More than we realize or accept, we often cross this thin line between cultural traditions and religion!
We think we are following a religion, when in reality the things we do aren’t a part of the religion at all.
Music isn’t forbidden as per the Quran nor is tattooing, because they both aren’t mentioned in the holy scripture of Muslims, that reminds me of this one song I heard from Deen Stars – Be like Prophet Mohammed (loved it, check it out on YouTube).
“They say I shouldn’t rhyme, they say it’s haram
Show me that exact line up in the Quran,
Don’t that sound like a rhyme when you hear the Azaan?
Don’t that sound like a rhyme when you recite the Quran?”
The above verses from the song makes you wonder, doesn’t it? Because there’s no verse in the Quran that specifically says music and more precisely in the subject of tattoo, the word “Al-Washm” that’s tattoo for Arabic isn’t mentioned either.
With that said, here’s my detailed research posted on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/B2PVyE6DdIs for your academic information, also explains why tattooing is a cultural thing and not a religious issue.
Also, multiple superstitious issues such as eating in plates made of mud during festivals, using replicas of foreign monuments in processions, and many others, are all linked to culture, and absolutely nothing to do with religion.
However, the reason no one knows about this or don’t understand the difference, is because they don’t read their holy scriptures, they don’t read it in the language they understand, and this is the major issue in almost all religions, not just Islam.