Question:
Assalamualaikum. What is the real ruling of men wearing bracelet? I once heard an ustaz said that there is an opinion from scholars which stated that it is makruh (undesirable) and not haram. Hope for an explanation.
Answer:
Waalaikumussalam.
Alhamdulillah, praise and thanks to Allah for the countless blessings He has blessed us all with. Blessings and salutations to the Prophet Muhammad PBUH, his wives, his family, companions and all those that follow his teachings to the day of judgement.
The Prohibition Against Resembling the Opposite Gender
From Abu Hurairah RA:
أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ لَعَنَ الرَّجُلَ يَلْبَسُ لُبْسَةَ الْمَرْأَةِ، وَالْمَرْأَةَ تَلْبَسُ لُبْسَةَ الرَّجُلِ
“The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) cursed the man who dressed like a woman and the woman who dressed like a man.”
Sahih al-Bukhari (5435) and Musnad Ahmad (8309)
Syeikh Badr al-Din al-‘Aini commented on this hadith saying:
وتشبه الرِّجَال بِالنسَاء فِي اللبَاس والزينة الَّتِي تخْتَص بِالنسَاء مثل لبس المقانع والقلائد والمخانق والأسورة والخلاخل والقرط
“(This curse) is on the acts of a man resembling a woman in terms of clothing and adornments especially head covering, necklace, bracelet, anklet and earrings.” (Refer ‘Umdah Al-Qari, Al-‘Aini 22/41)
It is clear in this hadith that it is haram for a person to wear or adorn with what is specific for the opposite gender.
It is stated in al-Mausu’ah al-Fiqhiyyah, there is no khilaf (difference of opinions among scholars) among the jurists on the prohibition of a man resembling a woman in terms of the body movements, mellowness of words, adornments and clothing and others which is specific for a woman in terms of the custom and naturally. (Refer Al-Mausu’ah al-Fiqhiyyah al-Kuwaitiyyah 11/267)
The Ruling of Men Wearing Bracelet
There is a narration from ‘Imran bin Husain RA, one day the Prophet PBUH saw a man wearing bracelet on his hands. Then the Prophet PBUH said:
مَا هَذِهِ الْحَلْقَةُ " . قَالَ هَذِهِ مِنَ الْوَاهِنَةِ . قَالَ " انْزِعْهَا فَإِنَّهَا لاَ تَزِيدُكَ إِلاَّ وَهْنًا
“What is this wrislet?” He said: “It is for Wahinah.” He said: “Take it off, for it will only increase you in weakness.”
Sunan Ibn Majah (3531)
Thus, it is clear from the above hadith where the Prophet PBUH instructed to remove a bracelet worn with the purpose and belief that it can cure or protect someone for it does not benefit nor prevent harm.
Imam al-Nawawi said the majority of scholars stated that it is haram for men to wear bracelet. There are also opinions from some scholars such as Imam al-Ghazali who issued a fatwa on the permissibility of silver bracelet, for there is only evidence on the prohibition of silver food container and the prohibition of woman resembling man. However, the more sahih opinion is the opinion of the majority of scholars which states that it is haram for men to wear bracelet.
Syeikh Zakariyyah al-Ansari stated that it is permissible for a man to wear a silver ring to follow (ittiba’) the prophet PBUH, it is even sunnah, however, men are impermissible to wear bracelet (al-siwar) and it is impermissible for him, even if the bracelet is made of silver. The reason is wearing silver has feminine elements and it is not suitable nor it is becoming with the attributes of a man. (Refer Fatawa Hujjah al-Islam Abu Hamid al-Ghazali, pg. 30; Al-Majmu’ Syarh al-Muhazzab 4/444 and Asna Al-Matolib 1/379)
Ibnu Hajar al-Haitami stated that among the forms of resembling women is wearing adornments specific and customary for them such as bracelet and anklets, while wearing a ring is permissible for men. (Refer Al-Fatawa Al-Fiqhiyyah Al-Kubra, 1/261)
This is agreed by jurists of madhhab Hanafi where Imam Kamaluddin Ibn al-Hammam clearly said that it is impermissible for man to wear silver adornments except ring and al-mantiqah (belt) and adornments on a sword. The same opinion is stated by imam Ibn Qudamah al-Hanbali (Refer Syarh Fath al-Qadir 22/180 and al-‘Umdah fi al-Fiqh 1/37)
Conclusion
In short, the majority of scholars ruled it haram for a man to wear bracelet which represents the four main madhhabs in fiqh Islami and the opinion which ruled it permissible is irregular.
However, in this issue there are several exceptions issued by the Mufti’ Office of the state of Malacca and Negeri Sembilan on the permissibility of wearing bracelet or wristlet for men for medical or treatment purposes according to the necessity according to the conditions:
- It is not made of gold, silver, suasa (a mixture of copper and gold) or silk (for men).
- There is no element of najis in it.
- It is not believed that by wearing the bracelet it could cure a certain illness for there is concern that it could lead to a person believing in superstitions that could affect his aqidah (faith).
- It does not have any negative effects on the wearer.
- It is certified by a Muslim medical expert to have been scientifically proven to be effective in medical treatments.
Furthermore, its ruling cannot be analogically deduced to be the same as wearing a watch for both its characteristics are different from each other and customarily accepted by the Muslim society that it is worn by both man and woman.
Wallahua’lam.