The Ruling on Wearing a Watch

The questioner:
All right. No, no, no, that is enough. I heard from one of the scholars that wearing a watch is forbidden because it is the sign of the people of water. What is your opinion of this statement? Is there any evidence from the Book and the Sunnah?

The Shaykh:
We do not know of any evidence from the Book and the Sunnah for this statement. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said to a man: , , and the man did not have the means. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) told him to look for even a ring of iron. This is evidence that wearing iron is permissible, whether in a ring or otherwise. A watch is a type of clothing, and the default ruling for clothing is permissibility, except for what evidence indicates is forbidden, such as a gold watch for men or a watch containing gold for men. This is not permissible because it is only worn by walking. As for the current watch made of zinc, we do not know of any evidence for its prohibition. Yes, some people disapproved of it when it first appeared, but when it became clear to them that there is no evidence for its prohibition and that it is a type of clothing, and the default ruling for clothing is permissibility, then we do not consider it a problem, if Allah wills.

The questioner:
Or yes, on the right or the left.

The Shaykh:
Each person should wear it according to what people are accustomed to. One should not go against what people are accustomed to. If people are accustomed to wearing it on the left, they should not go against that; they should wear it on the left. All of this is among the permissible things.