Fatwa ID: 07525
Answered by: Maulana Abdurrahman Mohammad
Question:
I started self-harming with blades and cigarettes in 2014 and this continued for a period of 3 years until 2018. I fixed myself Alhamdulillah and grew out of it, however again in 2021 I relapsed. Please note I was exactly 14 years old in 2014 and 21 in 2021.
I have asked for forgiveness many, many countless times. I am very, very scared as to what I will answer when Allah S.W.T asks me about this on The Day of Judgment and what will happen in the Qabr. All I can do is ask for forgiveness. If there is anything else to be done, please let me know about that too.
Secondly, the scars are all on my left hand, starting from the wrist and ending on my biceps. For 10 years I haven’t worn half-sleeved shirts, never gone out while wearing half sleeves even in my own home because of this, no matter how hot the weather is and no matter how much I like wearing those.
I am 24 now and I have tried looking for a solution to cover my scars since I might be getting married in the next 2 years. I don’t want to and I cannot explain to anyone what this is and why.
So I would like to get a tattoo the same color as my skin which will blend the scars as much as possible. The permanent ones, not the temporary ones.
Please clarify will it be halal or haram in this case?
How about wudu?
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
Answer:
I hope you are doing well. May Allah ease your tribulation and grant you strength.
Allah, the Most Forgiving and Most Merciful, accepts sincere Tawbah (repentance) and Istighfar (seeking forgiveness). If you turn to Him with a repentant heart, he will forgive you. As for covering your scars with tattoos, it is impermissible in Islam. However, Wudu and Salah remain valid for someone with cuts, wounds, or tattoos, as long as the person is not actively bleeding from them.
Allah Is the Most Forgiving and Merciful
Allah forgives all sins except Shirk (associating partners with Him) as long as a person repents sincerely. Allah SWT says in Surah Zumar (39:53):
“Say, ‘O My servants who have exceeded the limits against their souls! Do not lose hope in Allah’s mercy, for Allah certainly forgives all sins. He is indeed the All-Forgiving, Most Merciful.’”[1]
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said “The one who repents from sin is like one who did not sin.” (Sunan Ibn Majah 4250)[2]
As long as you sincerely repent to Allah SWT each time you commit this sin, you should have hope and trust in Allah SWT’s forgiveness. When Allah SWT forgives a sin, you will not be punished because of it in the grave nor on the Day of Judgment. Pray Salat ut Tawbah, make Istighfar and strive to strengthen your relationship with Allah SWT. Have faith that your Tawbah is accepted and trust in the vast forgiveness and mercy of Allah SWT.
Covering Scars with Tattoos
Feeling regret and remorse is a sign of Taqwa and Iman. As Muslims, we are encouraged to hide our sins. While one may feel inclined to cover scars, it is important to do so in a permissible way according to Islamic teachings. Using tattoos to cover scars is not allowed in Islam as it involves permanently altering the body.
Allah SWT has created us in the best form, and we must honour the way He created us. Allah SWT says “Indeed, We have honoured the children of Adam.” (Surah Al-Isra 17:70)[3]
The Qur’an also warns against changing Allah SWT’s creation as part of Satan’s deceitful plan.
“I will certainly mislead them and delude them with empty hopes. Also, I will order them and they will slit the ears of cattle and alter Allah’s creation.” (Surah An-Nisa 4:119)[4]
Why Tattoos Are Prohibited
Permanent alteration is prohibited in Islam and many Sahih Hadith have been narrated prohibiting tattoos.
“Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) said, ‘The evil eye is a fact,’ and he forbade tattooing.” (Bukhari 5944)[5]
“Do not practise tattooing and do not get yourselves tattooed.” (Bukhari 5946)[6]
“The Prophet (ﷺ) has cursed the lady who practises tattooing and that who gets it done for herself.” (Bukhari 5947)[7]
“Allah has cursed those women who practise tattooing and those who get it done for themselves” (Bukhari 5948)[8]
Alternative Solutions
If you wish to conceal your scars in a permissible way, there are alternative methods:
- Clothing: Wearing long sleeves or other clothing can help cover scars.
2. Temporary Makeup or Concealers: Skin-colored makeup can temporarily blend scars.
3. Medical Treatments: Consult a dermatologist for treatments such as laser therapy which can reduce the appearance of scars.
If you apply something to the skin like temporary tattoos, makeup, or concealers, you cannot make wudu without removing them unless they allow water to reach the skin underneath. Make wudu before applying them and maintain your wudu while you have them on.
Praying with Tattoos
Tattoos are impermissible in Islam as they violate the sanctity of our bodies. However, if someone has tattoos, they should try their best to get them removed. If a person with tattoos performs wudu (ablution) and prays, both their wudu and prayer are valid. This applies to permanent tattoos where ink is injected beneath the skin, as removing them can be extremely difficult. (Radd Al-Muhtar 1.330)[9]
Only Allah knows best
Answered by: Maulana Abdurrahman Mohammad
Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah
Darul Ifta Birmingham
[1] قُلْ يَـٰعِبَادِىَ ٱلَّذِينَ أَسْرَفُوا۟ عَلَىٰٓ أَنفُسِهِمْ لَا تَقْنَطُوا۟ مِن رَّحْمَةِ ٱللَّهِ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَغْفِرُ ٱلذُّنُوبَ جَمِيعًا ۚ إِنَّهُۥ هُوَ ٱلْغَفُورُ ٱلرَّحِيمُ (Zumar 53)
[2] حَدَّثَنَا أَحْمَدُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ الدَّارِمِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ الرَّقَاشِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا وُهَيْبُ بْنُ خَالِدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا مَعْمَرٌ، عَنْ عَبْدِ الْكَرِيمِ، عَنْ أَبِي عُبَيْدَةَ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ : “ التَّائِبُ مِنَ الذَّنْبِ كَمَنْ لاَ ذَنْبَ لَهُ ” (Sunan Ibn Majah 4250)
[3] وَلَقَدْ كَرَّمْنَا بَنِىٓ ءَادَمَ وَحَمَلْنَـٰهُمْ فِى ٱلْبَرِّ وَٱلْبَحْرِ وَرَزَقْنَـٰهُم مِّنَ ٱلطَّيِّبَـٰتِ وَفَضَّلْنَـٰهُمْ عَلَىٰ كَثِيرٍۢ مِّمَّنْ خَلَقْنَا تَفْضِيلًۭا (Isra 70)
[4] وَلَأُضِلَّنَّهُمْ وَلَأُمَنِّيَنَّهُمْ وَلَـَٔامُرَنَّهُمْ فَلَيُبَتِّكُنَّ ءَاذَانَ ٱلْأَنْعَـٰمِ وَلَـَٔامُرَنَّهُمْ فَلَيُغَيِّرُنَّ خَلْقَ ٱللَّهِ ۚ وَمَن يَتَّخِذِ ٱلشَّيْطَـٰنَ وَلِيًّۭا مِّن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ فَقَدْ خَسِرَ خُسْرَانًۭا مُّبِينًۭا (Nisa 119)
[5] حَدَّثَنِي يَحْيَى، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الرَّزَّاقِ، عَنْ مَعْمَرٍ، عَنْ هَمَّامٍ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم “ الْعَيْنُ حَقٌّ ”. وَنَهَى عَنِ الْوَشْمِ. (Bukhari 5944)
[6] حَدَّثَنَا زُهَيْرُ بْنُ حَرْبٍ، حَدَّثَنَا جَرِيرٌ، عَنْ عُمَارَةَ، عَنْ أَبِي زُرْعَةَ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، قَالَ أُتِيَ عُمَرُ بِامْرَأَةٍ تَشِمُ فَقَامَ فَقَالَ أَنْشُدُكُمْ بِاللَّهِ مَنْ سَمِعَ مِنَ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فِي الْوَشْمِ فَقَالَ أَبُو هُرَيْرَةَ فَقُمْتُ فَقُلْتُ يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ أَنَا سَمِعْتُ. قَالَ مَا سَمِعْتَ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَقُولُ “ لاَ تَشِمْنَ وَلاَ تَسْتَوْشِمْنَ ”. (Bukhari 5946)
[7] حَدَّثَنَا مُسَدَّدٌ، حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، عَنْ عُبَيْدِ اللَّهِ، أَخْبَرَنِي نَافِعٌ، عَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ، قَالَ لَعَنَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم الْوَاصِلَةَ وَالْمُسْتَوْصِلَةَ، وَالْوَاشِمَةَ وَالْمُسْتَوْشِمَةَ. (Bukhari 5947)
[8] حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْمُثَنَّى، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ، عَنْ سُفْيَانَ، عَنْ مَنْصُورٍ، عَنْ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، عَنْ عَلْقَمَةَ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ لَعَنَ اللَّهُ الْوَاشِمَاتِ وَالْمُسْتَوْشِمَاتِ، وَالْمُتَنَمِّصَاتِ وَالْمُتَفَلِّجَاتِ لِلْحُسْنِ، الْمُغَيِّرَاتِ خَلْقَ اللَّهِ. مَا لِي لاَ أَلْعَنُ مَنْ لَعَنَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَهْوَ فِي كِتَابِ اللَّهِ. (Bukhari 5948)
[9] يُسْتَفَادُ مِمَّا مَرَّ حُكْمُ الْوَشْمِ فِي نَحْوِ الْيَدِ، وَهُوَ أَنَّهُ كَالِاخْتِضَابِ أَوْ الصَّبْغِ بِالْمُتَنَجِّسِ؛ لِأَنَّهُ إذَا غُرِزَتْ الْيَدُ أَوْ الشَّفَةُ مَثَلًا بِإِبْرَةٍ ثُمَّ حُشِيَ مَحَلُّهَا بِكُحْلٍ أَوْ نِيلَةٍ لِيَخْضَرَّ تَنَجَّسَ الْكُحْلُ بِالدَّمِ، فَإِذَا جَمَدَ الدَّمُ وَالْتَأَمَ الْجُرْحُ بَقِيَ مَحَلُّهُ أَخْضَرَ، فَإِذَا غُسِلَ طَهُرَ؛ لِأَنَّهُ أَثَرٌ يَشُقُّ زَوَالُهُ؛ لِأَنَّهُ لَا يَزُولُ إلَّا بِسَلْخِ الْجِلْدِ أَوْ جَرْحِهِ، فَإِذَا كَانَ لَا يُكَلَّفُ بِإِزَالَةِ الْأَثَرِ الَّذِي يَزُولُ بِمَاءٍ حَارٍّ أَوْ صَابُونٍ فَعَدَمُ التَّكْلِيفِ هُنَا أَوْلَى، وَقَدْ صَرَّحَ بِهِ فِي الْقُنْيَةِ فَقَالَ: وَلَوْ اتَّخَذَ فِي يَدِهِ وَشْمًا لَا يَلْزَمُهُ السَّلْخُ (Raddul Muhtar, pg 330, vol 1, Shamela)
