Pakistani TikToker and YouTuber Rajab Butt has once again ignited controversy — this time over a tattoo of his mother’s face inked on his forearm, a gesture he described as a “symbol of eternal love,” but which has stirred outrage across religious circles and social media platforms alike.
In a recent vlog from Dubai, where Rajab Butt currently resides amid unresolved legal issues in Pakistan, he unveiled the tattoo and explained the motivation behind it.
“I love my mother the most and I always wanted to have her picture placed on my body,” Butt shared, calling it a deeply personal expression.
However, what was meant to be a touching tribute has backfired. The tattoo, his second, has drawn widespread criticism, with many citing that tattoos are considered haram (forbidden) in Islam. Critics accused Rajab Butt of glamorizing prohibited practices and misguiding his younger followers under the banner of filial devotion.
Even more surprising, his mother herself was not supportive of the gesture. In a follow-up vlog, Butt admitted:
“My mother isn’t happy about it. She asked me why I chose this way to show love. She said love should be in actions, not in tattoos.”
The admission has further fueled online condemnation.
“Loving your mother is a noble act,” one social media user wrote, “but doing so through something clearly forbidden confuses and misleads the youth.”
In response to the backlash, Butt defended his choice, claiming that some Islamic scholars have differing views on tattoos, and dismissing criticism by stating:
“If anyone thinks it’s not Islamic, they shouldn’t follow me.”
