Earrings for Men

Dear Brothers & Sisters,
As-Salaamu-Alaikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh. (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)
One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:
IN THE BASIS OF OUR RELIGION IS IT OKAY FOR MEN TO WEAR EARRINGS (WHETHER THAT BEING ONE OR SEVERAL) IN ISLAM AND IS IT OKAY FOR MEN TO WEAR JEWELREY WHICH IS SILVER AND NOT GOLD. I HOPE THAT THIS IS NOT A SILLY QUESTION BECAUSE A LOT OF THE MUSLIM MEN THAT I ASSOCIATE WITH WEAR EARRINGS. SOME PEOPLE SAY THAT THE MEMBERS OF THE PROPHET'S (P.B.U.H) TRIBE - THE QURAYSH USED TO WEAR EARRINGS IN THE OLDEN DAYS AND THAT IS WHY IT IS OKAY FOR US. COULD YOU PLEASE FIND OUT IF THIS IS TRUE AND GIVE ME A DEFINITE ANSWER. THANK YOU VERY MUCH!
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Answer:

Praise be to Allaah.

Earrings and bracelets are forms of adornment for women, and Ibn Abbaas (may Allaah be pleased with him) reported that The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) cursed men who make themselves look like women and women who make themselves look like men. (Reported by al-Bukhaari, 5435).

Abu Hurayrah said: The Messenger of Allaah cursed men who wear womens clothes and women who wear mens clothes. (Reported by Abu Dawood in al-Sunan, Kitaab al-Libaas, Baab fi libaas al-nisaa). On this basis, it is not permitted for men to wear earrings or nose-rings.

The claim that this is permissible because the people of Quraysh used to do that needs to be proven, in the first place, and where is the proof?

Secondly, even if they used to do this in the Jaahiliyaah (Time of Ignorance before Islam), Islam came and forbade men to wear the adornment of women or to make themselves look like them, as is clear from the ahadeeth quoted above. What matters is the ruling of Islam, not what Quraysh or other tribes may have done.

Thirdly, the kinds of female adornment known among Quraysh and others includes earrings, bracelets, anklets and bangles worn on the upper arm. The point is that these are known as forms of womens adornment since ancient times.

Fourthly, Islam has given men sufficient scope to adorn themselves by allowing them to wear silver rings, as Ibn Umar (may Allaah be pleased with him and his father) reported that the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) wore a ring made of silver, and the people did likewise. (Reported by al-Bukhaari, 5417). Islam also allows men to wear gold and silver when necessary to replace a lost tooth or nose, and so on.

Finally, we would say that any Muslim man who wears jewellery is making himself look like the kuffaar, because this is known to be their style of adornment; the latest fashion among them is to wear earrings and the like in their ears, noses, lips, cheeks and other parts of the body (so-called body-piercing). The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: Whoever imitates a people is one of them. (Reported by Abu Dawood, al-Sunan, Kitaab al-libaas, Bab libaas al-shuhrah).

Whoever does this should repent to Allaah and not engage in the futile defence of falsehood. He should be distinct in both his personality and his dress from the kuffaar, as Islam has commanded us to be. Allaah is the One Who guides to the Straight Path.

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah's Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

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