penetrate through the body and remain there with no removal.  The second meaning has to do with the result of this process which is the drawn tattoo. 

Tattoos are prohibited in Islam according to the authentic traditions in which both the one who does tattoos and the one who draws them are cursed.  Both Imam Abu ‘Abdullah Muhammad ibn Isma’il al-Bukhari (r.a.) and Imam ‘Asakir ad-Din Abu al-Husayn Muslim ibn al-Hajjaj, (r.a.) reported through Sayyidina ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Umar (r.a.) that the Prophet (s.a.w.) cursed the one who does tattoos, and the one who has a tattoo done. 

The scholar, Imam Shihab ad-Din Abu al-Fadhl Ahmad ibn ‘Ali ibn Hajr al-‘Asqalani (r.a.) said in his book, Fath al-Bari, that having a tattoo is prohibited because it causes cursing and the tattooed spot of the body is deemed impure because the blood is clotted in it and therefore needs to be removed even if this causes an injury unless there is a fear of ruining or hurting an organ, only then it is permissible to keep the tattoo and repentance would suffice in lifting the sin and both men and women are equal in this issue. 

Repentance in this issue suffices because this is one of Allah’s (s.w.t.) Rights which can be Forgiven by the virtue of embracing Islam as Allah’s (s.w.t.) rights are waived by the virtue of embracing Islam.  It was reported by Imam Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Hanbal (r.a.) through Sayyidina ‘Amr ibn al-‘Aasw (r.a.) that the Prophet (s.a.w.) said, “Embracing Islam waives what was before it”. 

Imam Shihab ad-Din Abu al-‘Abbas Ahmad ibn Abu al-‘Ala’ Idris al-Qarafi al-Maliki (r.a.) in his book, Anwar aL-Buruq fi Aanwa al-Furuq, differentiated between two kinds of rights.  Rights which Belong to Allah (s.w.t.) and rights which belong to human beings; when it comes to the rights of Allah (s.w.t.), they are lifted by the virtue of embracing Islam because Islam is one of Allah’s (s.w.t.) Rights.  The Prophet (s.a.w.) said that, “Islam covers up for what was done before it”.  Therefore the new Muslim is not obliged to make up for prayers, zakat or any other forms of worship which he missed before becoming a Muslim.  Allah (s.w.t.) is known for His Bounty and Mercy and thus His Mercy Matches His Forgiveness.  As for the rights of humans, it is known that the nature of human beings is weakness and greed and, therefore, they hold tight to their rights whereas Allah (s.w.t.) Waived His Rights out of Compassion and Mercy. 

Therefore, if the removal of tattoos will necessitate injuring the body or causing harm to it then it is disapproved to remove it.  Allah (s.w.t.) Says: 

سُوۡرَةُ النِّسَاء

يُرِيدُ ٱللَّهُ أَن يُخَفِّفَ عَنكُمۡ‌ۚ وَخُلِقَ ٱلۡإِنسَـٰنُ ضَعِيفً۬ا (٢٨) 

Allah does Wish to Lighten your (difficulties): for man was Created weak (in flesh). (Surah an-Nisa’:28) 

سُوۡرَةُ البَقَرَة

... يُرِيدُ ٱللَّهُ بِڪُمُ ٱلۡيُسۡرَ وَلَا يُرِيدُ بِڪُمُ ٱلۡعُسۡرَ ... (١٨٥) 

… Allah Intends every facility for you, He does not want to put you to difficulties ... (Surah al-Baqarah:185) 

And also: 

سُوۡرَةُ الحَجّ

... هُوَ ٱجۡتَبَٮٰكُمۡ وَمَا جَعَلَ عَلَيۡكُمۡ فِى ٱلدِّينِ مِنۡ حَرَجٍ۬‌ۚ ... (٧٨) 

… He has Chosen you and has imposed no difficulties on you in religion … (Surah al-Haj:78) 

سُوۡرَةُ البَقَرَة

لَا يُكَلِّفُ ٱللَّهُ نَفۡسًا إِلَّا وُسۡعَهَا‌ۚ لَهَا مَا كَسَبَتۡ وَعَلَيۡہَا مَا ٱكۡتَسَبَتۡ‌ۗ ... (٢٨٦) 

On no soul does Allah Place a burden greater than it can bear.  It gets every good that it earns and it suffers every ill that it earns ... (Surah al-Baqarah:286) 

As for praying while having these tattoos on, it is deemed permissible because it goes under forgiven impurity.  Imam Shihab ad-Din Ahmad ibn Ghanum an-Nafrawi al-Maliki (r.a.) stated, “If someone has a forbidden tattoo, he is not obliged to remove it with fire and it is, rather, a forgiven impurity and prayers are valid with having it,” and fasting is deemed valid as well because it has nothing to do with having the tattoo on.



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