Hadith #81

Arabic Text

English Translation

It was narrated from 'Abdullah (رضي الله عنه) — via 'Abd al-Rahman, from Sufyan, from Mansur, from Ibrahim, from 'Alqama — that 'Abdullah said: 'Allah has cursed those women who tattoo [al-washimat] and those who have themselves tattooed [al-mutawashshimat], and those who pluck their eyebrows [al-mutanammissat], and those who file their teeth for beautification [al-mutafallijat] — those who change the creation of Allah.' This reached a woman in the house known as Umm Ya'qub. She came to him and said: 'I have heard that you said such-and-such.' He said: 'Why would I not curse those whom the Messenger of Allah ﷺ cursed and who are [condemned] in the Book of Allah (عز وجل)?' She said: 'I have read all that is between the two covers [of the Quran] and did not find it.' He said: 'If you had truly read it, you would have found it. Have you not read: 'Whatever the Messenger gives you, take it; and whatever he forbids you, refrain from it' [59:7]?' She said: 'Yes.' He said: 'Indeed the Prophet ﷺ forbade it.' She said: 'I think your own household does it.' He said: 'Go and look.' So she looked and found nothing [of that practice among them]. She returned and said: 'I did not see anything.' He said: 'Had it been so, she would not remain with us.' — [The narrator says]: And I heard it from 'Abd al-Rahman ibn 'Abis narrating it from Umm Ya'qub — he heard it from her directly. But I chose the narration of Mansur [as more reliable].