Are Tattoos Haram for Men?

In Islam, permanent tattoos are generally prohibited for men due to the harm and impurity associated with them. However, temporary tattoos that do not cause bodily harm or impurity and serve permissible purposes, such as adornment for one’s spouse, are allowed. Muslims seeking tattoos should ensure they meet these criteria to align with Islamic teachings.

However, generally speaking, tattooing in which the skin is pricked by a needle until blood oozes and different kinds of dyes are placed in these puncture wounds to penetrate the skin and remain there with no removal is prohibited according to the opinion of the majority of scholars such as Ash-Shafi`i jurists and others. This is because it causes unnecessary pain and harm and is considered impure.

This is based on the words of the Prophet (peace be upon him), “God cursed the woman who makes the tattoos and the one being tattooed.” God Almighty says, “(Satan said) I will order them to deface the (fair) nature created by God.” (An-Nisaa’ 4:119)

There is no objection to getting temporary or removable kinds of tattoos, which are common in our times. There is no objection to males or females getting removable tattoos which do not cause bodily harm or are based on impurity, especially the ones which are invisible to others or made for the sake of adorning oneself to one’s spouse.

`Aishah, the mother of the believers (may God be pleased with her) and many scholars maintained this legal opinion. `Aishah (may God be pleased with her) is the narrator of the above mentioned hadith and this proves that the prohibition here is not general provided the procedure does not cause harm.

Based on this, it is permissible for men to get removable tattoos if it meets the above-mentioned criteria. Meaning, it does not cause bodily harm, nor contains impurity and is made for a valid reason allowed by the Shari`ah such as self-adornment and the like.

Almighty Allah knows best.