By: Dr. H. Maulana Hasanuddin, M.A. (Deputy Chairperson of the Central MUI Fatwa Commission); and Drs. H. Sholahudin Al-Aiyub, M.Sc. (Deputy Secretary of the MUI Center for Fatwa).
Lately, if you notice there are some people, especially women who shave off their eyebrows, then replaced with artificial eyebrows, which are made by processes such as tattooing. (HalalMUI)
When asked, the woman who made artificial eyebrows with the tattoo was reasonable, she was not comfortable with the shape of her eyebrows so that the shape of her eyebrows was changed so that the appearance of her face became more harmonious. In addition, artificial eyebrows are more practical than making eyebrows with a cosmetic pencil.
How is the legal tattoo for facial cosmetics? The following is the answer summary by HalalMUI.
The law may or may not shave or scrape the eyebrows until it runs out, there is no stipulation and agreement of the ulama. But there are ulama who argue, shaving eyebrows if without the interests justified by sharia, then the act is considered the same as changing God’s creation. This is not justified in Islamic teachings.
Interests allowed in sharia, for example for treatment. Namely, if there is a disease such as a tumor in the eyebrow, then to treat it, the eyebrow must be shaved off. So that includes Lil-hajat, there is a need for treatment. But if there is no such need, but merely feeling dissatisfied with the appearance of the eyebrows because the shape of the eyebrows is considered to be inappropriate for the taste, then it can be said to be an act of being less grateful for the gift of the All-Knowing and Perfect. (HalalMUI)
With this understanding, according to the ulama, shaving eyebrows, if without the interests justified by sharia, the law is prohibited. And if it is replaced with a tattoo that is permanent, then it clearly becomes haram. Because making tattoos are done by hurting yourself. Namely by piercing the needle into the body part that will be made eyebrows, then put the ink. The practice is certainly very risky for the health of the body. God has forbidden us to do things that will harm ourselves: “And spend in the way of Allah and do not throw [yourselves] with your [own] hands into destruction [by refraining].” (QS. Al-Baqarah, 2: 195).
Moreover, if you look at it in terms of costs that must be spent. For those who believe, spend funds, trust God, for things that are not useful from the side of worship, is a forbidden act of mubadzir: “…and do not do mubadzir (wasting your treasure wastefully). Indeed, the wasteful are brothers of the devils, and ever has satan been to his Lord ungrateful.” (QS. 17: 26-27).
In another verse, we are reminded: “Certainly will the believers have succeeded. They who are during their prayer humbly submissive. And they who turn away from the ill speech.” (QS. Al-Mu’minuun, 23: 1-3).
This act will also be a regret that is beyond measure at the end of life. Because issuing or spending assets for things that are not useful in terms of religion, not for infaq, shodaqoh jariyah in the way of Allah: “And spend part of what We have given you before death comes to one of you; then he said: “O my Lord, why hast thou not suspended (my death) unto a near time, which caused me to give charity and I was among the righteous?” (QS. Al-Munafiqun, 63: 10).
In terms of psychology or psychology, the woman who was tattooed by her eyebrows for decorative cosmetics was very worried that it would damage her condition. That is to be proud even ujub. Feel better with that appearance. In religious teachings, it is clear that ujub’s attitude towards arrogance is strictly prohibited. (HalalMUI)
Specifically about tattoos (English, tattoo; Arabic, wasym) is a form of modification of the body’s organs (skin), made by tearing the skin using a needle, then inserting a coloring agent (ink) on the skin layer to change the color of the pigment. In this case, there are a number of related problems, namely the tattooist (wasjimah), and the tattoo user (al-mustausyimah).
Look at the meaning of the Al-Qur’an which reminds us, how satan tries to lead people astray, by changing the creations of Allah: “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.” (QS. An-Nisa, 4: 119)
Including the meaning of changing God’s creation, according to a tabi’in Al-Hasan Al-Bashri is (by shaving eyebrows until they run out), and replacing them with the tattoo. (See Tafsir Ibn Jarir Athari, 4/285, Tafsir Ibn Kathir, 1/569).
Even in the Hadith, Rasulullah saw. cursing al-wasyimah (the tattooing) and al-mustausyimah (which asks others to set their bodies). Narrated from Abu Hurairah and Ibn ‘Umar, he said that Rasulullah saw. said, “Allah cursed women who connect their hair, women who asked to have their hair connected, as well as women who made tattoos and who asked to make tattoos.” (HR. Bukhari and Muslim).
The existence of the curse was uttered directly by Rasulullah saw. the tattoo shows that the tattoo is a big sin. According to Imam Adz-Dhahabi, the sign of great sin is an act that is prohibited (immoral) followed by the threat of sanctions in the world and/or threats in the hereafter with cursing or torture. (HalalMUI)
In another account of ‘Abdullah bin Mas’ud, he said,’ Allah cursed the woman who tattooed and who asked for tattooing, who removed the hair on her face and who asked for hair to be removed on her face, which stretched her teeth to look beautiful, also the woman who changed creation Allah. “This also reached the ears of a woman from Bani Asad called Umm Ya’qub, she used to read the Al-Qur’an. He went to Ibn Mas’ud and then said, “There is a hadith that has come to me from you that you cursed the woman who tattooed and who asked for tattooing, who asked to remove hair on her face, which stretched her teeth to look beautiful, also the woman who changed God’s creation, is it true?”
Ibn Masud replied, “Why did I not cursed the person who was cursed by Rasulullah saw. and that already exists in the Al-Qur’an.”
The woman said again, “I have read the Al-Qur’an but I did not find out about it.” Ibn Masud said, “Try to read again you will find it. Allah Ta’ala said (with meaning), “What the Apostle gave you, then accept it. And what is forbidden to you, then leave.” (QS. Al-Hasyr, 59: 7). (HR. Bukhari and Muslim).
As an alternative, in practice in our society, there are decorative cosmetics without tattoos, and that (relative) is acceptable. Like dressing for brides by using hyenas, or some kind of ink from henna leaves, which can be removed, because the ink is not permanent, and does not block water when performing ablution. Wallahu a’lam bimurodih. (HalalMUI)
Source: Jurnal Halal, 127
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(HalalMUI)
