Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.  (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

Hi,
I would like to know if you are allowed to have tattoos in Islam? Is it not the same as mehndi? 

(There may be some grammatical and spelling errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in confidentiality.)

Answer:

Tattooes and Henna Mehndi

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is no one (no idol, no person, no grave, no prophet, no imam, no dai, nobody!) worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

Your Question: I would like to know if you are allowed to have tattoos in Islam?

Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 7.816 Narrated by Humaid bin Abdur Rahman bin Auf

The Prophet (saws) said, "Allah has cursed the lady who artificially lengthens (her or someone else's) hair and the one who gets her hair lengthened, and the one who tattoos (herself or someone else) and the one who gets herself tattooed."

Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 7.820 Narrated by Ibn Umar

The Messenger of Allah (saws) said, "Allah has cursed such a lady as lengthens (her or someone else's) hair artificially or gets it lengthened, and also a lady who tattoos (herself or someone else) or gets herself tattooed."

The Messenger of Allah (saws) specifically forbade the believers and invoked the curse of Allah on those who applied tattoos on themselves or on others.

Your Question: Is it not the same as mehndi? 

There is a definite distinction between the process, color, and permanent markings of tattoos and the application of ‘mehndi’ or ‘henna’ which is a natural dye and whose markings are of a specific color and only temporary. There is absolutely no harm if one wishes to apply ‘mehndi’ or ‘henna’, but the permanent markings and application of tattoos were absolutely and specifically forbidden by the Messenger of Allah (saws).

If one trusts, obeys, and follows the guidance and commands of Allah and His Messenger (saws), one can be assured of never ever being misled; but if one believes, obeys and follows any other guidance, other than that of Allah and His Messenger (saws), one can be assured of being led astray.

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me alone. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

Burhan