Answer
In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
All praise and thanks are due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger.
In this fatwa:
Tattoos, though haram in Islam, do not prevent a Muslimโespecially a convertโfrom performing Hajj. The Prophet (peace be upon him) taught that Islam wipes away past sins, and tattoo removal is not obligatory if it is difficult or expensive. Hajj remains a sacred duty, and no one should be discouraged from it due to tattoos.
In his response to the question, Dr. Muzzammil Siddiqi, Former president of the Islamic Society of North America, states:
Congratulations on Embracing Islam
It is really a chance to congratulate you and your husband for becoming Muslims, and we hope you understand the tolerant teachings of Islam, whom Allah chooses to guide the baffled humanity to the safe shore.
Tattoos Are HaramโBut Islam Forgives the Past
It is haram to have tattoos on the body. However, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) is reported to have said, โIslam takes away the sins done before it.โ (Muslim)
Thus, if these tattoos cannot be removed easily or if you have to spend a lot of money to remove them, then you should not worry about them.
Hajj Is ObligatoryโTattoos Shouldnโt Stop You
When Hajj becomes obligatory on you, you should perform it and do not neglect it because of having tattoos on your body. No one should stop you from going to Hajj because of tattoos. I have seen hundreds of pilgrims, men and women, who come from some countries and they have all kinds of tattoos on their faces and bodies.
Tattooed Pilgrims Are Common in Hajj
Having tattoos is forbidden in Islam, but among some tribes in Africa, unfortunately, it is still practiced, even among Muslims.
See the following fatwas for detailed information:
- How to Maximize the Benefits of Hajj
- What Actions of Hajj Are Essential, Obligatory and Sunnah?
- Individual and Collective Benefits of Hajj
- Essentials of Hajj
- Lessons from Hajj
Allah Almighty knows best.
Editorโs note: This fatwa is from Ask the Scholarโs archive and was originally published at an earlier date.