Gathered by: Abu Mardiy Kewdirôrun At-thaqoofiy
Praise be to Allaah and blessings of Allaah be upon His Messenger and Chosen Prophet.
Tribal marks is one of the cultural identity recognised by some countries in Africa especially Nigeria.
In Nigeria, some tribes like the Yoruba and Hausa and some other minor tribe such as the Igalas give their children tribal marks as a way of tribal identification.
Tribal mark is a specific mark which comes in different shapes and sizes, commonly found on the face; which gives it another name of "facial marks"
There are various tribal marks, by different ethnic groups within Yoruba nation: Ijesa (a town in Osun State, Nigeria) people are known by “pele.”
Pele, is a-four-horizontal-line; an-inch-long mark made on the cheeks on both sides of the mouth.
The Ondo natives of Ondo State, Nigeria are identified by half-an-inch-vertical lines on both sides of the nose down to the mouth (marks are thick and long) called “Soju”.
Another tribal mark which can also be found in Ondo state is called “Jaju” which is just a single horizontal line on both sides of the face.
Owu tribal marks consists of six incisions on each side of the cheeks and peculiar to the indigenes of Owu, an historical city in Abeokuta, the capital of Ogun State, Nigeria.
Other Yoruba ethnic groups have different types of facial marks; Ogbomosho natives of (Oyo State Nigeria) are identified by multiple straight marks drawn from the head which curves on the lower chin straight to the corner of the mouth on both sides of the face called “Gombo”.
Also prone to Ibadan, Oyo town and the Ogbomosho People (all these three towns are located in Oyo State, Nigeria) is a tribal mark called Abaja.
Abaja is made up of four horizontally drawn lines with two or more vertical lines standing on the topmost horizontal line.
Other Yoruba tribal marks includes: Ture, Bamu, Keke, Mande
Jamgbadi etc.
The Hausas also have names for tribal marks like zube, yan baka, doddori, bille and so on.
All these tribal marks are undoubtedly Haraam in Islaam for both male and female.
In Arabic this is called washm (lit. tattooing), this was forbidden by the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), and he cursed those who did it.
It was narrated in a authentic report that the Prophet cursed the one who consumes riba (interest) and the one who pays it, and he cursed the one who does tattoos and the one who asks to be tattooed.
There is no difference between tattoos on the face or on the hand or elsewhere.
With regard to what has been done in the past as a result of ignorance, it is sufficient to repent for that.
But after coming to know the ruling of Allaah, the Muslim must beware of that which Allaah has forbidden.
May Almighty Allaah forgive our shortcomings.
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