Why White Gold is Not Haram For Men in Islam
C.J Ahmed-07.05.2023
White gold is a mixed metal consisting about 75% Gold an the rest are other metals such as nickel and zinc. This kind of gold is not haram in Islam because it is of mixed gold and not pure gold itself.
A fatwa was issued prohibiting white gold stting that is is also gold but I fully disagree with them. The fatwa is as follows,
“If the situation is as described, the gold which is mixed with other metals still comes under the ruling that it is haram to differentiate in weight or measure when selling it for gold of the same type, and the exchange must be completed in one sitting, whether it is sold for gold of the same type or for silver or cash. It is haram for men to wear it, and it is haram to make vessels out of it. Calling it white gold does not change these rulings.” (Fatawa al-Lajnah al-Daimah, 24:60)
Hadiths Proving That Wearing Gold is Not Haram For Men
Gold although is generally considered to be forbidden for men, still wearing gold in smaller amounts is not haram due to the below hadiths,
Mu'awiya said “God’s messenger forbade riding on panther-skins and wearing gold, except in small pieces.” (Abu Dawud and Nasai-Graded Sahih by Albani)
In another hadith a companion had a golden cup with him and the prophet (al) did not forbid keeping the gold cup.
Narrated Abdullah Ibn Abbas:
A man from Banu Sahm went out with Tamim ad-Dari and Adi ibn Badda'. The man of Banu Sahm died in the land where no Muslim was present. When they returned with his inheritance, they (the heirs) did not find a silver cup with lines of gold (in his property). The Messenger of Allah (sal) administered on oath to them. The cup was then found (with someone) at Mecca. They said: We have bought it from Tamim and Adi.
Then two men from the heirs of the man of Banu Sahm got up and swore saying: Our witness is more reliable than their witness. They said that the cup belonged to their man.
He (Ibn Abbas) said: The following verse was revealed about them: "O ye who believe! when death approaches any of you....." (Bukhari)
Hadiths Which Prohibit Men From Wearing Gold
There are hadiths which forbid men from wearing gold.
Narrated Abu Huraira:
The Prophet (sal) forbade the wearing of a gold ring.(Bukhari)
Narrated Hudhaifa:
The Prophet (sal) said, "Do not drink in gold or silver utensils, and do not wear clothes of silk or Dibaj, for these things are for them (unbelievers) in this world and for you in the Hereafter."(Bukhari)
Even if we agree for the sake of argument that wearing gold is haram for men, still it is allowed under necessity.
Urfujah ibn As‘ad (may Allah be pleased with him) who said: My nose was cut off on the day of (the battle of) al-Kulaab during the Jaahiliyyah, so I had a nose made of silver, but it began to smell bad, so the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) told me to get a nose made of gold.
(Tirmidhi-Graded Sahih by al-Albani)
Ali (rali) reported: I saw the Messenger of Allah (sal) taking silk in his right hand and gold in his left hand and then he said: "These two are forbidden for the males of my Ummah." Abu Mūsa al-Ash‘ari (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: ''Wearing silk and gold is forbidden for the males of my Ummah and is allowed for their females.''(Sunan Ibn Majah – Graded Sahih by Ibn Majah)
Narrated Abu Musa Al-Ash'ari:
That the Messenger of Allah (sal) said: "Wearing silk and gold has made unlawful for the males of my Ummah and lawful for its females” (Tirmidhi-Graded Hasan Sahih by Imam Tirmidhi)
From the above evidence from the sunnah , it is clear that wearing white gold is ot haram for men.
White gold is a mixed metal consisting about 75% Gold an the rest are other metals such as nickel and zinc. This kind of gold is not haram in Islam because it is of mixed gold and not pure gold itself.
A fatwa was issued prohibiting white gold stting that is is also gold but I fully disagree with them. The fatwa is as follows,
“If the situation is as described, the gold which is mixed with other metals still comes under the ruling that it is haram to differentiate in weight or measure when selling it for gold of the same type, and the exchange must be completed in one sitting, whether it is sold for gold of the same type or for silver or cash. It is haram for men to wear it, and it is haram to make vessels out of it. Calling it white gold does not change these rulings.” (Fatawa al-Lajnah al-Daimah, 24:60)
Hadiths Proving That Wearing Gold is Not Haram For Men
Gold although is generally considered to be forbidden for men, still wearing gold in smaller amounts is not haram due to the below hadiths,
Mu'awiya said “God’s messenger forbade riding on panther-skins and wearing gold, except in small pieces.” (Abu Dawud and Nasai-Graded Sahih by Albani)
In another hadith a companion had a golden cup with him and the prophet (al) did not forbid keeping the gold cup.
Narrated Abdullah Ibn Abbas:
A man from Banu Sahm went out with Tamim ad-Dari and Adi ibn Badda'. The man of Banu Sahm died in the land where no Muslim was present. When they returned with his inheritance, they (the heirs) did not find a silver cup with lines of gold (in his property). The Messenger of Allah (sal) administered on oath to them. The cup was then found (with someone) at Mecca. They said: We have bought it from Tamim and Adi.
Then two men from the heirs of the man of Banu Sahm got up and swore saying: Our witness is more reliable than their witness. They said that the cup belonged to their man.
He (Ibn Abbas) said: The following verse was revealed about them: "O ye who believe! when death approaches any of you....." (Bukhari)
Hadiths Which Prohibit Men From Wearing Gold
There are hadiths which forbid men from wearing gold.
Narrated Abu Huraira:
The Prophet (sal) forbade the wearing of a gold ring.(Bukhari)
Narrated Hudhaifa:
The Prophet (sal) said, "Do not drink in gold or silver utensils, and do not wear clothes of silk or Dibaj, for these things are for them (unbelievers) in this world and for you in the Hereafter."(Bukhari)
Even if we agree for the sake of argument that wearing gold is haram for men, still it is allowed under necessity.
Urfujah ibn As‘ad (may Allah be pleased with him) who said: My nose was cut off on the day of (the battle of) al-Kulaab during the Jaahiliyyah, so I had a nose made of silver, but it began to smell bad, so the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) told me to get a nose made of gold.
(Tirmidhi-Graded Sahih by al-Albani)
Ali (rali) reported: I saw the Messenger of Allah (sal) taking silk in his right hand and gold in his left hand and then he said: "These two are forbidden for the males of my Ummah." Abu Mūsa al-Ash‘ari (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: ''Wearing silk and gold is forbidden for the males of my Ummah and is allowed for their females.''(Sunan Ibn Majah – Graded Sahih by Ibn Majah)
Narrated Abu Musa Al-Ash'ari:
That the Messenger of Allah (sal) said: "Wearing silk and gold has made unlawful for the males of my Ummah and lawful for its females” (Tirmidhi-Graded Hasan Sahih by Imam Tirmidhi)
From the above evidence from the sunnah , it is clear that wearing white gold is ot haram for men.