Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.  (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

Why is it that it is haram to wear silk clothing.....i understand it may aid in making some people look wealthier than others and thus create a rift between people...and how does this correspond with present time .......ofcourse we as muslims obey all that is written in the quran , i am but a curious muslim....is there no sufficient reason that is known to us followers of islam i am content to remain religious obeying the laws in the quran as they are WRITTEN in the quran and no other reason or excuse is necessary. Nevertheless i would be grateful if someone could help me answer this quesrtion.....one more thing......gold cannot be worn by men it is said, but is this only in prayer or all the time...and are there other metal elements that are not too be worn by men, such as what the arab world regards as white gold...platinum...thank you for your help and guidance 

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Answer:

Why is silk ang gold haraam for men in islam?

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is no one (no idol, no person, no grave, no prophet, no imam, no dai, nobody!) worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

Your Statement: ofcourse we as muslims obey all that is written in the quran.

May Allah Subhanah reward you with the best in this life and in the hereafter, for indeed what you have stated should be the belief of every believer, who sincerely believes in Allah Subhanah and the Last Day. It is obligatory for every true believer, once he has accepted Allah as his Creator, Mohamed (saws) as Allah’s Messenger (saws), and their commands and teachings as The Guidance, to obey and follow every command of Allah and His Messenger (saws) unconditionally.

But, a believer is absolutely allowed to be curious, and try to search for the wisdom behind each command if he wants to… as that will make his faith even stronger, and allow him to follow the guidance of Allah and His Messenger (saws) with conviction and satisfaction. Each and every command of Islam is based on the Perfect Knowledge and Wisdom of Allah Subhanah; and it is absolutely permissible and encouraged in Islam, to search for this wisdom. If one recognizes the wisdom, that is good. But if one does not recognize the wisdom behind ‘a’ command, he must still obey and follow it sincerely, if he indeed believes in Allah and the Last Day; and must be satisfied with the knowledge that no command of Allah and His Messenger (saws) is without wisdom.

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 33 Surah Ahzaab verse 36:It does not behove a believing man and a believing woman that when Allah and His Messenger have given their decision in a matter, they should exercise an option in that matter of theirs. For whoever disobeys Allah and His Messenger, has indeed strayed into manifest error.

Your Question: Why is it that it is haram to wear silk clothing.....

For a believer, who sincerely believes in Allah and the Last Day, it should suffice that wearing both, silk and gold, has been declared ‘haraam’ by the Messenger of Allah (saws) for the believing men, and ‘halaal’ for the believing woman.

Sunan of Abu-Dawood Hadith 4046 Narrated by Ali ibn AbuTalib

The Prophet of Allah (saws) took silk and held it in his right hand, and took gold and held it in his left hand, and said: “both of these are prohibited to the males of my community.”

Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 8.253A Narrated by Al Bara bin Azib

The Messenger of Allah (saws) ordered us to do seven (things): to visit the sick, to follow the funeral processions, to say Tashmit to a sneezer, to help the weak, to help the oppressed ones, to propagate As-Salam (greeting), and to help others to fulfill their oaths (if it is not sinful). He forbade us to drink from silver utensils, to wear gold rings, to ride on silken saddles, to wear silk clothes, Dibaj (thick silk cloth), Qassiy and Istabraq (two kinds of silk).

Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 7.722 Narrated by Ibn Abi Laila

While Hudhaifa was at Al-Madain, he asked for water whereupon the chief of the village brought him water in a silver cup. Hudhaifa threw it at him and said, "I have thrown it only because I have forbidden him to use it, but he does not stop using it. Allah's Apostle (saws) said, 'Gold, silver, silk and Dibaj (a kind of silk) are for them (unbelievers) in this world, and for you (Muslims) in the hereafter.' -

Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 7.537 Narrated by Hudhaifa

The Prophet said, "Do not drink in gold or silver utensils, and do not wear clothes of silk or Dibaj, for these things are for them (unbelievers) in this world, and for you in the Hereafter."

Al-Tirmidhi Hadith 808 Narrated by Abu Musa Ash'ari

The Prophet (saws) said: Wearing silk and gold has been made unlawful for the males of my Ummah and lawful for their females.

The scholars in Islam has given many opinions regarding why gold and silk have been prohibited for the believing males.

Some are of the opinion that the wearing of gold and silk produces arrogance in the wearer, and Allah Subhanah does not love the arrogant people. But some have argued saying, why then allow it for the females, for even they may get arrogant.

Some are also of the opinion that maybe gold and silk when touched to the male skin may produce some sort of reaction or hormonal change in temprement, etc. This has not yet been proven, or disproven, by science… thus until it is proven or disproven, it cannot be accepted as a scientific fact.

Some are of the opinion that wearing gold and silk are feminine in nature; and Islam does not allow men to look like or emulate women, or women to look like or emulate men.

Some have also given their opinion that since Allah has promised the fortunate residents of Paradise the extensive use of gold and silk in the hereafter, they should not seek to collect and adorn themselves with these in this worldly life, but rather, strive for these rewards only for the hereafter!

The Messenger of Allah (saws) himself did not give a reason why it is forbidden, nor are the scholars in consensus in their opinions as to the reason why. In our humble opinion, options 3 and 4 are probably the most acceptable and logical reasons.

Your Question: gold cannot be worn by men it is said, but is this only in prayer or all the time...

The Messenger of Allah (saws) prohibited the wearing of gold for the believing men at all times; in prayer, and, out of prayer.

Your Question: and are there other metal elements that are not too be worn by men, such as what the arab world regards as white gold...platinum...

The Messenger of Allah (saws) specifically prohibited the usage of gold for the believing men. If white gold is the same element as yellow gold (that is symbolized by the symbol ‘Ag’), then it too would be included in the specific prohibition. Platinum is an independent and different metal and element of its own, and is not specifically prohibited. Thus as believers, it should be our faith and belief that only Allah and His Messenger (saws) have a right to declare a thing haraam or halaal.

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your Brother in Islam,

Burhan