[Q 238] Is It Disliked or Prohibited for Men to Wear Silver Rings on the Index and Middle Fingers?

Question

Please could you confirm if wearing silver ring (for men) on the index and middle fingers is makruh or haraam?

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

الجواب بعون الملك الوهاب اللهم هداية الحق والصواب

Answer

As per the Shari’ah, the type of ring that men are allowed to wear can be worn on either the right or the left hand. However It is better to wear it on the smallest finger or the one next to it. Wearing it on the index finger and the middle finger has been prohibited in a Hadith. This is considered makruh tanzihi, meaning it is not haram or a sin, but it should be avoided.

Hazrat Ali (رضي الله تعالى عنه) states: “The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) forbade me from placing my ring on these two fingers (– the index and the one next to it.)”

(Sahih Muslim, Hadith No. 2078)

The words of Tirmidhi are: “The Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) forbade me from wearing my ring on these two fingers,” indicating the index and middle fingers.

(Sunan Tirmidhi, Hadith No. 1786)

It is affirmed in Mirqat Sharh Mishkat that it is recommended to wear the ring on the pinky finger, and this is the position of the Shafi’i and Hanafi scholars as mentioned by Mirak. It is apparent from analogy that wearing it on the thumb and the ring finger is prohibited for men but not for women. Al-Nawawi said that it is Makruh Tanzihi (disliked) for a man to wear a ring on the middle finger and the one next to it, whereas a woman may wear rings on all fingers. (Reported by Muslim)

Mufti Ahmad Yaar Khan Naeemi (رحمۃ الله علیه) writes in the explanation of Mishkat:

“For women, it is permissible to wear a ring on any finger, but men are forbidden to wear it on three fingers: the thumb, the index finger, and the middle finger. It is recommended for men to wear rings on two fingers: the pinky and its adjacent finger.”

(Mirat al-Manajih, Vol. 6)

In Bahar-e-Shariat, it is stated: “One may wear a ring on either the right or the left hand, and it should preferably be worn on the pinky finger.”

(Bahar-e-Shariat, Vol. 3, Page 427)

Answered by: Mufti Sajid Attari

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