Is it sunnah for men to wear silver rings? Can those who are engaged or who are not married wear rings?

Dear Brother / Sister,

There are different views about wearing rings. According to Hanafi madhhab, silver ring is mubah (permissible) for both men and women. It is haram to wear rings made of bronze, iron, etc. (1) According to Shafii madhhab, it is sunnah to wear a silver ring because the Prophet (pbuh) wore a silver ring. The following is reported from Anas: The Prophet (pbuh) wanted to send letters to the Persian, Byzantine and Abyssinian kings. They said to the Prophet (pbuh), "They do not accept letters without seals." Thereupon, the Prophet (pbuh) had a silver ring made. The following words were engraved on it: "Allah's Messenger Muhammad". (2)

The following is stated in a narration from Abdullah ibn Umar: "The Messenger of Allah had a silver ring and wore it." (Abu Dawud, Khatam 4; Tirmidhi, Libas 43) Besides, the Companions also had silver rings.

The Rightly-Guided Caliphs also had silver rings. The inscription on Hz. Abu Bakr’s ring was "Ni'mal Qadiru Allahu" (Allah is such a nice powerful one): the inscription on Hz. Umar’s ring was "Kafa bil mawti waizan" (Death is enough as a preacher): inscription on Hz. Uthman was "La ta'tabirunna aw latandamunna" (You will either take lessons or regret): the inscription on Hz. Ali was "Al-Mulku lillah" (Everything belongs to Allah).

It is not sunnah to wear a bronze and lead ring. (Mughnil-Muhtaj, I/309)

Footnotes:

1 al-Durr al-Muhtar Vol. 5, p. 229
2 Muslim

(Halil Günenç, Günümüz Meselelerine Fetvalar, 1/130-131)

SILVER

It is permissible by consensus for men to wear silver rings. Abdullah Ibn Umar said, ‘The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) had a silver ring made.’  He wore it. Then, it was transferred to Abu Bakr, then to Umar and them to Uthman. It fell into the Well of Aris during the caliphate of Uthman. Muhammadurrasulullah was written on it (Muslim, Libas, 54).

Ibn Umar also said, ‘The Prophet had a golden ring made. Then, he left it. After that, he had a silver ring made and had “Muhammadurrasulullah” engraved on it. He said, ‘No one should engrave anything like the engraving of this signet ring of mine.’ When he wore it, he would keep its stone towards the inside of his palm. That was ring that fell down from the hands of Mu'ayqib into the well of Aris. (Muslim, Libas, 55).

The Prophet used his silver ring also as a seal. Anas b. Malik narrates: The Prophet (pbuh) wanted to send letters to the Persian, Byzantine and Abyssinian kings to call them to believe. They said to the Prophet (pbuh), "They do not accept letters without seals." Thereupon, the Prophet (pbuh) had a silver ring made. He had "Muhammadurrasulullah" engraved on it. (Muslim, Libas, 58)

Scholars say the stone of the ring of the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) was from onyx or eye bead. (Both of them are extracted in Abyssinia and Yemen). He sometimes wore a ring with a black stone. Besides, the Prophet sometimes wore the ring on the little finger of his right hand and sometimes left hand. When he wore it, he would keep its stone towards the inside of his palm. Anas b. Malik narrates: The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) wore a silver ring on his right hand. There was a stone from Abyssinia on it. He would keep its stone towards the inside of his palm (Muslim, Libas, 62). In another narration, he pointed to the little finger of his left hand and said, “The ring of the Prophet (pbuh) was on this finger." (Muslim, Libas, 63)

There are views stating that it is makruh to wear rings on some fingers but they can be worn on any fingers of either hands. However, it is Sunnah to wear it on the little finger. (Ibn Abidin, Raddul-Muhtar, Ist. 1233, V, 316; Kamil Miras, Tajrid Translation, XII, 108).

Khattabi says wearing a silver ring is a principle belonging to men and hence it is makruh for women; however, Nawawi does not accept it says, "What Khattabi says is weak and wrong; it is not true; what is true is that it is not makruh for women to wear silver rings." (Davudoğlu, Sahih-i Müslim Tercüme ve Şerhi, IX, 457)

The explanation in fiqh books regarding the issue is generally as follows: It is permissible for women and men to wear silver rings. It is sunnah for qadis, sultans and other people that need it. (In the past, rings were used as seals.) It is more virtuous for those who do not need it not to wear it. It is sunnah for the ring to weigh one mithqal or less and it is sunnah for men to keep the stone toward the inside of the palm. Women do not do like that because rings are adornment for them, but not for men. It is permissible to have onyx, ruby and other precious gems as the stone of the ring and to have one’s name or Allah's name inscribed on it. However, if Allah's name is inscribed on the ring, it is necessary to remove it or to wear it on the right hand while going to the toilet. (see Abdullah b. Mahmud, al-Ikhtiyar, IV,159; see Davudoğlu, ibid, IX, 457, quoted from Ayni)

The Rightly-Guided Caliphs also had silver rings. They had the following inscriptions on them: Hz. Abu Bakr: Allah is such a nice powerful one: Hz. Umar: Death is enough as a preacher. Hz. Uthman: You will either show patience in the face of misfortunes or regret. Hz. Ali: Everything belongs to Allah.

Imam Abu Hanifa: Speak good or keep silent. Imam Abu Yusuf: He who acts based on his feelings will regret. Imam Muhammad: He who shows patience attains victory. (see Kâmil Miras, Tecrîd-i Sarîh Tercemesi ve Şerhi, IV,288).

Abdulkerim ÜNALAN

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