Question: 

What is the ruling on tattoos which were done in Jahiliyyah before reverting to Islaam?

Answer:

Please be informed that tattooing any part whatsoever of the body is Haram (prohibited). The Prophet (peace be upon him) is authentically reported to have said:  Allah has cursed women who artificially lengthen (someone else’s) hair and those who have their hair lengthened; and those who tattoo (someone else) and those who get themselves tattooed. If a Muslim had a tattoo while ignorant of the prohibition, or was tattooed while a child, they must have it removed immediately after knowing it is prohibited. However, if it is difficult or harmful to remove this tattoo, one only needs to repent and ask Allah for forgiveness, in which case one will not be held accountable for the remaining trace of tattoo.

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Shaikh Abdul-Muhsin al-‘Abbad hafidhuhallah was asked:

Question: A person got a tattoo then repented from it. Is a must to remove it?

Answer: ” If removing it can be obtained without harm, then he removes it. If removing it causes harm and it cannot be obtained except by harm, then he seeks Allah’s forgiveness and does not perform something that will bring a new harm”.

(Take from: Sharh Tirmidhi no.302)

Translated by

Faisal Ibn Abdul Qaadir Ibn Hassan
Abu Sulaymaan

أنَّ قيسَ بنَ أبي حازمٍ دخل مع أبيه على أبي بكرٍ رضيَ الله عنهُ وعندَه أسماءُ ، فرأيَاها امرأةً بيضاءَ موشومةَ اليدينِ

Qaiys ibn Abi Hazim said: I and my father entered upon. Abu Bakr radiallanhu and with him was Asmaa. I saw her hands were tatooed (before accepting Islam)

Graded Saheeh by Al-Albaani in ar-Raddul Mufheem pg. 94

So if it is hard to remove, it can left off as the Shaikh said above.

~ Faisal Ibn Abdul Qaadir Ibn Hassan

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Question: 

It is very common among pakistani and indian women that they tattoo their hands and sometimes arms with hina which naturally comes off after a few days. Does this take the same ruling as mentioned above?

Answer:

The tattoo in question is the one that does not remove. Henna is halal and Sunnah for women to wear. There are narrations recommended that women wear Henna. As for this tattoo, it is under the first layer of skin with a needle as Hafidh Ibn Hajr explained in Fathul Baari. It usually has a green color or other colors.

~ Faisal Ibn Abdul Qaadir Ibn Hassan