Question:
I want to ask about the ruling for someone that wears a ring with the word Allah and Muhammad Rasulullah to restrooms?
Answer:
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 family, companions and all those that follow his teachings to the day of judgement.
Before we give an answer regarding this issue, we would like to explain the ruling of wearing rings in general first. The reason is the ruling of wearing rings changes depending to who is the wearer or the type of ring he is wearing. Here, we detail this issue as follows:
The Ruling of Wearing Gold Ring
The ruling for wearing gold rings are different for a man and a woman. This is due to the fact that there is a prophetic prohibition from a hadith from the Prophet PBUH for men to wear gold rings. From Saidina Abi Thalib RA, “The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) took hold of some silk in his left hand and some gold in his right, then he raised his hands and said:
إِنَّ هَذَيْنِ حَرَامٌ عَلَى ذُكُورِ أُمَّتِي حِلٌّ لإِنَاثِهِمْ
‘These two are forbidden for the males of my nation, and permitted to the females.’”
Sunan Ibn Majah (3595)
Imam al-Nawawi Rahimahullah said: “Islamic scholars have reached a consensus regarding the permissibility for women to wear gold rings and that it is prohibited for men to wear it.” See Al-Minhaj Syarah Sahih Muslim Ibn Al-Hajjaj, Imam Al-Nawawi (14/65).
Thus, from the above discussion, we state that it is prohibited for men to wear gold rings and it is permissible for women.
The Ruling of Wearing Silver Ring
Regarding this issue, the scholars have differing opinions on it depending on the wearer of the ring. The scholars have agreed that it is permissible for women to wear a silver ring, but for men, their opinions are as follow:
First: The jurists of mazhab Hanafi state that wearing a silver ring is permissible for anyone that has a need for it, for example, the Sultan (ruler) or Qadhi (judge). However, if it is not a necessity for him, then he should leave it (it is prioritized for him not to wear it). See Al-Binayah Syarah Al-Hidayah, Badruddin Al-‘Aini (11/133).
Second: Jurists from mazhab Maliki hold the opinion that it is permissible for a man to wear a silver ring if his intention is to emulate the Prophet PBUH. This is stated by Syeikh Muhammad bin Ahmad: “It is permissible for a man that has reached puberty to wear a silver ring if his intention is to emulate the Prophet PBUH.” See Manh al-Jalil Syarah Mukhtasar Khalil, Muhammad ‘Alisyh (1/58).
Third: Syafie scholars ruled it as follows: “It is sunnah for a man to wear a silver ring, whether he is a man of authority or not.” Refer Mughni Al-Muhtaj, Al-Khatib Al-Syarbini (1/579).
Fourth: Imam al-Mawardi states the opinion of scholars from mazhab Hanbali: “Wearing silver for men is permissible according to the strongest and sound opinion of the majority of our ashab (Hanabilah jurists).” Refer Al-Insaf, Al-Mardawi (3/142).
According to the above statements of scholars from the four mazhab, it is clear that it is ruled permissible for men to wear silver rings.
The Ruling of Wearing Ring with the Word Allah and Muhammad
Regarding this issue, we refer to the prophetic evidence from the Prophet PBUH in a hadith from Saidina Anas bin Malik RA, he said:
كَانَ نَقْشُ خَاتَمِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم ثَلاَثَةَ أَسْطُرٍ مُحَمَّدٌ سَطْرٌ وَرَسُولُ سَطْرٌ وَاللَّهِ سَطْرٌ
"The inscription on the ring of the Prophet (ﷺ) was in three lines: 'Muhammad' on a line, 'Messenger' on a line, 'Allah' on a line."
Sunan al-Tarmizi (1748)
According to the above narration, it is permissible for someone to wear a ring with the words Allah and Rasulullah. On the condition that he keeps it away from anything that could be considered as an insult or degradation towards the glory and honour of those names.
Wearing a Ring with the words Allah and Muhammad to Restrooms
There is a hadith from the Prophet PBUH that addresses this issue. From Saidina Anas bin Malik RA, he said:
أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ كَانَ إِذَا دَخَلَ الْخَلاَءَ وَضَعَ خَاتَمَهُ
“When the Prophet entered the toilet, he would take off his ring.”
Sunan Ibn Majah (303)
According to the above hadith, the scholars have several opinions. Imam Ibn Qudamah Al-Maqdisi Rahimahullah said: “When someone is entering the toilet, and with him are the word Allah, then it is Sunnah for him to remove it.” See Al-Mughni, Ibn Qudamah (1/167).
Imam al-Marwadi whom one of the great scholars in mazhab Hanbali said: “The sound opinion in mazhab (Hanbali) states: It is makruh (undesirable) for someone to enter the toilet with anything that has Allah SWT’s name on it.” See Al-Insaf, Al-Mardawi (1/94-95).
Al-Syeikh Muhammad bin Abd al-Rahman al-Mubarakfuri comments on the above hadith: “The Prophet PBUH takes off his ring when he enters the toilet.”
He also cited the words of al-Syeikh ‘Ali al-Qari: “The reason is, the engraving of the words Muhammad Rasulullah. This hadith also states that anyone that is performing istinja’ (cleaning with water after urination or defecation) must remove anything that has the name Allah, His Rasul and verses of the Quran.”. Ibnu Hajar said: “The wisdom from the above hadith is, it is sunnah for whoever that answers nature’s call (urinate or defecate) to remove anything on him that is honoured, such as Allah SWT name or the name of Prophet PBUH. If he doesn’t, then it is makruh (undesirable).” Refer Tuhfah Al-Ahwazi, Al-Mubarakfuri (5/3480).
Imam al-Nawawi Rahimahullah comments on the above hadith: “The hadith from Anas is a well-known hadith. As for the agreed ruling from our ashab (Syafi’ite jurists), it is sunnah to remove anything with the name of Allah SWT on it when someone is entering the toilet, but it is not obligatory for him to do so. Among the scholars that state its mustahab (sunnah) ruling is musannif (Imam al-Syirazi) and his teacher al-Qadhi Abu al-Thayyib. Al-Mutawalli and al-Rafi’e state, the same is applicable for anything written on them, such as on dirham, dinar, ring or others.” Refer Al-Majmu’ Syarah Al-Muhazzab, Al-Nawawi (2/73).
Conclusion
According to the above opinions of jurists, thus we conclude: The ruling for wearing a ring where there are the words of Allah or Rasulullah when going to restrooms is MAKRUH (undesirable). It is sunnah for him to take the ring off first before entering the toilet. Wallahua’lam.