Is Microblading Haram?

What is microblading?

Microblading is a type of tattooing that lasts for approximately two years (semi-permanent).

A very fine blade, like the blade of a razor, is used for microblading; the eyebrow is drawn and a chemical substance [pigment] is injected using the blade. It is akin to tattooing, in which a needle is used to inject pigment rather than the blade, except that tattooing is permanent and cannot be removed except with a laser, unlike this technique in which the colouring begins to disappear gradually within a period between eighteen months and two years, and it is possible to repeat the procedure.  (See: http://bit.ly/2Tc3DX7)

What is tattooing?

Tattooing , which means injecting pigment into the skin, is haraam and the one who does it is cursed, whether the procedure uses kohl, lead or any other substance.

If this technique involves removing some of the hair of the eyebrow in order to reshape it, that comes under the heading of plucking the eyebrows, which is haram; thus it combines two haram actions: tattooing and plucking the eyebrows.

Is tattooing haram?

The prohibition on tattooing is proven by the verse in which Allah, may He be exalted, says (interpretation of the meaning):

“They call upon instead of Him none but female [deities], and they [actually] call upon none but a rebellious Satan. Whom Allah has cursed. For he had said, ‘I will surely take from among Your servants a specific portion. And I will mislead them, and I will arouse in them [sinful] desires, and I will command them so they will slit the ears of cattle, and I will command them so they will change the creation of Allah.’ And whoever takes Satan as an ally instead of Allah has certainly sustained a clear loss.” [an-Nisa 4:117-119]

Tattooing comes under the heading of changing the creation of Allah .

Al-Qurtubi said in his commentary on this verse: 

“A number of scholars said: Changing the creation of Allah refers to tattooing and other similar things that are done for the purpose of beautification. This was stated by Ibn Mas‘ud and al-Hasan.” (Tafseer al-Qurtubi (5/392)

‘Abdullah ibn Mas‘ud (may Allah be pleased with him) said: May Allah curse the one who does tattoos and the one who has a tattoo done, the one who has her eyebrows plucked, and those who have their teeth filed for the purpose of beautification, changing the creation of Allah.

News of that reached a woman of Banu Asad who was called Umm Ya‘qub. She came and said: What is this that I have heard about you cursing such and such?

He said: Why should I not curse those whom the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) cursed…? Narrated by al-Bukhari (4886) and Muslim (2125)

An-Nasai (5253) narrated that: The Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) cursed women who do tattoos, women who file their teeth, and women who pluck their eyebrows, changing the creation of Allah, may He be glorified and exalted. Classed as sahih by al-Albani in Sahih an-Nasai.

An-Nawawi (may Allah have mercy on him) said: 

“Tattooing is done by inserting a needle and the like on the back of the hand, or the wrist or the lip, or elsewhere on a woman’s body, until blood flows, then injecting kohl or lime into the site until it turns green. That may be done in circles or patterns, of which there may be many or a few.

This is haram for the one who does it and the one to whom it is done by her choice and at her request.” (Sharh an-Nawawi ‘ala Muslim (14/106)

Tattooing is not permissible unless it is to remove a defect, such as to cover scars from burns, for example, because of the report narrated by Abu Dawud (4170) from Ibn 'Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him), who said: The woman who does hair extensions and the woman for whom that is done, the woman who plucks eyebrows and the woman for whom that is done, the woman who does tattoos and the woman for whom that is done when there is no disease (that would justify doing that) are cursed. Classed as sahih by al-Albani in Sahih Abi Dawud.

Ahmad (3945) narrated that Ibn Mas‘ud (may Allah be pleased with him) said: I heard the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) forbid plucking facial hair, filing teeth , adding hair extensions and tattooing, except in the case of disease. Shaykh Ahmad Shakir said: Its isnad is sahih.

Ash-Shawkani (may Allah have mercy on him) said: 

“The apparent meaning of the words “except in the case of disease” indicates that the prohibitions mentioned only apply to cases where that is done for the purpose of beautification, not in the case of disease or to treat an ailment; in that case it is not prohibited.” (Nayl al-Awtar (6/229)

And Allah knows best.