Tattoos and Islam
An article in the Gulf News yesterday covered the topic of tattoos and specifically addressed tattoos in light of the teaching of Islam. Dubai is a place where you are likely to see tattoos frequently though not as often as you'd see in the West.
But the most interesting part of the article was the information about how tattoos are viewed in Islam.
Ahmad Al Kubaisi, a leading Islamic scholar said, "Some of us unfortunately bring troubles to ourselves. Tattooing is prohibited in Islam because of its obvious dangers as the process requires drawing blood," he said.
"Muslims are prohibited from defacing their bodies as defacement of Allah's creation is not permitted in Islam. They also will not be able to pray because Islam does not allow prayer if you have drawings on your body," he said.
In Christianity there is no specific ban on tattoos though there is one Old Testament reference in Leviticus 19:38 which seems to refer to tattoos as they are related to idol worship. Even still, I believe that this command is not a part of the moral code of the Old Testament Law and therefore is not applicable to Christians today. Yet, other biblical commands should be considered when Christians consider tattoos. I think that a possible count against tattoos is that they seem to often be markings which inordinately draw attention to oneself and appeal to vanity and pride. The question should be asked, 'why can't your personality be revealed in the normal ways of relating with one another?' Furthermore, we're told to be about the business of loving God and loving people. Going to the trouble of getting a tattoo seems to me to often cross the line into self-centeredness.
Still, in Christianity, there is nothing that prevents a person from repenting of their sin in life and putting trust and faith in Jesus... even tattoos.
But what about tattoos and Islam as stated above? My question is this: If you are not a Muslim and you have tattoos there is no way you can convert to Islam and have any hope of pleasing God as Islam tells you to. You would not be able to pray and without prayer in Islam you cannot please God. Even expensive and painful procedures to remove them do not guarantee that the images will disappear. So it seems, based on the Gulf News article, that in Islam there is no hope for acceptance from God of those who have tattoos.
UPDATE: A keen blogger from India has commented that there is provision for those with tattoos in Islam. I'm posting the link to that explanation here for those who are interested. Also, it wasn't my intention to be harsh with my analysis above. I hope the Muslim friends who read are not offended. My intention was just to consider the ramifications of what was taught in the Gulf News article.
19 comments:
Dear Ben/Pixelated
I came across your blog randomly. You've touched on an interesting topic, but your assumption at the end that converts to Islam with prior tattoos would be unacceptable is incorrect. Here's the Islamic explanation from a reliable source.
Let's face it. Irrespective of personal opinions [say mine or yours] ALL religions teach the same things: peace, love, respect, goodness, acceptance and forgiveness etc etc. Please don't class Islam as any less tolerant or loving a religion as another. To each his own, and to each his respect.
Salaam alaikum [Peace be on you]. ;)
PS: I am not a fanatic preachy Muslim. I just came across your post by chance and couldn't NOT reply. Cheers.
Hi Longblackveil,
Thanks for commenting and the link. I'll update my post to include the info you've posted. Also, I checked your blogs as well and wanted to say "well done" for the work with stray animals!
I have quite a few Muslim friends whom I really enjoy being with and we love to discuss our faiths; similarities and differences. And they do have differences. So I think it's not entirely true that all religions teach the same thing. My friends acknowledge that. Of course there are some things that are taught in many of the religions but the real question is why there are differences. It seems that they all have different conceptions of God. And all the different ones can't simultaneously be true. So I say, let's explore our religions together in respectful conversation with one another in a quest for truth.
Again, thanks for posting and my intention with the post was not to insult so I hope it hasn't resulted in that.
Brian46,
Regarding individuals who got their tats prior to their conversion to Islam (or any other sin they may have indulged in such as fornication or gambling), they will not be penalised for that.
This is because upon their conversion to Islam all their previous sins are forgiven by God and they enter Islam on a clean slate.
Hope this clarifies.
Hi again, Brian. [Sorry, I called you "Ben" earlier. *sheepish grin*]
Thanks for your reply and for dropping in. I agree with you in that it is very enjoyable to discuss various faiths, beliefs, practices etc with sensible friends who won't attack with a machete at the least disagreement. I do it a lot over here in India with my friends [97.637% of whom are non-Muslim]. When I meant all religions teach the same thing, I of course was referring to the general good graces in life. All religions preach good over evil, and the techniques/guidelines to go about this are prob different.
In any case, we are on the same page. Discuss away. We need a lot of that esp in today's times.
Anonymous 3:59,
If you had any knowledge of Islam, you would know that the Koran and the traditions of Mohammed repeatedly mention Heaven and Hell. A Muslim will always go to heaven despite the amount of sin they have committed. However, they will enter heaven after having spent time in hell to pay for the wrong they did in this world.
The tattooed person will therefore enter heaven, if the commit no wrong once they become Muslim. If however they do, then obviously they will be accountable.
Therefore, it is made very clear that Islam tells people where they would go based on their conduct in this world.
1:41,
What I said was that Sinners who happened to be Muslim will enter paradise after theyve been cleansed of their sins in hell. Not so complex is it?
So if i fuck around all day, and get drunk, and kill, and steal and what have you, i'll be punished for all my sins before entering heaven.
Therefore, the final destination for every believer is heaven. Some, unfortunately, will have to take a detour to hell.
So obviously, you have to do good to enter it. And the door to forgiveness is open till the trumpet is blown by Azrael.
Well, my posting on tattoos has proved to be the most controversial of all time and has obviously sparked intense discussion about Islam and Christianity.
Though longblackveil was not involved in the anon exchange listed above I do think it's significant to point out that Islam and Christianity teach different things about salvation, heaven and hell.
Islam teaches that all muslims will go to heaven eventually though with a possible detour through hell to "pay for" all their sins in this world. And I am supposing that true muslims would be defined as those who declare the shahada and truly believe it?
Christianity teaches that people who have put their trust and faith in Jesus the Messiah will be cleansed of all punishment from the sins of this world. And this trust is a specific kind of trust... it is trust in the fact that Jesus' death on the cross paid the penalty for all their sins and that they then stand "righteous" before God because of Jesus' finished work on the cross.
Furthermore Christianity would teach that every and any sin committed deserves not some period of time in hell but eternal separation from God and all the good that emanates from him. So the only payment one can make for their sin(s) is eternal separation from God.
What we can agree on is that Islam and Christianity teach different things about sin, its consequences, what, if anything can mankind do about it, and God's role in all of that. For the Christian, God has become both rescuer and judge. In Islam, it seems that while the source of all good might be God he is primarily judge.
Forgive me for speaking more about Christianity here... it's just that this is my faith so I know it better.
Despite the 'fireworks' in the comment section I'm interested to know what if anything else you want to talk about related to these topics. I don't think it's gotten out of hand... yet :)
Anon @ 4:24 says "So obviously, you have to do good to enter it. And the door to forgiveness is open till the trumpet is blown by Azrael."
Ok, so I can do good deeds as a Muslim. How can I keep track of how much good I have on the right side of the scale? How can I live my life "hoping" that I have more good deeds? How can I live my life not knowing whether my confessed sins are really forgiven? Answer: you just dont know your fate till Day of Judgment. Period.
I knew people at my uni in sharjah, who would go to London to party up and have sex with random girls, and make a stopover in Mecca to confess of their sins so they would have a clean spiritual slate for the new academic year. I would ask them if they really believed if their sins over the summer are really forgiven. "Inshallah" is what I would get all the time, which really means they desperately hoped their sins were forgiven.
I think it's really difficult to be a holy and just person. Even the so called pious Muslims admit it's hard to maintain a high moral standard, to live a life free of sin, which brings me to the point that man is sinful by nature, and Muslims can only "hope" their sins are forgiven.
I can't imagine the angish of a Muslim whose scales may tilt towards bad deeds by 0.1%!
M
ps this is healthy discussion. i don't mean to slander anyone or any faith. i am just brutally honest in my opinions. thats all. peace and love to you all! :-)
"Ok, so I can do good deeds as a Muslim. How can I keep track of how much good I have on the right side of the scale?"
Well this isn't rocket science is it. Just stay away from doing bad and you wont have to worry about anything. Why would you be eating yourself when you know that you've followed what God has asked you. The Koran says obey God so you may attain heaven. So obeying God is following the rules he set out - such as respecting your parents, not gambling, nor fornicating etc... And if you happen to do bad, God again says that the door of repentance is open till the very last moment and that he is the most merciful and that he forgives. So if you think you've committed sin, you should ask for mercy.
"I knew people at my uni in sharjah, who would go to London to party up and have sex with random girls, and make a stopover in Mecca to confess of their sins so they would have a clean spiritual slate for the new academic year."
Why are you judging Islam by what Muslims do. If these people commit the hajj so there sins are forgiven and the next year they go on a fucking spree, i do think God sees their intention and will decide accordingly.
"man is sinful by nature, and Muslims can only "hope" their sins are forgiven."
Not necessarily, there are many assurances in the Koran. One basic assurance is that Muslims will all eventually end up in heaven.
M, if you're displeased with the concept of sin, heaven and hell in Islam, you can become a Christian you know. That way you can have all the freedoms to commit whatever you desire knowing that the Messiah died for your sins.
Dear Anon 6:11am,
You've mentioned at the end of your post that M can become a Christian if he wants and then do all the sins he wants because Messiah has died to forgive his sins. This touches on a common question that I get asked from Muslim friends... "if Jesus takes away the penalty for my sins then what will keep me from just doing whatever I want to do then?"
But Jesus did not just die to take away punishment for sin. He also died to those who put trust in him the power to live a life of Godliness and ever growing holiness; with power to turn away from sin and please God with true faith. This power comes from his very presence ,the Holy Spirit, living inside us. So then a true believer has access to God's power to resist sin and live for him.
He also gives us a new heart that desires to please him. This doesn't mean that temptation is eliminated. It just means that God gives us the power to live for him. Whereas, we believe that without faith in Jesus, no one can please God. All is sin. And this is a broad definition of sin... faithless thoughts, words, deeds... everything a person does.
You seem to argue that it's the Christians that are prone to declare faith and then do whatever they want. But when I read your posts it seems like it's Islam that lends itself to declarations of faith, then a life of doing what you want punctuated with some acts/rituals that "wipe the slate clean' (like Hajj and Ramadan), and then just making sure that the closer you get to death you need to keep the slate as clean as possible.
You've also commented that M could become a Christian if he wanted. I wish is were as simple as that. Unfortunately, in most family/cultural settings there is severe abuse and even murder/execution for those decide to change their belief system to something other than Islam. But I'm not familiar with this kind of response in the Christian community.
Lastly, you've used awfully strong language in your responses. While I understand the topic can arouse intense emotions I'm curious what Islam says about vulgar language. How is it defined? Is it considered sin? Just wondering.
Thanks to all for the good conversation here.
"But Jesus did not just die to take away punishment for sin."
Regardless of what people believe Jesus died for, a well established dogma, mainly of the numerous protestant denominations is that Jesus' death on the cross serves as a device and mechanism of salvation to those who believe in him, and heaven is through him.
May i ask, why do you think there aren't any clear cut rules on this in Christianity? Why doesn't Christianity have any prescribed punishments for sins? Does Christianity inform man of the punishments for crime?
One factor may be, I assume, that Christianity was a sect of Judaism for well over a century as Jesus denied coming with new theology and rules, he said he came to re-establish the rules, presumably of Moses, and was sent only to the House of Israel. Mankind doesn't constitute the House of Israel.
I assume you adhere to replacement theology and are well versed in the new testament but I am positive that the NT doesn't inform its followers on the punishments they will be facing in the hereafter?
"it seems like it's Islam that lends itself to declarations of faith, then a life of doing what you want punctuated with some acts/rituals that "wipe the slate clean' (like Hajj and Ramadan), and then just making sure that the closer you get to death you need to keep the slate as clean as possible."
That's a very perverted way to view it. In this instance, Islam is very realistic. God has told us that we're weak, and God has told us that we will commit sin. Ramadan and Hajj are events which Allah gives man bonuses in their mercy seeking. During Ramadan, God, with his Majestic attributes, descends to the first heaven and the angels call to see which of his faithful are seeking forgiveness so he can shower them with greater mercy. This doesn't mean you go be a pimp till next Ramadan or next Hajj, it means you endeavour to distance yourself from the mistakes you have made.
"I wish is were as simple as that. Unfortunately, in most family/cultural settings there is severe abuse and even murder/execution for those decide to change their belief system to something other than Islam"
Surely genuine faith in the Trinity wont crumble in the face of mere wordly abuse?
"But I'm not familiar with this kind of response in the Christian community."
It may not today due to the un-Christianness of modern day Christianity, but a precursor reading of the ventures of the Church into Spain, the Middle East and Southern Italy reveal otherwise.
I knew of a girl from an evangelical family who converted to Islam. When I saw her following her conversion, she was sporting a black eye. A gift her Gospel loving father gave her. She was also kicked out of home. And if murder didn't carry a life sentence, I'm sure she'd have been murdered too.
"you've used awfully strong language in your responses. While I understand the topic can arouse intense emotions I'm curious what Islam says about vulgar language. How is it defined? Is it considered sin? Just wondering."
Yes. Using vulgar language is sin. I'm human, I sin, I seek forgivness, and I sin yet again and again seek forgiveness. This is due to my human weakness. God mentions repeatedly in the Koran that he is the most merciful and the most kind, and he commands us to seek forgiveness so he may forgive.
For the sin I commit, and the sin that God doesn't forgive, I will pay the price. Not our Messiah, because we don't believe in the concept of original sin that Christendom does.
God bless.
Hi Anon 3:35,
I've been busy but want to continue the conversation. I can't help but wonder if you're here in Dubai and we could meet to chat face to face. Would that be possible or are you thousands of miles away? Just curious.
You've written much and I don't know how much I'll get to but here goes...
"Regardless of what people believe Jesus died for, a well established dogma, mainly of the numerous protestant denominations is that Jesus' death on the cross serves as a device and mechanism of salvation to those who believe in him, and heaven is through him."
I wholeheartedly agree. I think you may have misunderstood what I typed (it was awkwardly worded) when I said "But Jesus did not just die to take away punishment for sin". I meant to say that he did to take away sin BUT that wasn't all he died for. His death accomplished more than that. Does that make sense?
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"Why doesn't Christianity have any prescribed punishments for sins? Does Christianity inform man of the punishments for crime?
One factor may be, I assume, that Christianity was a sect of Judaism for well over a century as Jesus denied coming with new theology and rules, he said he came to re-establish the rules, presumably of Moses, and was sent only to the House of Israel. Mankind doesn't constitute the House of Israel."
Do I understand you here to be asserting that Christianity doesn't prescribe any punishments for sins because it's merely a continuation of Judaism and Jesus was only reasserting the Law of Moses which already prescribed punishments?
If so I disagree.
The New Testament does tell us what it costs us to disobey God's law... death.
Lying? > death
Adultery > death
Idolatry > death
Romans 6:23 "For the wages of sin is death"
Also, Jesus didn't say he came to "reestablish the rules". I'm guessing you're referring to Matthew 5:17. Jesus said he came to fulfill them. Reestablishing and fulfilling are two very different things. And if he did come to reestablish them he didn't do a very good job of it. On many occasions he seems to have done things that contradict the law. But in fact he was properly interpreting it AND properly living it out. He lived it out and FULFILLED it perfectly because we (everyone) could not.
You also seem to refer to the Matthew 15:24 verse where Jesus said "I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel." Read in context of the passage and the whole of the gospel it is clear that Jesus meant that he was born as a Jew, called Jews to follow him (though welcomed Gentiles as well), was going to die in Palestine as planned and intended his followers to take his message (the gospel) to the whole earth. So his followers are the true "Israel" who would take the message of this saving God to the whole world. This is what the Old Testament is clear about the purpose of choosing Israel and Jesus clearly indicates that his life, death and resurrection were for the whole world... Mark 13:10, Matthew 26:13, 28:18-20, etc.
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I stated my view that Islam tends to set up a system/situation where you just try to keep your heavenly back account as full as possible (i.e. sins take away, mercy seeking and good deeds add in). Then you told me that my view of Islam as "perverted". But you yourself said that these times of Hajj and Ramadan were times "which Allah gives man bonuses in their mercy seeking". I still contend that Islam tends to end up being a system of addition and subtraction of points with God. I'm just being honest here... the idea that God would declare certain particular acts done in particular places as more valuable in seeking mercy stands in stark contrast to the the "Majestic attributes" that you (and I) say he has. I've had it quoted to me on many occasions how many times more effective prayers were in the masjid versus at home or on the Night of Power versus other nights. These idea do not point me toward a God who is timeless, perfectly holy, and the definition of love.
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"It may not today due to the un-Christianness of modern day Christianity, but a precursor reading of the ventures of the Church into Spain, the Middle East and Southern Italy reveal otherwise.
I knew of a girl from an evangelical family who converted to Islam. When I saw her following her conversion, she was sporting a black eye. A gift her Gospel loving father gave her. She was also kicked out of home. And if murder didn't carry a life sentence, I'm sure she'd have been murdered too."
You might already know that Christian theology explains that all who claim the name of Jesus are not Christians. Jesus made that clear himself. Many who claim the faith in Christ will spend eternity in hell separated from God. I believe that many of the people you refer to here (Church in Spain, M.East, Southern Italy) were not born-again, regenerate, followers of Jesus. That seems obvious.
As I understand Islamic theology though, people who declare the shehada but commit heinous acts cannot be assessed to "not be true Muslims". You could perhaps say they were bad Muslims who would pay more time in hell before heaven. But I don't understand how Islamic theology would have a category for judging that they were not Muslims at all.
About the girl with the black eye for converting to Islam. This anecdote (single story) that mention is sad of course. I don't know where this father stood with God but to call him, as you say "Gospel loving" doesn't seem to describe him does it when you understand what the Gospel is? But I must add that the anecdotes like you've mentioned are few and far between compared with those that cast Islam in a bad light.
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Well, that's all I can manage now. Any chance of talking face to face? I'm tire of typing :)
Sincerely, Brian.
Unfortunately, I am not from the Emirates nor reside there. I am far away, but would love to visit and make a move there.
"His death accomplished more than that" - I don't believe he died, but for the sake of argument, assuming his death, i would suggest that him dying for peoples sin would be the most central factor.
"I stated my view that Islam tends to set up a system/situation where you just try to keep your heavenly back account as full as possible (i.e. sins take away, mercy seeking and good deeds add in)."
What exactly do you find wrong with this? Do you expect us to be drunkards, adulterers, gamblers and thiefs not recieving any sort of repercussions for the wrong we did? As I've mentioned previously, Jesus doesn't carry our burden for us, so we don't have the luxury of using him as an excuse and doing what we want and getting away with it.
"Then you told me that my view of Islam as "perverted"."
To enlighten, I didn't say your view of Islam was perverted; for the record, I don't know your view of Islam yet. What I said it in regards to was the mercy/sin topic.
"I still contend that Islam tends to end up being a system of addition and subtraction of points with God."
Obviously the system of doing sin and doing good exist in Islam. How do you expect it to be? God not keeping an account of our deeds and us doing whatever we want?
"Islam tends to end up being a system of addition and subtraction of points with God."
No not really. It's not like we're a bank. Although the concept of sins and and good deeds have been elaborated on in exhaustive detail, this doesn't tantamount to being the embodiment of Islam. Islam has a whole heap of other stuff attached to it.
"I'm just being honest here... the idea that God would declare certain particular acts done in particular places as more valuable in seeking mercy stands in stark contrast to the the "Majestic attributes""
How does this stand in "stark contrast" with God? Please elaborate.
"As I understand Islamic theology though, people who declare the shehada but commit heinous acts cannot be assessed to "not be true Muslims"."
No. I'm not sure where you heard that but they can be assessed as not being true Muslims. Muslims have been categorised into different categories in various hadiths.
"But I don't understand how Islamic theology would have a category for judging that they were not Muslims at all."
Everyone is a Muslim until proved otherwise. Man cannot judge on whether an individual has genuine faith in the shahada or not. God can only judge on the genuineness of those who claim faith in him, and thus, he may exclude people as not being Muslim at all. I believe in pure and strict monotheism. God can do what he wants. The Koran informs us that when God says be, it is.
"These idea do not point me toward a God who is timeless, perfectly holy, and the definition of love."
Well, perhaps you would prefer a boring God who want make you accountable for your sins because his "son" already got nailed for them? I still dont understand how this undermines God's perfection.
"Any chance of talking face to face?"
Unfortunately no, I don't live in the Middle East.
Dear Anon 12:32pm,
I can't respond immediately but thanks for your post.
Too bad you're not around here. May I ask if you have a blog or website where you put up info or thoughts? I'd be interested to know if you do if you feel comfortable with that.
You can email me the info at brian (at) 6parks.com
Let me know if I can give you any info about Dubai/UAE concerning moving here.
Sincerely,
Brian
goodness, since i was struck down with food poisoning, i was away from all this...it's interesting to see how far this argument has gone too.
anon @ 6:11
don't you worry, I already left Islam to be a Christian, and no, I don't continue to do things freely because the Bible tells me that while everything may be permissible, not everything is beneficial. Following Jesus comes with responsibility, and ever since I have been a Christian (10+ years) I have been a better person than I was as a Muslim living in Saudi Arabia.
M
Oh, by the way..
Everytime I ask a Muslim if they are following a peaceful and tolerant religion, I get a overwhelming response of YES! Islam is a PEACEFUL and TOLERANT religion...and then I ask them what would happen if I forsake Islam? OFF WITH YOUR HEAD!!!
so much for being tolerance and peaceful! lol!
M
That Tattoos and Islam article, I believe is the first one is seriously ill. How can you believe that ALLAh SWT the most Merciful, The Door Of Forgiveness, will close the door on humanity. HOW? Don't freaken tell ppl cuz they have a tattoo that they will not be accepted by the one and only Gracious Most Forgiving. You know how many times you will burn in hell for saying that. By saying that u basically have just ruined many ppls lives....made them give up....U know in Islam what is the only sin that ALlah SWT wont forgive? Have u studied have u learned? Its if u believe in a higher power, that and only that is the sin that wont be forgiven. For all you ppl who need a place to be saved, to need help to come to the rite path, learn this religion Islam and live it because it will bring you peace and happiness, and the key to the next world. We are in this world yet only for a blink of an eye, and next is when it all starts. If you need help with questions and answers visit www.sistani.org There you will be able to ask and be answered any question regarding Islam. May your greatest wished be fulfilled Inshallah.
Longblackveil
Why is it that when it comes to the word of Islam that people think so negatively of it. As like all other religions it teaches its basics as you stated, Love, respect, peace, acceptance, peace and forgiveness. What's Ironic is now a days when Islam comes up its thought to be such a corrupt religion. But I do not blame anyone who thinks so, its because usually ppl representing it are so. Anyways just thought we had the same idea going on.
Hope allz well!
Thanks for your thoughts Iraqqqqiya 4 Lyfe. You seem to be a zealous and enthusiastic person.
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