How do you balance faith with modern self-expression? When it comes to nose piercing in Islam, there is no source or religious text that clearly and explicitly forbids piercings, whether on the nose or the navel. Even so, several principles of Islam can lead people to see body modification as haram.
So is it possible to get a piercing as a Muslim? Below we lay out the information we gathered, along with the different scholarly views, and leave you to form your own opinion based on how you practice your faith.
Table of Contents
Piercings and Islam: What Is Not Allowed?
A piercing can be seen as an unjustified alteration of the body, and that is one reason some hold that it is not permitted.
Because the body is a creation of Allah, seen as perfect exactly as it was made, the view is that it should not be altered in any way. On top of that, the ultimate purpose of jewelry is to beautify the body (for oneself or for a loved one), and the argument is that the body has no need of it. This is the main point that people who support forbidding piercings in Islam rely on.
In addition, although the pain is only brief, the act itself can be viewed as a form of self-harm, which is also forbidden in Islam.
Among the arguments against piercings, it is also worth noting that Islam asks its followers to do their best not to imitate or fully resemble non-Muslims, whether in fashion, ways of living, and so on. Piercings (especially those beyond the lobes, nose, and navel) are often seen as clearly Western practices. To sum up, here are the arguments against piercings in Islam:
- Unjustified alteration of the body
- Unnecessary self-harm
- A purely Western practice
Piercings and Islam: What Is Allowed?
Not every piercing is viewed negatively in Islam, and it remains possible to adorn yourself with jewelry.
In the view of almost all scholars, an ear lobe piercing poses no problem. It is a part of the body where wearing jewelry has been customary since the time of the revelation. The wives of Muhammad most likely wore ear jewelry such as earrings, so these are adornments that are permitted.
When it comes to the nose piercing, it is a little more delicate. Some consider it another unnecessary alteration of Allah's creation, while others hold that, like the earring, it is a piercing inherited from a thousand-year-old tradition (in countries such as India, for example). In that case, wearing nose jewelry would not be haram.
As for the navel piercing, it comes down to a question of modesty. It is jewelry that can be seen as very revealing, and if it is done to be displayed publicly, it is of course discouraged. But since it is also part of the traditions of some cultures around the world, some hold that it can be acceptable, on the condition that it is never shown in public and kept for oneself and a loved one. To sum up, here are the piercings often viewed as permitted in Islam:
- The earring, because it is a genuine tradition
- The nose piercing, if it is part of one's culture and traditions
- The navel piercing, but only if it is never displayed publicly
Thinking about a nose piercing? You may find our guides helpful: which side should you get your nose pierced and getting a nose ring.
Conclusion
As you can see, this is a fairly complex question. It is natural that the Quran does not mention piercings explicitly, but that alone is not a reason to do just anything. The idea of body piercing can be connected to many principles, which is how people decide whether it is an acceptable practice or not.
There are also many schools of thought in Islam. Some emphasize traditional values, while others tend to adapt to modern society, so your personal practice of the faith matters here too. In every case, an earring carries little risk, a nose piercing can be accepted, and a navel piercing may be acceptable in certain situations.
