Blog 1: Race, Ethnicity, Culture or Religion - Tattoos and Islam
Thus far, I have seen no men or women with tattoos in Morocco, which is a Muslim country with a common Islamic religious practice. Muslims believe their bodies are vessels that God graces them with, and they are not permitted to take actions that disrupt their livelihoods and worship. While Islam does not explicitly inhibit the adornment of tattoos in its scripture, believers are asked to consider the social, financial, and spiritual consequences when deciding if getting a tattoo is "haram" (forbidden) or "halal" (permissible) ("What is Halal and Haram in Islam?", 2024). This being said, tattoos do not inherently contradict these practices. Upon further research, conflict arises when tattoos are compared to extravagance ("israf"), adornment for women ("zeenah"), and the social implications of imitating the "wordly" or purposeless (Qazwini et al., 2025). These practices are considered forbidden, and it is my impression that this largely prevent Muslims from getting tattoos.
As a Christian with a tattoo, I hold similar beliefs that my body is considered a "temple," meant to be respected as one of God's creations. My religious beliefs differ in that the content of my tattoos holds the implicative value. I see my tattoo as self-expression; it signifies growth and healing, and it has my mom's favorite flower! However, I fully understand practicing religion and upholding certain values, and I don't see their personal restrictions as negative if it is not harmful and gives them peace. I can appreciate how the Muslim men and women can present themselves naturally without materialistic aid, as that is a western trend that can have detrimental effects on men but particularly young women. Speaking from my experience as an American woman, the pressure to have the in-style brands, wear makeup, and conform to other beauty standards (my adornment) often results in harmful comparisons and self-degradation. I find it probable and realistic, however, that women in Morocco face their own version of beauty standards, and I'd like to do more research on what this is and how this may influence their self-expression. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed learning more about the Islam religion through this assignment, and I will continue to cover my tattoo out of respect for the common Islamic and Muslim practice.
Attached is a "street interview" style video that contextualizes this issue from a Muslim's point of view. I have found conflicting views across the internet, but his analogy makes touches on my analysis of our bodies being "vessels" in the Islamic reglion. YouTube Video
Citations:
Qazwini, S. A., Zaidi, F. A., & Zaidi, F. J. (2025, December 16). What Islam Says About Tattoos. Thaqlain. https://thaqlain.org/what-islam-says-about/tattoos/
What is Halal and Haram in Islam? Online Islamic Institute. (2024, June 21). https://onlineislamicinstitute.org/what-is-halal-and-haram-in-islam/
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ReplyDeleteI really appreciated your perspective on this topic! I enjoy how you acknowledge your own assumptions while still approaching the topic with respect and curiosity rather than judgment. Your comparison between Muslim values surrounding tattoos and the pressure of Western beauty standards was particularly thoughtful, showing how every culture has different expectations that can influence self-expression. I also think it’s meaningful that you chose to continue covering your tattoo out of respect for the culture and religion while abroad.
ReplyDeleteOne thing I found interesting while researching this topic is that tattoos actually have a long history in some Amazigh (Berber) communities in North Africa, where women traditionally used facial or hand tattoos to symbolize protection, beauty, or tribal identity (Sprout, 2023). Although tattoos are now much less common because of changing religious and cultural views, it shows that attitudes toward tattoos in Morocco have evolved over time and are more complex than many people assume.
Reference
Sprout, A. (2023, March 14). The disappearing tradition of Amazigh tattoos in North Africa. Culture Trip
I enjoyeed reading your blog because it was really honest and respectful when talking about the differences between Christianity and Islam. I thought it was interesting how you connected your own tattoo to self-expression and healing while also explaining why tattoos may be viewed differently in Islamic culture. Your point about beauty standards was also really relatable because a lot of people experience pressure to fit certain trends or appearances.
ReplyDeleteI also liked that you kept an open mind throughout your post instead of judging different beliefs. It showed maturity when you talked about respecting the culture by covering your tattoo while in Morocco. Overall, I think your blog did a good job mixing research with your personal experiences and reflections.