بسم الله الرحمن الرحیم
Men are only permitted to wear silver rings. They should consist of less than one mithqāl of silver as mentioned in a ḥadīth (Sunan Abū Dāwūd, 4223; Sunan al-Tirmidhī, 1785; Sunan al-Nasāʾī, 5195; Ṣaḥīḥ Ibn Ḥibbān, 5488; Tuḥfah al-Mulūk, p. 229). One mithqāl is 4.86g (Aḥsan al-Fatāwā, 8: 70).
Other forms of jewellery are not permitted for men, as mentioned by Imam Muḥammad ibn al-Ḥasan al-Shaybānī (d. 189/805) in al-Muwaṭṭaʾ (3: 376[1]; also see Radd al-Muḥtār, 6: 358; Fatāwā Raḥimiyyah, 10: 158). This includes silver and gold chains, gold rings and jewellery from other metals. The Prophet ﷺ said, “Wearing silk and gold are unlawful for the men of my nation, but lawful for the women” (Sunan al-Tirmidhī, 1720). It is the unanimous position of scholars that gold is prohibited for men (Ikmāl al-Muʿlim, 6: 603; Fatḥ al-Bārī, 10: 317). The reasons for the prohibition include imitation with women who beautify themselves with jewellery (Sharḥ Ibn Baṭṭāl, 5: 216; al-Tamhīd, 17: 99).
In relation to silver rings, one should bear in mind that it is preferable for men not to wear them unless there is a need to do so, as the Prophet ﷺ used a ring of silver to stamp his letters. Ḥāfiẓ Ibn Ḥajar al-ʿAsqalānī (d. 852/1449) writes in Fatḥ al-Bārī (10: 325) whilst affirming the permissibility of wearing a silver ring: “Wearing it for a person not in a position of authority [who would require it to stamp] is not desirable, as it is a type of beautification, and it is more appropriate for men to avoid it.” Similarly, Imam Zayn al-Dīn al-Rāzī al-Ḥanafī (d. circa 666/1267-8) writes in Tuḥfah al-Mulūk (p. 229), “And it is preferable for those people besides a judge and a ruler who do not need to stamp to avoid it” (also see Radd al-Muḥtār, 6: 361).
Allah knows best
Yusuf Shabbir
24 Jumādā al-Thāniyah 1427 / 20 July 2006
Footnotes
[1] أخبرنا مالك أخبرنا عبد الله بن دينار عن ابن عمر قال: اتخذ رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم خاتما من ذهب، فقام رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم فقال: إني كنت ألبس هذا الخاتم، فنبذه، وقال: والله لا ألبسه أبدا، قال: فنبذ الناس خواتيمهم، قال محمد: وبهذا نأخذ، لا ينبغي للرجل أن يتختم بذهب ولا حديد ولا صفر ولا يتختم إلا بالفضة، فأما النساء فلا بأس بتختم الذهب لهن، وقال الفقیه أبو اللیث في بستان العارفین: لما جاز للسلطان جاز لغیره ، والمذهب الترک أفضل لغیر القاضي والسلطان۔
