Are Piercings Haram in Islam?

Let me guess: nose and lip piercings are highly trendy right now, and all your friends have recently gotten ones. You want one too, but you have to ask first: are piercings haram in Islam?

Matters of adornment and jewelry are pretty serious in Islam, and they’re often the center of many controversies and arguments. 

Women are allowed to wear adornments in Islam, but there are plenty of restrictions when it comes to wearing them in front of strangers. 

Since piercings fall under the same category, questions are often sparked about whether they’re permissible, especially since most of us have ear piercings.

Here, we’ll answer all related questions!

Are Piercings Haram for Females?

In Islamic rulings, piercings fall under the same category as jewelry and adornments. Luckily, women are allowed to wear adornments in Islam, whether they’re gold, diamonds, silver, or any other type. 

But first, these adornments have to fulfill certain conditions:

• They shouldn’t be used as a way of imitating immoral or unbelieving women
• They shouldn’t be worn in front of strangers (males) or non-mahrams
• They shouldn’t be worn as a way to stand out from the customs of the country or culture
• They shouldn’t contain any image of animate beings
• They shouldn’t cause harm to the wearer
• They shouldn’t involve uncovering private parts in front of another person 

Reading those conditions, you’ll probably reach the conclusion that piercings are permissible if worn only in front of other women and mahrams. However, Islamic rulings are nuanced and not that simple.

For example, ear piercings are allowed because they don’t cause infections or have the potential to harm the wearer. Meanwhile, tongue piercings are considered haram because they carry a larger risk of causing medical issues, and harming oneself is haram in Islam.

From this, we can conclude that not all piercings are haram for females, as long as they fulfill the conditions of Islamic laws. We’ll explore the topic in greater detail below.

Is Nose Piercing Haram for Females?

Nose piercing is a controversial matter that seems to have multiple rulings. On one side, some scholars believe piercing the nostrils isn’t permissible since it’s done with the purpose of changing Allah’s creation. And the same goes for piercing the septum.

On the other side, some scholars agree that it’s done with the purpose of adornment rather than changing Allah’s creation, so it’s permissible for women as a form of beautification. There are even studies that prove that women wore nose rings during the Prophet’s time.

On top of that, unlike lip piercings, nose piercings are safe and don’t cause infections. So, that removes them from the ruling that harmful piercings are haram.

Some scholars also deem nostril piercings halal and septum piercings haram since the septum is a sensitive area that may cause pain.

In the end, Allah knows best, and we can’t know for sure whether nose piercings are definitely haram. However, a lot of opinions lean towards considering them halal as long as you don’t wear them in front of non-mahrams or with the purpose of getting attention from strangers.

Is Tongue Piercing Haram for Females?

Unlike nose and ear piercings, tongue piercings are blatantly considered haram. There isn’t a lot of controversy surrounding the matter since most opinions deem it haram.

The reason for this is that tongue piercings are harmful and may cause health complications. They supposedly cause the gum tissue around the teeth to wear away, which may cause pain and infections later on. 

On top of that, some studies show that tongue piercings cause tooth decay for a lot of people. The reason isn’t clear, but it may have something to do with having a metal accessory permanently in the mouth.

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Is Lip Piercing Haram for Females?

In Islam, there’s a significant emphasis on respecting the natural state of creation, as highlighted in verses such as “There is no altering Allah’s creation” (Ar-Rum: 30). 

Practices like body piercing are often viewed as unnecessary alterations to the body, which is seen as disrespectful to Allah’s creation.

As a result, lip piercing is considered haram, particularly due to its potential harm. 

These procedures aren’t just harmless enhancements; they often come with various health risks. Delicate areas like the tongue, lips, and eyelids are more susceptible to infections, some of which can be severe or even fatal. Therefore, from both a religious and health perspective, the practice of lip piercing is discouraged.

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Are Piercings Haram for Males?

In Islam, there are specific guidelines regarding adornments for men and women. Earrings and bracelets, traditionally considered forms of adornment, are deemed haram for men, as they are typically associated with women. 

While men may wear silver rings, gold and silver adornments are only allowed in specific circumstances, such as replacing lost teeth or noses.

Moreover, any form of piercing on a man’s body is considered haram, as it is viewed as imitating women. Piercing the ear for earrings is specifically mentioned as part of women’s adornment and is deemed impermissible for males. 

So, based on Islamic teachings and scholarly interpretations, men are discouraged from having piercings as they go against the prescribed gender roles and adornments in Islam.

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Are Eyebrow Piercings Haram?

When it comes to eyebrow piercings, if it’s a customary practice among Muslim women in your community and doesn’t lead to harm, then there might not be any objection to it. 

However, it’s important to keep in mind the Islamic injunction that prohibits women from displaying their adornments in front of non-mahram men. 

Therefore, if a woman chooses to adorn her eyebrow with a ring, she should ensure that it’s only visible to other women, her husband, and her mahrams (close male relatives).

Are Ear Piercings Haram?

The general principle in Islamic jurisprudence is that all matters are considered permissible unless explicitly stated otherwise. 

In this context, the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) himself encouraged Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her) to emulate Umm Zar`, who had pierced her ears, as recorded in Sahih Al-Bukhari.

So, ear piercings are considered permissible since there isn’t any evidence of prohibiting them.

In fact, there’s no specific prohibition regarding the number of ear piercings a woman may have. Therefore, Muslim women can pierce their ears multiple times if they choose to do so.

However, it’s important to clarify that this permission applies solely to women and is intended as a means of enhancing their beauty. 

This interpretation is supported by a Hadith in which the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) accepted earrings as Zakah from women, indicating acceptance of this form of adornment.

Piercing Done Before Islam

In some cases, a woman may have done a piercing or a tattoo before converting to Islam. Luckily, Islam rules in favor of recent converts.

If a woman had piercings done before embracing Islam, she must ensure that she doesn’t display these adornments to non-mahrams and should only reveal them to her husband or mahrams if it’s in permissible areas such as the ear or nose.

It’s important to note that these adornments should not be driven by the imitation of non-believers or people engaging in immoral behavior. 

For instance, if belly button adornments are customary in certain societies among respectable women, then there’s no prohibition against adopting such adornments. However, if this practice is exclusively associated with immoral or non-believing women, then it becomes impermissible as it would entail imitating behavior contrary to Islamic principles.

The Final Verdict: Are Piercings Haram?

Whether piercings are haram depends on their place, the purpose of wearing them, and who they’re worn in front of. Women are only allowed to wear adornments in front of non mahrams, so that’s one important thing to consider

On top of that, piercings should only be done in permissible places, like ears, and they shouldn’t be done to imitate non-Muslims.