Ibn ‘Umar reported the Prophet as saying, “God has cursed the woman who adds some false hair and the woman who asks for it, the woman who tattoos and the woman who asks for it.”(Bukhari and Muslim.)
Clothing - Mishkat al-Masabih 4430
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. This narration from the noble Companion Ibn 'Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) contains profound wisdom regarding the preservation of natural creation and the prohibition of deceptive adornment.
The Prohibition of Hair Extensions
The curse mentioned upon those who add false hair (wigs or extensions) and those who request this service pertains to the deception involved in altering Allah's creation. Scholars explain this constitutes tampering with what Allah has fashioned, creating false appearances that mislead others, particularly in matters of marriage and social interactions.
Imam al-Nawawi comments that this prohibition applies when the hair is from another person or animal, as it involves imitation of those whom Allah has cursed and deception about one's true appearance.
The Prohibition of Tattooing
Regarding tattooing, the scholars clarify that this involves permanently changing Allah's creation by inserting ink beneath the skin to create patterns or images. This violates the sanctity of the body that Allah has entrusted to us and imitates practices of pre-Islamic ignorance.
Ibn Qudamah in al-Mughni explains that tattooing is prohibited because it alters Allah's creation without legitimate need and often involves unnecessary pain and imitation of disbelieving cultures.
The Shared Responsibility
The hadith significantly curses both the performer and the requester, establishing the Islamic principle of shared responsibility in sinful acts. This teaches us that facilitating, requesting, or encouraging prohibited matters carries similar weight to committing them directly.
This ruling falls under the broader Islamic principle of preserving one's natural state (fitrah) and avoiding deception in appearance, which maintains social trust and protects the integrity of personal interactions.