All praise is due to Allahﷻ. We praise Him, seek His help and forgiveness. There is no deity worthy of worship except Allahﷻ alone without partners, and Muhammad ﷺ is His servant and Messenger.
Respected servants of Allahﷻ, in this ongoing Friday sermon series titled “Clothing from the Perspective of Islam,” over the past several weeks we have been discussing the rulings related to wearing ornaments and jewellery. In the Last post, we explained a hadith which mentions that a small amount of gold mixed into an item is permissible. Based on that, some brothers have raised questions, so we will clarify that and continue.
9-Carat Gold – Is It Permissible for Men?
Recently, for the past few months, there has been a development. Previously, only 22-carat gold (916) was legally permitted for sale in jewelry shops. Now, 9-carat gold has been permitted legally.
If you go to a jewellery shop and ask for 9-carat gold, what does that mean?
In 24 parts:
- Only 9 parts are gold.
- The remaining 15 parts are other metals (copper, silver, etc.).
That means gold is only about one-third of the composition. The rest is other metals used to strengthen the jewellery.
Earlier, this was not legally allowed. Now it has been legalized and sealed properly for sale.
If one sovereign (about 8 grams) of 22-carat gold costs one lakh rupees, 9-carat gold costs much less — because the gold content is far less.
So, the question arises: Gold is prohibited for men. But the hadith says, “except a small amount.”
Is 9-carat gold considered a “small amount”?
Since 9 out of 24 parts are gold — roughly one-third — and the majority is other metal, it falls under the category of “small amount.” Even though it appears like gold outwardly, when melted and separated, its actual gold content is low.
Therefore, based on the hadith that prohibits gold except for a small amount, this type may be considered permissible for men. However, 22-carat (916), 20-carat, 18-carat, 16-carat — those have high gold content and are not allowed for men.
Since this topic requires more detailed explanation, In shā’ Allāh we will explain it further in Sunday’s live session.
Anklets That Make Sound
Now, regarding ornaments worn by women — especially anklets (kolusu).
Women wear anklets made of silver or gold. Some anklets contain tiny bells that make sound when walking — “chalak chalak.” When such sound is heard, even without seeing, one can identify that a woman is walking. It may cause men to turn and look.
Islam forbids wearing ornaments in a way that draws attention.
In Surah An-Nur (24:31), Allahﷻ says women should not strike their feet in order to reveal their hidden adornments.
What does “strike their feet” mean?
It does not mean walking normally. It refers to walking in a way that produces sound from ornaments — such as anklets with bells — to attract attention.
Therefore:
- Anklets without sound are allowed.
- Anklets with bells that make noticeable sound in public should be avoided.
Inside the home, among mahram family members, this ruling does not apply. The restriction is when going outside among non-mahrams.
Furthermore, in Sahih Muslim, the Prophet ﷺ said: “The bell is from the instruments of Shayṭān.”
Therefore, sound-producing ornaments are discouraged.
Religious Symbols in Jewellery
Whether for men or women, no ornament should contain symbols of other religions.
For example:
- Crosses
- Idols
- Images of deities
Islam distinguishes between:
- Ordinary images (animals, humans) — small ones may be tolerated.
- Religious symbols used for worship — completely forbidden, regardless of size.
For example: A cross — even though it is just two lines — represents worship. It cannot be worn.
‘Ā’ishah (Mother of Believers) narrated (Bukhari 5952): The Prophet ﷺ never left anything with a cross on it without destroying it. Another hadith states that if there was a cross on a garment, he would tear it.
Therefore:
- Cross pendants are forbidden.
- Idols or deity symbols are forbidden.
- Even symbols from shrines like Nagore Dargah or Ajmer Dargah — forbidden.
- Any object connected to shirk (association with Allahﷻ) — forbidden.
Even if it is small, since it gradually affects one’s belief.
The Issue of Thaali (Marriage Pendant)
Now, an important matter reading thaali, karika mani;
In some cultures, during marriage, a “thaali” (mangalsutra) is tied. It is just gold or black beads with gold. The material itself is halal. But the belief attached to it is problematic.
They believe:
- Marriage is completed only by tying thaali.
- The husband’s life is tied to it.
- If it breaks, it is bad omen.
- If husband dies, they cut it.
This becomes a superstitious object tied to belief.
In Islam, marriage is completed by:
- Offer (Ijab)
- Acceptance (Qabul)
That’s it. If someone believes marriage depends on the thaali, it contradicts Islamic belief.
Therefore:
- Wearing gold chain as mahr? Allowed.
- But believing marriage is dependent on that specific object? Not allowed.
Changing the name (calling it black beads instead of thaali) does not change the concept if the belief remains. Islam forbids copying religious rituals of other faiths.
Jewellery for Children
Another question: Can children wear gold?
The Prophet ﷺ said:
Three types of people are not accountable:
- The sleeping person until he wakes.
- The child until puberty.
- The insane until sanity returns.
So, children are not accountable.
However:
There are two categories of children:
- Very small — unaware (2–3 years old).
- Children who understand (8–10 years old).
If a toddler wears gold, he does not understand.
But if an older child who understands is made to wear gold, it may become normal in his mind — and later he may assume it is allowed.
The Prophet ﷺ once removed a date from Hasan’s mouth because it was charity (zakat) and said: “We do not eat charity.” Though Hasan(RA) was a child and not accountable, the Prophet ﷺ trained him.
Similarly:
- If a child understands, train them to avoid gold (for boys).
- If toddler, no issue.
Anklets with bells for small children may be used at home to locate them. That is understandable, especially indoors.
We will continue further details in the upcoming posts, In shā’ Allāh.