Wearing of Engagement and Wedding Rings

There are several issues to be discussed regarding this question:
FIRST: Wearing engagement or wedding rings was not part of either the verbal (qawli), the action (fi’ali) or the tacitly approved (taqriri) Sunnah of the Prophet (SAW), nor was it the custom of Muslims over the centuries. Because of this alone, engagement and wedding rings are bid’ah, especially if people believe that the marriage is incomplete without the wedding ring.

SECOND: This custom came to us from the kuffar (some Christian sects). The Christian groom used to place the ring on the tip of the thumb of the bride and say "In the name of the father" then place on the tip of the index finger and say "In the name of the son", then place it on the tip of the middle finger and say "And in the name of the Holy Spirit", and then place it on the ring finger. This is a mushrik Christian custom and an act of worship, thus it is disapproved. The Prophet (SAW) said:

"You will definitely follow the footsteps of those before you, span by span and foot by foot, even if they would enter the hole of a lizard you will go after them." The companions asked, "O Messenger of Allah! Do you mean the Jews and the Christians?" He replied "Who else?" (Bukhari and Muslim).

He (SAW) also said,

"Whoever imitates certain people becomes of them." (Abu Dawud).

The first Hadith shows the decline of Muslims by imitating the Jews and Christians. The second Hadith establishes the fact that if they do so (i.e. imitating the Jews and the Christians) they will not be considered Muslim, they become among those they imitate. So whoever imitates them in any particular quality is like them in that quality until he gives it up and repents.

THIRD: Men usually end up wearing gold rings. When a man does so, he is in reality committing three sins: bid’ah in the deen, imitation of the kuffar and wearing gold. Ali (RA) is reported to have said:

"I saw Allah’s Messenger holding silk in his right hand and gold in his left. Then he said, these two are forbidden for the males of my Ummah." (Bukhari)

Abdullah bin Abbas said that Allah’s Messenger (SAW) saw a gold ring on the hand of someone, so he took it from his hand and threw it away saying:

"Some among you would take a live coal of fire and put it in their hand." The Prophet (SAW) then left and the man was told to take the ring and benefit from it. He said, "I would not take something Allah’s Messenger has thrown away." (Muslim and an-Nasaa’ee)

One should look at the companions’ level of adherence to the Sunnah. Because of this, they were elevated and were chosen to be the companions of Allah’s Prophet (SAW). Allah (SWT) gave them victory over their enemies, strength and perpetuated their honor.

It is important to note that we are not discussing the wearing of rings in general, but only as it applies to this specific question. It was narrated that the Prophet (SAW) had a ring engraved with "Mohammad Rasoolullah" (Mohammad, the Messenger of Allah). He used this ring to seal letters, and he wore the ring on the little finger of his left hand (Muslim). So it is permissible for men to wear silver rings and for women to wear silver and gold rings, but with the condition that it does not resemble a wedding ring nor is it worn in conjunction with any ceremony such as the one previously discussed.

I ask Allah (SWT) to bestow on all of us strong Iman that will lead us to follow the Sunnah of our Prophet (SAW) and love our deen. I also ask Allah (SWT) to protect us from introducing any bid’ah into the deen, imitating the kuffar and disobeying Him. Allah (SWT) knows best. -Dr. Bassam A. Faraj