Removing Tattoos

30-6-2019 | IslamWeb

Question:

Salam aleikum
I made an tattoo on myself before i became muslim many years back and now I want to remove it for sake of Allah. The treatment are very painful and takes about 2 or 3 Times. Is it allowed for me acording islam to remove it or does it Count as haram bcz of the painfull treatment?
Jazaki allahu khairan
Answer:

All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) is His slave and Messenger.

First of all, we thank Allah Who guided you to Islam and we ask Him to make us and you steadfast on it until we meet Him.

As for removing the tattoos, if it is only removed in such a painful way, then it is not obligatory to remove if it is not possible to remove in any other manner except by undergoing severe pain and having to do it more than once as you mentioned, because this is torturing oneself which is forbidden in Islam.

An unbearable hardship is not imposed in Islam (in the Sharee'ah), so do not remove it in that manner, and Allah does not impose on His Slaves what is hard for them to do, and He does not permit them to torture themselves. Some scholars stated that tattoos may not to be removed if it results in a wound.

An-Nawawi may Allaah have mercy upon him said:

"Ar-Raafi’i said while quoting the commentary of Al-Faraa’ that a tattoo should be removed with treatment, but if it is not possible except with injury (a wound), then the person should not be wounded and there is no sin on him (to keep it) if he (truly) repentance." [End of quote]

For more benefit, please refer to Fataawa 89675 and 104893.

Allah knows best.

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