Islam & Gold: Is Gold Haram For Men & Women?


Gold Diamond Bracelet
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Allah is beautiful and loves beauty (source). It is a known fact that Islam praises beauty, and gold is one of the most important items when it comes to that. However, not everything that is beautiful in our eyes, is beautiful for Allah.

That being said we’ve done our research about gold, and we’ll explore in this article, whether gold is permissible or prohibited in Islam, and when you can and can’t wear gold.

In case you wanted a quick summary to the main question of whether gold is haram or not for men and women, here it is!

It is prohibited in Islam to wear gold if you’re a man. The ruling applies to all items that are made in gold, or even plated in gold. It doesn’t matter if the color of the gold or gold item isn’t yellowish, since the ruling applies to gold in all shapes and colors. This is because men wearing gold is seen as an imitation of women.

However, women are allowed to wear gold in Islam. In fact, women can wear gold of all shapes and colors, except for gold items that imitate non-believers like a cross, crucifix, or other items that are for nonbelievers. It’s also prohibited to repair men’s gold watches or men’s gold items of all sorts. The ruling doesn’t apply to women’s gold items, since it is permissible for them to wear gold.

Table of Contents:

1. When is gold prohibited For Muslims?
2. Is White Gold Haram For Men?
3. Are Gold-Plated Accessories (like a watch or chain) Haram?
4. Is Gold Haram or Makruh?
5. Can Men Wear Non-Gold Items That Look Like Gold?
6. Is it Permissible To Repair Gold Watches? 
7. Are Gold Loans Haram in Islam?

When is gold prohibited For Muslims?

Gold is prohibited in Islam for men. Although there aren’t any verses in the Quran that state that gold is haram for men, there are several hadiths that prohibited men from wearing it. (source).

Allah said in the Quran:

What Allah has bestowed on His Messenger (and taken away) from the people of the townships,- belongs to Allah,- to His Messenger and to kindred and orphans, the needy and the wayfarer; In order that it may not (merely) make a circuit between the wealthy among you. So take what the Messenger assigns to you, and deny yourselves that which he withholds from you. And fear Allah; for Allah is strict in Punishment.”

Al-Hashr, 59vs7. (Source).

This means that we as Muslims, are obliged to obey the commandments of the prophet ﷺ, the same way that we follow the commandments of Allah.

In a hadith narrated by Abu Dawud, he said:

I saw the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) holding a piece of gold in his left hand and silk (cloth) in his right hand. Then he said, “These two are forbidden for the males of my Ummah.”

Riyad as-Salihin 806 (Source).

That said, gold is haram for men. However, it’s permissible for women to wear any color or type of gold except for necklaces and other gold items that contain haram references like a crucifix, a cross, or any item that makes women resemble non-believers. (source).

The prophet peace be upon him said: “He is not one of us who imitates people other than us. Do not imitate the Jews and Christians.” (Tirmidhi)

According to another version of the hadith reported by Imam Ahmad: “Whoever imitates a people is one of them.”

Is White Gold Haram For Men

Gold comes in different shapes and colors. For instance, there is white gold and pale gold among others. With the emergence of these new gold colors, there have been questions from Muslims who want to know whether it’s permissible for them to wear white gold or not.

According to Muslim scholars, wearing white gold is haram because the same hukm (ruling) of yellow gold applies to other colors of gold items. However, it is still permissible for women to wear the different colors of gold as they wish (source).

Are Gold-Plated Accessories (like a watch or chain) Haram?

In all the four Madhahhib, wearing gold accessories like a watch, necklace, chain, or any other accessory for women is prohibited for men.

This is because the prophet peace be upon him said that gold is haram, and the hukm applies to anything that is made in gold, whether it is pure gold, or plated in it. Nevertheless, getting a golden tooth is permissible in Islam — even for men —  on the condition that the decision comes from the obligation and not from the desire to boast. (Source).

It is narrated on the authority of Amirul Mu’minin, Abu Hafs ‘Umar bin al-Khattab (ra) who said:

I heard the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) say: “Actions are (judged) by motives (niyyah), so each man will have what he intended. Thus, he whose migration (hijrah) was to Allah and His Messenger, his migration is to Allah and His Messenger; but he whose migration was for some worldly thing he might gain, or for a wife he might marry, his migration is to that for which he migrated.”

[Bukhari & Muslim] (Source).

Why is Gold Haram For Men in Islam? 

According to scholars, gold is haram for men because it’s an item that belongs to women. In other words, some things are destined to men, while Allah destined other things to women only. Since gold is considered an accessory for a woman in Islam, it is not permissible for men to wear it. (Source). The prophet peace be upon him has advised men to not imitate women, and that women shouldn’t imitate men, whether in dressing, walking, talking, or anything else.

Ibn ‘Abbas (May Allah be pleased with them) said: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) cursed those men who are effeminate and women who imitate men.

Another narration is:

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) cursed men who copy women and cursed women who copy men.

[Al-Bukhari]. (Source)

Is Gold Haram or Makruh?

Gold is not only makruh for men but it’s prohibited as the prophet (ﷺ) said in several narrations. Men who wear gold should immediately stop wearing it, do repentance and ask Allah for forgiveness. 

Therefore, Gold for men is Haram.

Can Men Wear Non-Gold Items That Look Like Gold?

It is permissible in Islam to wear a watch that looks like gold but isn’t made or plated in gold (Source).

However, scholars have said that it is better — for men — to not wear items that look like gold in color to avoid that other people think wrong of you.

Nu’man b. Bashir (Allah be pleased with him) reported:

I heard Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) as having said this (and Nu’man) pointed towards his ears with his fingers): “What is lawful is evident and what is unlawful is evident, and in between them are the things doubtful which many people do not know. So he who guards against doubtful things keeps his religion and honor blameless, and he who indulges in doubtful things indulges in fact in unlawful things, just as a shepherd who pastures his animals round a preserve will soon pasture them in it.

Beware, every king has a preserve, and the things God has declared unlawful are His preserves. Beware, in the body there is a piece of flesh; if it is sound, the whole body is sound and if it is corrupt the whole body is corrupt, and hearken it is the heart.

(Source).

Is it Permissible To Repair Gold Watches? 

It is permissible in Islam to repair gold watches for women. However, if the gold watch is for men, then it is prohibited to do so. This is because men who wear gold watches are sinners, and by repairing their watches, you are approving their deeds, which is haram in Islam. Allah said in the Quran (interpretation of verse) that:

“Help you one another in Al‑Birr and At‑Taqwa (virtue, righteousness, and piety); but do not help one another in sin and transgression. And fear Allah. Verily, Allaah is Severe in punishment”

[al-Maa’idah 5:2]

The same ruling applies to repairing watches that are plated, or made of gold — but aren’t pure gold. Still, if they are women’s watches, then it is permissible to repair them (Source).

Are Gold Loans Haram in Islam?

Gold Bar
Photo Courtesy: Michael Mandiberg

It is permissible in Islam to take a secured loan, pledging gold as collateral. If a Muslim person needs money, and he wants to get a loan from another person, he is permitted to take the loan and leave gold to the other person, until he gives him back his money. (Source).

Is It Haram To Take Loans in Gold?

It is permissible in Islam to take a loan in gold. However, when paying back the loan, you should pay back the gold with gold and not money.

Additionally, the gold that you return should have exactly the same weight and the same figure. If, however, you fail to find an exact match to the gold that you borrowed, then it is fairer to return gold that is heavier and better made than the one you borrowed — on the condition that the person who gave you the loan doesn’t oblige you to do that, and you do it voluntarily. (Source).

Amr

I am a Muslim that has been living in North America for more than a decade. I am keen on knowing which foods, lifestyle choices, and financial decisions that are halal or not. I enjoy sharing this information with my readers and do the research myself so that readers don't have to.

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