Can a tattoo artist become a Muslim?

Can't say "thank you" enough. You are all so kind. In fact, the overall experience has been incredible. The response from the community here is absolutely wonderful. Talk about being welcomed with "open arms"... I spent three hours this weekend at the masjid just working on my pronunciation of Al Fatihah with an Ethiopian college student. Another Somalian brother presented me with beautiful book ("The Ideal Muslim") as a gift. Indeed, I feel so humbled by all the love and attention - both from the brothers here and everyone on this forum - that I feel greatly inspired to be the best Muslim possible.

BTW, there are two masjids almost an equal distance from my house. The imam whose daughter got the tattoo is from the one I have yet to visit, so I have not met him. Even if I do, his daughter has asked me not to tell and since she is a paying customer, I have to respect that. Besides, I don't want to get involved with their family matters!

Any one can become muslims - a tattoo artist or not.

What you do after becoming a muslim will be a sin - it won't be denial of Islam, ... it will be a sin - don't let a sin of your past stop you from doing good in the present.

Allah is oft forgiving and ever merciful.

at uncl woodrw: *clap clap applause* MAN! UR BRILLIANT! ..nd here i thot its the end of my life coz im stuck doin my intrnshp in a field i absolutly dont lke!! Iv nt evn earnd my first coin yet..

At tatoo guy: iv heard tht tatoo guys work in hospitals..my friends dad had vitiligo (skin disease,causes discolourd, lack of color actualy, of the skin)..they tatooed the colorles areas (to normal skin color)..maybe u could try somethn lke that?

ok,iv shud'v googled,b4 typin the previous post..anywayz..ther is smthn called medical tatooing. You gotta hide scars after surgery,cleft lip patients etc etc..

format_quote Originally Posted by seeker1287

Greetings to everyone here!

I recently started visiting a local Masjid and have been very pleased with my experience there. I have picked up an English translation of the Holy Qur'an and have started reading it. So far it is very beautiful, clear, and inspiring. Once question is very important to me, however, and I really could use the help of the members of this board.

I have been a tattoo artist by profession basically my whole adult life. Besides this, I do not have many qualifications and I don't know how I could earn as much money to pay the bills. I am married and my wife and I wish to have children soon. I have read that tattooing is Haram in Islam and I am curious as to whether or not I can become a Muslim and keep my profession.

In my previous religion, tattooing was probably not looked well upon, but nothing that would ostracize me from the community and it certainly was not viewed as having invalidated my faith in God. It has been a good profession for me and I have earned a decent living and it allows me to be very mobile. Sometimes I go overseas and tattoo there which has been a great experience as I have been able to learn about other cultures and I even met and married my wife while abroad. A desk job would not allow me the same freedom.

I think that tattooing can be seen in different lights. I know that in the past, scarification and tattooing was used as initiation rights in some pagan religions and hence was forbidden by Jews and Christians. I don't think today the associations are quite the same. Of course, I do see the point in not permanently altering what the Lord has created and if I could manage some other way to raise a family by earning money through a more wholesome means, I would certainly change professions.

BTW, just last week I tattooed the daughter of the local Imam with a large "tramp stamp"!

Thank you for any replies in advance.

I know this is a very old post but I was fortunate to find your question online as I have been a tattoo artist for 30 years in Hawaii and I only make tattoos that are found in the Hawaiian and Polynesian culture. It is something I am dedicated to helping Hawaiians gain their independence from the United States. I myself am not Hawaii but I was raised in Hawaii and accepted by them. An honor and blessing. Tattooing is only job I have had and I am very interested in Islam. I am curious about your path and where you are at now? Blessing to you all.

Greetings to everyone!
I have a similar question. The fact is that I am just starting to get interested in Islam, reading the Quran in translation, changing my lifestyle. I am an artist and create illustrations for book covers, magazines, etc. So my main and only income is publishing my work online on a platform and there is one client who would like me to draw a digital image individually for him. It has to be a griffin (for those who don't know, it's a mythological creature, here you can see an image of a griffin from a photostock platform). So I understand correctly that I should refuse this client because it is haram?