Last updated: 2026-04-15
Is Getting a Tattoo Haram?
Quick Answer
Yes, getting a tattoo is considered haram (forbidden) in Islam.
Author: IsItASin Editorial Team · Last updated: 2026-04-15
Yes, getting a tattoo is considered haram (forbidden) in Islam. Sahih Bukhari — The Prophet (pbuh) cursed women who get tattoos and those who do tattooing. This is a haram (forbidden) matter in Islam with clear guidance for believers.
What Islam Teaches About Getting a Tattoo
Islam considers Getting a Tattoo to be a sin — a subject of guidance in the quranic tradition.
Wondering what other faiths teach?
The fact that you're reading this is a sign.
For questions this important, going back to the source matters. The Study Quran — the definitive English translation with 1,500+ pages of commentary by leading scholars — provides the depth these questions deserve.
What Islam Teaches About Getting a Tattoo
The majority of Islamic scholars consider permanent tattoos haram based on hadith that curse those who get tattoos and those who apply them. The reasoning is that tattoos permanently alter Allah's creation. However, temporary henna is widely accepted and even encouraged in many Muslim cultures. Modern scholars debate whether semi-permanent makeup or medical tattoos (e.g., areola reconstruction after mastectomy) are permissible.
Quranic References
- Sahih Bukhari — The Prophet (pbuh) cursed women who get tattoos and those who do tattooing.
- Quran 4:119 — Satan promises 'I will command them to change the creation of Allah.'
- Scholarly consensus (ijma) — Majority of scholars consider tattoos haram.
Key Teachings
| Teaching | Scripture Reference | Practical Application |
|---|---|---|
| The Prophet (pbuh) cursed women who get tattoos and those who do tattooing. | Sahih Bukhari | Apply this teaching to daily decisions. |
| Satan promises 'I will command them to change the creation of Allah. | Quran 4:119 | Apply this teaching to daily decisions. |
| Majority of scholars consider tattoos haram. | Scholarly consensus (ijma) | Apply this teaching to daily decisions. |
What You Should Do
- Before getting a tattoo, consider your faith tradition's teaching and your personal conviction.
- Muslim: Consider that most scholars consider tattoos haram. Temporary henna is a permissible alternative for body decoration.
You Know the Truth. What You Do Next Matters Forever.
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said Allah rejoices more when you return than a man who finds water in the desert. Islamic tradition holds that tawbah is always accepted for those who sincerely seek it.
Begin Your Tawbah — The Path Is Open →People Also Ask
Can I go to heaven if I have tattoos?
Yes.
Yes. In Islam, Allah forgives all sins for those who sincerely repent. Having a tattoo does not determine your eternal destination in any tradition.
