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:

i want know about Hadits why a man cant use gold and silk?
kindly explain with proper hadith?

thanks & regards

Zaki 

(There may be some grammatical and spelling errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in confidentiality.)

Answer:

Why no gold and silk

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.

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 Prophet (saws) did not specifically mention the reasons why gold and silk are prohibited for the males of the Islamic community, but many eminent scholars in Islam have given several opinions in their search for the wisdom and ‘hikmah’ behind this prohibition.

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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!
4. 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.

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 1, 2 and 3 are probably the most acceptable and logical reasons.

For a believer who believes sincerely in Allah and His Messenger (saws), and truly fears the Last Day, one reason alone is more than enough for why the believing men can’t wear gold ornaments or adorn themselves with silk clothes; and that reason is because the Messenger of Allah (saws) himself prohibited them from doing so.

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.

If one trusts, obeys, and follows the guidance and commands of Allah and His Messenger (saws), he can be assured of never ever being misled; but if one believes, obeys and follows any other guidance, other than that of Allah and His Messenger (saws), he can be assured of being led astray.

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 and well wisher in Islam,

Burhan