What is the ruling on women wearing a gold ring?

The Shaykh : But may I ask you, what is your opinion on gold rings for women?

The questioner : ... .

The Shaykh : What did you say?

The questioner : I said, "Allah knows best."

The Shaykh : And what is required of the one who says, "Allah knows best," regarding a certain matter?

The questioner : I want it from you.

The Shaykh : How do you want it from me? I did not intend to clarify to you what was intended in the question. If you have a wife and you do not know the ruling on a gold ring, what would you do practically? Would you have her wear a gold ring or not?

The questioner : I would refrain from this issue until I ask the people of knowledge.

The Shaykh : And are you actually refraining?

The questioner : No, until I ask.

Another questioner : Perhaps the brother is speaking about the generality of the hadith, which permits gold for women.

The Shaykh : But I believe that he and all those present with him do not believe, or do not have faith, in the generality of the hadith. What is your opinion? Do you believe in the generality of the hadith?

Another questioner : No, Shaykh, there are restricted hadiths, Shaykh.

The Shaykh : That is the point. So, does he believe in the generality of the hadith then?

The questioner : No, Shaykh, he does not believe.

The Shaykh : Okay.

The questioner : But on this point, Shaykh.

The Shaykh : Our discussion on this point is whether the hadith is general.

Another questioner : By Allah, Shaykh, you have a book on this issue.

The Shaykh : It is not a book; it is a research in a book.

The questioner : A research, yes.

The Shaykh : Come on, in the name of Allah. Allah is the Greatest, Allah is the Greatest, Allah is the Greatest, Allah is the Greatest. Do you know the sound of fruit? It is white, and it becomes especially so with the apple. Woe to those who say that Islam is skin and shell.
Abu Layla : Our Shaykh, they are the reason for this that happened to them.

The Shaykh : Yes, there is no power nor strength except by Allah, there is no power nor strength except by Allah. Allah is the Greatest, Allah is the Greatest, there is no god but Allah. O Allah, send blessings upon Muhammad and upon the family of Muhammad as You sent blessings upon Ibrahim and upon the family of Ibrahim, and grant peace to Muhammad and to the family of Muhammad as You granted peace to Ibrahim and to the family of Ibrahim. Indeed, You are Praiseworthy and Majestic. O Allah, Lord of this perfect call and the established prayer, grant Muhammad the intercession and the virtue, and raise him to the praiseworthy station which You have promised him. So, if a hadith comes that forbids a type of gold that is originally permissible for women, is it said, relying on the principles of jurisprudence, that this text is abrogated? Is it said that it is a specification of the general text, from which it is excepted? What do the principles of jurisprudential usul say? A general text that forbids something, or a general text that permits something, and this thing is a generic name that includes many types. Then a text comes that relates to a part of these types. Is it said that this part is abrogated, or is it said that it is a specification, excepted from the general text?

Another questioner : It is a specification of the general.

The Shaykh : That is the point. Why do our jurists not apply this rule in this issue, and there are explicit texts forbidding the gold ring? Let us stop now at the gold ring for women. Why do they say this is abrogated?

The questioner : They do not say it is abrogated, Shaykh. They say there is a cause...

The Shaykh : May Allah forgive you. The issue now—and peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah—has moved beyond being a jurisprudential usul issue, and you have brought it into a hadith usul issue. This is a mixing in the research that should not be.

Another questioner : That is their opinion, Shaykh. I am not telling you my opinion. I am not.

The Shaykh : I am not saying your opinion or their opinion. You have developed the topic, not they. They are not present now. You have developed the topic from a jurisprudential usul issue to a hadith usul issue. This is not correct in the research. My question was: why do the jurists today, at least, say that this hadith is abrogated? You said no, and they say it is abrogated.

The questioner : Some say it is abrogated, and some say what you said...

The Shaykh : So, who are we researching with now? With those who say what? That it is abrogated.

The questioner : Both.

The Shaykh : No, now our research is with these people, not those. Each has its own research. Because if someone says, for example, that this hadith is not authentic, we have a hadith research with them. And if someone says the hadith is authentic but it is abrogated, we have a jurisprudential usul research. But you say both. This is not what should be said. Why are we talking to absent people and not to the present ones, among whom is goodness and blessing, if Allah wills? So, what is your opinion on this jurisprudential principle? One of you answered just now.

Another questioner : If water is present, tayammum is invalid, O Shaykh.

The Shaykh : These are clearly Saudis who have studied politics. It is like that, clearly. But I completely reject politics, absolutely. And my rejection of the known politics among people is that it incites people and angers them against us. And I do not care when I kill a Muslim on whichever side he is, for Allah is my destination.

Another questioner : Or entering into politics in... the Sharia.

The Shaykh : How?

The questioner : Or entering into politics with the Sharia limits, Shaykh.

The Shaykh : I did not say their politics. But you are now singing politics. Did you speak about Sharia or what? There is no power nor strength except by Allah. These people, from their politics, are merchants who buy what they do not sell.

Another questioner : They are skilled.

The Shaykh : These Saudis are known for trade, especially in some countries.

Another questioner : These are from Buraydah, which is famous for trade.

The Shaykh : From them, meaning—and peace be upon you and the mercy and blessings of Allah—that you establish a good practice in your land, and you will be written the reward of it and the reward of whoever acts upon it until the Day of Resurrection. You must be living up to the good opinion.

Another questioner : We ask Allah for that.