Q: Please send me a copy of the hadith which states that women cannot wear 9 carat gold rings or rings that are not made of gold.
A: I have enclosed several hadith on the topic of metal rings. Remember that 9 carat gold is an alloy, so it also falls under metal. Therefore, to prove that 9 carat rings are not permissible we simply cite the hadith that prohibits the wearing of metal rings.
1) Amar bin Shuaib narrates from his father, who narrates from his grandfather that a man sat in the company of Rasoolullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) wearing a gold ring. The Messenger of Allah turned away from this person (to express his displeasure). Then he wore a ring made from metal The Messenger of Allah (Salutations be upon him) remarked: “This is the adornment of the inmates of Hell!” The man went back and returned wearing a silver ring. Upon this the Messenger of Allah remained silent (thus giving his tacit approval).
This hadith has been narrated by Imam Tahaawi in his book, Ma-aanil Aathaar.
2) Imam Ahmad bin Hambal in his Musnad narrates through a similar chain that The Messenger of Allah (Sallallahu alayhi wasallam) saw one of his Sahaaba wearing a gold ring, so he turned his back on him (out of displeasure). The Sahaabi then discarded the gold ring and wore a metal or iron ring instead. Upon this the Messenger of Allah remarked: “This is worse. This is the jewellery of the People of Hell-Fire!” The man discarded this, too, and replaced it with a silver ring. The Noble Messenger of Allah this time remained silent.
3) Imam Ahmad bin Hambal also narrates from Abdullah bin Mu’ammal, who narrates from Ibn Abi Mulaikah, and he from Abdullah bin Amar (radhiyallahu anhu) that he (the latter) once wore a gold ring. Rasoolullah (Sallallahu alayhi wasallam) looked at it with displeasure. Abdullah bin Amar threw away this ring and adopted a metal ring. The Messenger of Allah remarked: “This is worse and even worse!” Abdullah threw this away as well and wore a silver ring. Upon this The Noble Messenger of Allah remained silent.
4) Imam Ahmad bin Hambal also narrates from Ammar bin Abu Ammar, that Hazrat Umar bin Khattab (radhiyallahu anhu) said that one day Rasoolullah (Sallallahu alayhi wasallam) saw on the finger of someone a gold ring. He commanded him to remove it immediately. The man then wore a metal ring, to which the Messenger of Allah remarked: “This is worse than the first!” He then wore a silver ring, upon which The Rasool of Allah remained silent.
5) Imam Nasaai and Abu Dawood record the following hadith in their books: Buraidah (radhiyallahu anhu) narrates that a man came to the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) wearing an iron ring. The Messenger of Allah remarked: “Why do I see on you ornaments of the people of Hell?” The man then discarded this ring. After some time he again came into the presence of Rasoolullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam), this time wearing a ring made of copper. Upon noticing this the Messenger of Allah exclaimed: “Why do I get the smell of idols on you?” The man dsicarded that ring, too. He then said: “O Messenger of Allah! What type of ring should I wear?” The Messenger of Allah replied: “Wear a ring of silver but let it not amount to a complete mithqaal (approx. 4,374 grams).”
This hadith has also been ratified by Imam Ibni Habban, who records it in his As-Saheeh.
6) Abdullah bin Amar narrates that undoubtedly the Messenger of Allah had forbidden the wearing of gold and iron rings. (Narrated by Tibraani and all the narrators are reliable – Haitami in Majm’uz-Zawaa id.)
7) A man came to the Messenger of Allah (Sallallahu alaihi wasallam) wearing a metal ring. The Noble Messenger remarked: “May Allah not cleanse that hand which has a metal ring.” (Tibraani – with a chain of reliable narrators)
8) Thauban (radhiyallahu anhu) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (Sallallahu alaihi wasallam) passed by one of his companions who had on a finger ring made from brass. The Messenger of Allah enquired: “What’s the reason for this?” He replied: ‘I am wearing this to alleviate a pain in my shoulder.’ The Messenger of Allah (Sallallahu alaihi wasallam) said: “Take it off.” (Tibrani) In a similar hadith narrated by Abu Umaama (radhiyallahu anhu) the Messenger of Allah is reported to have told this Sahaabi: “This ring only serves to increase pain. Remove it.” (Tibraani)
9) After narrating some of the above ahadeeth, Imam Muhammed bin Hasan As-Shaybani (of the Hanafi Scholars) states in his book Kitabul-Aathaar: We do not approve of rings made from gold or metal, except silver for men. As for women, they are allowed to wear gold. And this is the view of Abu Hanifa as well. He also states in another work on hadith, Al-Muatta (similar to the work of Imam Malik bin Anas): It is not permissible for men to wear rings of gold, steel, copper, brass, etc, except rings made of silver.
From all the above narrations, which are authentic and reliable, and tenable as evidence for practice, it is established that rings of gold and metal have been forbidden for menfolk by the Messenger of Allah, while silver rings were permitted.
And Allah knows best
Mufti Siraj Desai