The first to use tattoos (tattooing) on the skin—through needles—were the Pharaohs, as well as the Assyrians and Chinese, for various purposes such as treatment, decoration, protection from evil spirits, and to display bravery. In recent decades, this phenomenon has increased worldwide.
● The ruling on tattoos, according to most Shia scholars, is that it is permissible but discouraged, and some narrations criticize it.
However, any paint over the skin that prevents water from reaching the skin must be removed before ablution (wudu), and if it cannot be removed, there is a problem regarding its permissibility.
It has not been proven that it is recommended to tattoo images or names of the Imams, and it is not permissible if it is considered disrespectful. Similarly, it is not permissible to tattoo Quranic verses or the name of Allah, due to concerns over states of impurity (janabah) and contamination (najasah).
● As for scholars of other Islamic sects, some consider tattoos to be discouraged (makruh), while others rule them as prohibited (haram), based on the prophetic hadith, “Allah has cursed the woman who joins hair and the one who seeks to have hair joined, and the woman who tattoos and the one who seeks to be tattooed.” This ruling applies to both men and women equally. Some scholars have permitted tattoos in cases of necessity for healing or treatment.
● Modern medical studies suggest that tattoos may increase the risk of cancer.
▪️ According to a scientific study from Lund University in Sweden, tattoos increase the risk of lymphoma by 21%, regardless of the tattoo’s size. This is because the particles of tattoo ink and the metal nanoparticles, considered foreign bodies, can travel from the tattoo needle to the lymph nodes, where they accumulate and cause lymphoma, a type of blood cancer that affects the immune system.
▪️ A recent American study concluded that tattoos increase the risk of skin and blood cancer.
▪️ Another recent study conducted by researchers at the American Chemical Society in Chicago warned of the dangers of tattoo inks on the skin, indicating that they decompose into carcinogenic substances when exposed to sunlight.
▪️ Additionally, those with tattoos may face the risk of bacterial infections due to skin penetration or the risk of contracting bloodborne diseases such as viral hepatitis.
We wish everyone good health and safety.
