Is it permissible for a man to wear a watch decorated with silver or gold?
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The Shaykh : Is it permissible for a man to wear a watch decorated with silver?
The questioner : ... .
The Shaykh : No, according to the stronger opinion, it is permissible for a man to wear a watch decorated with silver, because the original ruling for silver is permissibility.
Is it permissible to wear a watch decorated with gold?
The questioner : It is not permissible.
The Shaykh : It is not permissible, because gold is forbidden for men. However, if the watch is plated with gold and the gold in it is merely a color, then it is permissible. But it is not recommended for a person to wear it for two reasons. The first reason is that people will form a bad opinion of him, thinking he is wearing a gold watch, because people do not know the difference. The second reason is that people might imitate him, as it is well known that people imitate one another. So we tell a person if he is given a gold watch as a gift or something similar, we say it is better not to wear it. If he does wear it, there is no blame on him, but it is better not to wear it. However, the scholars stipulated that for gold plating, the gold must have a body such that something comes out of it if it is exposed to fire, meaning it must have a layer. As for mere color, there is no harm. But if there is a layer, then it is not permissible. Now, if someone asks: if the watch is not gold and not plated with it, but there is some gold in its parts, is it permissible? We say yes, there is no harm in that. Because if it is in the internal parts, it is not seen and not known about. And if it is in the external parts, like the hands for example, it is minor and incidental, so it does not harm. But the question remains: is it permissible for a person to buy a watch that has pieces of gold in it?
The questioner : ... .
The Shaykh : If you say no, we say no. And if you say yes, we say no.
The questioner : It depends on the details.
The Shaykh : What is the detail?
The questioner : ... .
The Shaykh : If wearing such a watch is considered extravagance, it falls under the category of extravagance, and we say it is not permissible, meaning this is not clothing for your status. And if it is not considered extravagance, the original ruling is permissibility, as long as this is permitted, the original ruling is permissibility. For this reason, some people nowadays go and buy some watches, buying them for a thousand riyals. How is that?
The questioner : ... .
The Shaykh : No, we absolutely do not agree with them. Does anyone buy for more than a thousand riyals?
The questioner : ... .
The Shaykh : ... Strange, what do you say, Fahd?
The questioner : Ninety thousand, more than ... .
The Shaykh : I seek refuge in Allah, the price of a car, O Shaykh.
The questioner : Ninety thousand is ... in the country.
The Shaykh : In any case, I think this is extravagance, even if he is rich. Ninety-six thousand, meaning if this were to fall on a person, it would all be upon him. It is extravagance, it is not correct. The important thing is, in any case, let us stick to the middle, the middle of people. If it is considered extravagance, we say do not wear it. Why? Because it is extravagance, and Allah the Exalted said:[Al-A'raf 7:31] And if it is one of those who is accustomed to wearing it on his hand, then it is permissible. Now.
The questioner : ... .
The Shaykh : No, according to the stronger opinion, it is permissible for a man to wear a watch decorated with silver, because the original ruling for silver is permissibility.
Is it permissible to wear a watch decorated with gold?
The questioner : It is not permissible.
The Shaykh : It is not permissible, because gold is forbidden for men. However, if the watch is plated with gold and the gold in it is merely a color, then it is permissible. But it is not recommended for a person to wear it for two reasons. The first reason is that people will form a bad opinion of him, thinking he is wearing a gold watch, because people do not know the difference. The second reason is that people might imitate him, as it is well known that people imitate one another. So we tell a person if he is given a gold watch as a gift or something similar, we say it is better not to wear it. If he does wear it, there is no blame on him, but it is better not to wear it. However, the scholars stipulated that for gold plating, the gold must have a body such that something comes out of it if it is exposed to fire, meaning it must have a layer. As for mere color, there is no harm. But if there is a layer, then it is not permissible. Now, if someone asks: if the watch is not gold and not plated with it, but there is some gold in its parts, is it permissible? We say yes, there is no harm in that. Because if it is in the internal parts, it is not seen and not known about. And if it is in the external parts, like the hands for example, it is minor and incidental, so it does not harm. But the question remains: is it permissible for a person to buy a watch that has pieces of gold in it?
The questioner : ... .
The Shaykh : If you say no, we say no. And if you say yes, we say no.
The questioner : It depends on the details.
The Shaykh : What is the detail?
The questioner : ... .
The Shaykh : If wearing such a watch is considered extravagance, it falls under the category of extravagance, and we say it is not permissible, meaning this is not clothing for your status. And if it is not considered extravagance, the original ruling is permissibility, as long as this is permitted, the original ruling is permissibility. For this reason, some people nowadays go and buy some watches, buying them for a thousand riyals. How is that?
The questioner : ... .
The Shaykh : No, we absolutely do not agree with them. Does anyone buy for more than a thousand riyals?
The questioner : ... .
The Shaykh : ... Strange, what do you say, Fahd?
The questioner : Ninety thousand, more than ... .
The Shaykh : I seek refuge in Allah, the price of a car, O Shaykh.
The questioner : Ninety thousand is ... in the country.
The Shaykh : In any case, I think this is extravagance, even if he is rich. Ninety-six thousand, meaning if this were to fall on a person, it would all be upon him. It is extravagance, it is not correct. The important thing is, in any case, let us stick to the middle, the middle of people. If it is considered extravagance, we say do not wear it. Why? Because it is extravagance, and Allah the Exalted said: