Fatwa ID: 06377

Answered by: Alimah Zakiratul Hoque

Question:

My friend is looking into laser treatments to get some scars removed or dramatically reduce their appearance of them. A lot of treatments used involve two processes. One is to flatten the scar and then secondly, they use something called scar camouflage makeup. This is a process where the clinician will custom blend a pigment to your exact skin colour and then implant this onto the skin. As a result, the scarring which is often lighter than the skin becomes the same colour as the skin and reduces appearance.

The concept of this is very similar to tattooing however, it is semipermanent. The colour will have to be touched up every few years making it different to a permanent tattoo. Is this permissible in Islam?

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

Answer:

If the treatment is done for purposes other than cosmetics, it would be permissible (Jadeed Fiqhi Masaail, Vol 1, Pg 219-220). You mention that the second process differs from tattoos because it needs to be touched up. However, tattoos also fade and are touched up after some years.

Regarding tattoos, the Prophet ﷺ 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.” (Sahih Bukhari, 5937)

Considering the second process is like tattooing the skin, it would only be permissible if it is absolutely necessary (e.g., if pain develops in the scar area and can be reduced through treatment) as necessities permit actions that are otherwise impermissible (Qawaid Fiqhiyyah, Pg 43).

عَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ رضى الله عنهما أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ ‏ لَعَنَ اللَّهُ الْوَاصِلَةَ وَالْمُسْتَوْصِلَةَ، وَالْوَاشِمَةَ وَالْمُسْتَوْشِمَةَ قَالَ نَافِعٌ الْوَشْمُ فِي اللِّثَةِ

الضرورات تبيح المحظورات

‏

Only Allah knows best.

Written by Alimah Zakiratul Hoque

Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah

Darul Ifta Birmingham