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:

Assalamoalaikum Burhan Bhai.

I would like to know can one consider the profession of Jewellers (Islamically speaking) to be haram; as they make and sell gold which is haram in Islam for the men folk?

Jazakallah Khair

(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:

Touch sell 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 none 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.”

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 Messenger of Allah (saws) absolutely forbade and declared it ‘haraam’ for the believing males to adorn themselves with gold and silk, but neither ‘gold’ nor ‘silk’ are considered impure substances, nor are they inherently ‘haraam’ products, nor is there is any restriction in Shariah in touching it, or trading in it, or deriving benefit from it. What has been categorically declared as forbidden and ‘haraam’ is for the believing males of the Muslim Ummah to adorn themselves with it.

Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 2.69 Narrated by Abdullah bin Umar

Umar ibn Khattab (r.a.) bought a silk cloak from the market, took it to Allah's Messenger (saws) and said, "O Allah's Messenger (saws)! Take it and adorn yourself with it during the EId and when the delegations visit you." Allah's Messenger (saws) replied, "This dress is for those who have no share (in the Hereafter)." After a long period Allah's Messenger (saws) sent Umar (r.a.) a cloak of silk brocade (as a gift). Hadrat Umar (r.a.) came to Allah's Messenger (saws) with the silk cloak and said, "O Allah's Messenger (saws)! You said that this dress was for those who had no share (in the Hereafter); yet you have sent me this cloak?" The Messenger of Allah (saws) replied: "Sell it and fulfill your needs by it."

In light of the above quoted absolutely clear guidance of the Messenger of Allah (saws) there is absolutely no harm and no restriction in Shariah for the believing males to touch, manufacture, sell and trade in gold or silk products; what is categorically forbidden for the believing males of the Muslim Ummah is to adorn themselves with gold and silk. And Allah Alone Knows Best.

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

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

Burhan