The Book of Adornment - Sunan an-Nasa'i 5099

"The Messenger of Allah [SAW] cursed the women who do tattoos and the women who have them done, Al-Mutanammisat, and the women who have their teeth separated for the sake of beauty, those who change (the creation of Allah.)"

Commentary on Tattooing (Al-Washm)

The prohibition of tattoos stems from the fundamental Islamic principle of preserving the natural creation of Allah. Tattooing involves permanently altering the skin through needle punctures and ink insertion, which constitutes an unnecessary modification of Allah's perfect creation.

Scholars explain that the curse applies to both the practitioner and the recipient, indicating the gravity of this alteration. This prohibition serves to protect human dignity and maintain the natural form in which Allah created humankind.

Commentary on Tooth Separation (Al-Mutafallijat)

The practice of separating teeth refers to artificially creating gaps between teeth for cosmetic purposes, often done by filing or removing healthy tooth structure. This was a pre-Islamic practice considered fashionable.

Islamic scholars emphasize that this prohibition protects against vain alterations and preserves bodily integrity. The condemnation applies even if the procedure is painless, as it still constitutes an unnecessary change to Allah's creation.

Scholarly Interpretation of "Changing Allah's Creation"

Classical scholars distinguish between permissible adornment and prohibited alteration. Permissible beautification enhances without permanently changing Allah's creation, while prohibited practices cause permanent, unnatural changes.

This ruling applies to both men and women, though the hadith specifically mentions women as they were more commonly engaged in these practices. The wisdom behind these prohibitions includes protecting health, maintaining natural beauty, and avoiding imitation of disbelieving cultures.