What is the ruling on wearing synthetic silk?

The questioner : A final fatwa on synthetic silk: is it permissible or not?

The Shaykh : It is permissible and not forbidden, because calling it "silk" is merely a custom, and names do not change the reality of the things named, whether the lawful is called by a forbidden name or the forbidden is called by a lawful name. For example, when we speak of riba (usury or interest), they call riba by other names in some banks that have borrowed the name of Islamic banks; they call riba "murabahah," and in many banks, and even among merchants, they call installment sales a "lawful sale." The Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) forbade two sales in one sale and said of them: It is riba. The important point is that naming these forbidden things with names that make the listener think they are lawful does not make that which is forbidden lawful. So calling riba "interest" does not make it lawful, and by that analogy, calling a type of fabric made of synthetic silk "silk," when it is not silk in reality, does not make this type of clothing forbidden, and so on.

The questioner : May Allah reward you with all good, O Shaykh.

The Shaykh : And you as well, may Allah will it.

The questioner : May Allah make it good for us.

The Shaykh : May Allah preserve you, and peace be upon you.

The questioner : Our Shaykh, excuse me, what do you think about sitting outside because Brother Waleed is coming, before we ask the questions?

The Shaykh : Let's come to the point. Please. Yes.