What is the ruling on the permanent electronic tattoo – which contains an electronic chip or a barcode and is used for protection, like a fingerprint or an eye scan – when there is a need for it?

Electronic tattoos are flexible electronic devices placed on the skin to measure the body's electrical activity, helping doctors diagnose and monitor symptoms.

Their ruling is as follows: 1. If the purpose is to obtain various tattoo designs, it is forbidden (haram). 2. If the purpose is to monitor the patient's condition out of necessity, then it falls under the category of treatment and medication, and there is no objection (haraj) to it.

Ahmad and Abu Dawud narrated from Ibn Mas'ud that the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, "forbade the namisah (plucker of hair), the washirah (tooth filer), the wasilah (hair extender), and the washimah (tattooist), except for an illness."

Al-Shawkani said: "His statement: '(except for an illness)' its apparent meaning is that the aforementioned prohibition applies only when the intention is for beautification, not for an illness or ailment, in which case it is not forbidden."

Therefore, the therapeutic purpose does not fall under the prohibited tattoo, and its use is permissible provided there is no harm.