The ruling on tattooing the face and hands after knowing it is forbidden

Question:
The questioner is a woman. She has had tattoos on her face and hands since she was young. These tattoos have remained with her until she learned that they are forbidden. She is now seventy years old. What is the ruling?

Answer:
Tattooing is forbidden; it is a major sin. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) cursed the one who tattoos and the one who gets tattooed. It is one of the practices of the pre-Islamic age of ignorance. A Muslim woman should not engage in it, never. However, if she did it, or if she did it out of ignorance, and then she learned that it is forbidden, if she is able to remove it, she should remove it. If she is unable to remove it, it remains, and she must repent to Allah (Mighty and Majestic). Yes.