Question:

It was narrated from ‘Abd-Allah ibn Buraydah from his father (may Allah be pleased with them both) that a man came to the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) and he was wearing a ring of gold. He said: “Why do I detect the stench of idols on you?” So he threw it away. Then he came and he was wearing a ring of iron, and he said: “Why do I see you wearing the jewellery of the people of Hell?” So he threw it away. He said: O Messenger of Allah, of what should I wear (a ring)? He said: “Wear (a ring) of silver, but no more than a mithqal (a measure of weight).” Narrated by Abu Dawood, al-Tirmidhi and al-Nasai. Al-Tirmidhi said: This is a ghareeb (strange) hadeeh.

Asalamu Alikum, my question is regarding this Hadith above. The following are my questions:

1. Is it haram to wear any jewelry made of any metal other than silver and gold for women? If so then does it mean for all types of jewelry (such as bracelets, necklaces, headwear jewelry etc.) or just rings? Also does it include like safety pins that one puts on their hijab, or clothing that have metal in them?

2. If it is haram, then do we have to only wear pure (as in 100%) silver and gold metal jewelry or can we wear ring and other jewelry that have some percent of other metals in them? For instance, 925 sliver ring or sterling sliver, that have 90 something percent of actual silver and rest is copper or other metals.

Answer:

The scholars differed in regards to a man or woman wearing rings made of iron or copper. One group of scholars deem it impermissible using the Hadith of Buraydah (may Allah be pleased with him) that you cited in the question. Another group of scholars say that it is only disliked for men and women to wear rings made of iron or copper and that the hadith of Buraydah does not show prohibition, but instead dislike.

The strongest position appears to be that it is only disliked to wear rings made of iron and copper for both men and women. This is the reliable opinion in the Maliki mathhab, the Shafi’i mathhab, and the Hanbali mathhab [See: al-Mowsoo’ah al-Fiqhiyyah al-Kuwaitiyyah (12/22)]. It is also the view of Shaikh Bin Baz [See: Fataawa Noor ‘ala ad-Darb (7/289)], Shaikh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen [See: Fataawa Noor ‘ala ad-Darb (11/57)], and the Permanent Committee [See: Fataawa al-Lajnah ad-Daa’imah-First Group (24/64)]

Some of the proofs and rationale for their position is as follows:

Some scholars mention that the Hadith of Buraydah is weak and hence cannot be used as evidence [See: Daif Sunan Abi Dawood (no. 4223)]. However, there is another narration similar to it which Shaikh al-Albani graded as Hasan [See: Saheeh Adab al-Mufrad (no. 1021)]. They argue that the Hadith of Burdayah opposes the Hadith of Sahl bin Sa’ad in which the Prophet (ﷺ) told one Sahabah] to find an iron ring as a mahr [See: Saheeh al-Bukhari (no. 5132)]. And so, the Hadith of Buraydah shows it is disliked to wear an iron/copper ring, but not prohibited as the Prophet (ﷺ) would not recommend something prohibited [See: al-Majmoo’ (4/465)]

Some scholars argue that wearing an iron/copper ring is not prohibited altogether, but only a ring made of pure iron. This is because the Prophet (ﷺ) himself had a ring made of iron mixed with silver.

Iyas bin Al-Harith bin Al-Mu’aiqib narrated that his grandfather Mu’aiqib said: “The ring of the Prophet (ﷺ) was made of iron with silver twisted around it.” He said: “And sometimes it was on my hand.” And Mu’aiqib was the keeper of the ring of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ)” [Saheeh an-Nasaai (no. 5212)]

Hafidh Ibn Rajab (d. 795 H.), may Allah have mercy upon him, summarized the entire issue nicely writing: “What is correct is that it is not prohibited and the Ahaadith regarding it (i.e. the prohibition of wearing an iron ring) are not free from speech about its authenticity, and they oppose what is more authentic like the Hadith in the two Saheehs in which the Prophet (ﷺ) told the man proposing to the one who presented herself for marriage: “Look for something even if it is an iron ring” [Cited by Shaikh al-Itiyoopi in Sharh an-Nasaai (38/284)]

In sum, wearing rings made of iron, brass, and copper is permissible, but disliked. A woman is allowed to wear jewelry made of these metals whether that be rings, necklaces, clips etc. It is also permissible to wear such metals if they are mixed with gold and silver. Added to this, the scholars unanimously agree that it is allowed for a woman to wear precious metals and stones that are not gold and silver, such as diamonds, pearls, etc. [See: al-‘Iqnaa’ fi Masaa’il al- ‘Ijmaa’ (2/301) of Ibn al-Qattan].

And Allah knows best

Faisal bin Abdul Qaadir bin Hassan
Abu Sulaymaan