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:

Salam Salikum Bro.

My name is Siraj.I am a new user of this system. I leave in the United Kingdon now. See I have a got a question. I really need evidence from the Shariah about men putting on chains ( necklaces) ; not gold necklaces. Also I would like to know about the ear rings, both that pierce through the skins and those that just hang out side the ear. Thank you very much.

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Answer:

Can men wear jewellery?

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.

Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 2.529 Narrated by Ibn Abbas

I am a witness that the Messenger of Allah (saws) offered the Id prayer before delivering the sermon and then he thought that the women would not be able to hear him (because of the distance), so he went to them along with Bilal who was spreading his garment. The Prophet (saws) advised and ordered them to give in charity. So the women started giving their ornaments (in charity). (The sub-narrator Aiyub pointed towards his ears and neck meaning that they gave ornaments from those places such as earrings and necklaces.)

Sunan of Abu-Dawood Hadith 4223 Narrated by Aisha, Ummul Mu'minin

The Prophet (saws) got some ornaments presented by Negus as a gift to him. They contained a gold ring with an Abyssinian stone. The Messenger of Allah (saws) turning his attention from it, took it by means of a stick or his finger, then called Umamah, daughter of Abul'As and daughter of his daughter Zaynab, and said: “Wear it, my dear daughter.”

Although nothing specific is mentioned in the Quran and Sunnah regarding the forbiddance of men wearing ornaments, wearing ornaments was and is generally associated with the nature of women. Wearing necklaces or pierced or non-pierced earrings is a norm and nature of the woman, and it does not behove a believing man to do something that is specific to the nature of woman, nor does it behove a believing woman to do something that is specific to the nature of man.

Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 8.820 Narrated by Ibn Abbas

The Messenger of Allah (saws) invoked the curse of Allah on men who imitate women, and those women who assume the similitude of men.

Besides, it is not the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah (saws) to wear necklaces and earrings, nor did any of his noble companions or male members of his household ever wear any jewelry. But today, one sees a lot of male rock stars, or male movie stars, or male sport stars, etc. sporting necklaces, earrings, and wearing other jewelry. Thus if one wants to wear jewelry today, it is obvious that his example and role model is not the Messenger of Allah (saws) or his noble companions, but the stars and icons of the fashion, music and movie world of today! Men wearing necklaces and earrings might be a norm of the disbelievers and ungodly people; it is definitely not the norm of the pious believers.

Al-Tirmidhi Hadith 4649 Narrated by Abdullah ibn Amr ibn al-'As

The Messenger of Allah (saws) said, "He does not belong to us, who imitates other people.”

Sunan of Abu-Dawood Hadith 4020 Narrated by Abdullah ibn Umar

The Prophet (saws) said: “He who imitates any people, is one of them.”

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