[mikaelluioy]

السلام عليكم و رحمة الله و بركاته و مغفرته

Mutilating the body is subjective isn't it, unless it is explicitly stated in hadeeth like the tattoos. Mutilating the body can be regarded with nose rings and ears too after all you are making holes in your body, what is the difference with the belly button?

If a belly ring is considered mutilating the body then so is an ear ring and a nose ring...

If a belly ring is considered "changing the creation of Allah", then so is an ear ring and a nose ring and most forms of makeup...

If a belly ring is considered "imitating the Kouffar", then so is wearing any type of clothing or a wrist watch or pretty much anything you can think of... What is meant by NOT imitating the Kouffar is for example not to wear crosses, not to wear specific religious clothing they have, or wearing un-Islamic types of clothing that revealed the body parts , and not to celebrate their holidays ect... As for the Sahaba (ra) they used to travel as merchants in non-Muslim lands and they'd wear the clothing of the people of that land, this is not considered imitating Kouffar.