Is it permissible for a person in the state of ihram to wear a wristwatch and glasses?
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The Shaykh : If a person wears a watch on his hand, does it fall under the five items mentioned by the Messenger of Allah? It does not. It is most similar to a ring, and a ring is permissible with no objection. Now, if he wears a mirror on his eye, is that permissible or not? It is permissible because it does not fall under these five items, neither in wording nor in meaning. If he puts an earphone in his ear, is that permissible? Yes, it is permissible; it is not included in these five, neither in wording nor in meaning. If he puts a dental bridge in his mouth, is that permissible? It is permissible. Now, if he wears a stitched shoe with laces?
The attendees: ...
The Shaykh : A shoe made entirely of threads. Your answer is not definitive.
The questioner : It is permissible.
The Shaykh : It is permissible because it is not a leather boot; it is a sandal, a stitched sandal. Its stitching does not change its nature as a sandal. This is what we said: adhering to the Prophetic wording is preferable to saying that the person in ihram wore stitched clothing, because many common people nowadays ask about stitched sandals, saying they have stitching. Now, if a person wears a sword or a dagger, what do you say? Is it permissible? Yes, it is permissible because it does not fall under what the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) specified, neither in wording nor in meaning. If he ties his waist with a belt, is that permissible?
The audience: It is permissible.
The Shaykh : It is permissible. Is it stitched? Yes, it is permissible. Now, if he hangs a water skin on his shoulder, is that permissible, or a container for provisions? All of this is permissible. The important point is that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) enumerated what is forbidden. So, whatever is included in its meaning, we include it with it; and whatever is not included in its meaning, we do not include it with it. And in matters where we are uncertain, the original ruling is permissibility. Among the things we are uncertain about is the stitched lower garment. Some people wear a stitched lower garment, meaning one that does not open, and they wrap it around their body and tie it with a rope. Do we say that this is permissible, or that it resembles a shirt or trousers? We say it is permissible because it does not resemble a shirt or trousers. Trousers have a tube for each leg, and a shirt has a sleeve for each hand and covers the upper body. So, there is no harm in this. Some people use it nowadays because they say it is further from exposing the private parts. We say that as long as it is called a lower garment, it is a lower garment and it is lawful.
The attendees: ...
The Shaykh : A shoe made entirely of threads. Your answer is not definitive.
The questioner : It is permissible.
The Shaykh : It is permissible because it is not a leather boot; it is a sandal, a stitched sandal. Its stitching does not change its nature as a sandal. This is what we said: adhering to the Prophetic wording is preferable to saying that the person in ihram wore stitched clothing, because many common people nowadays ask about stitched sandals, saying they have stitching. Now, if a person wears a sword or a dagger, what do you say? Is it permissible? Yes, it is permissible because it does not fall under what the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) specified, neither in wording nor in meaning. If he ties his waist with a belt, is that permissible?
The audience: It is permissible.
The Shaykh : It is permissible. Is it stitched? Yes, it is permissible. Now, if he hangs a water skin on his shoulder, is that permissible, or a container for provisions? All of this is permissible. The important point is that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) enumerated what is forbidden. So, whatever is included in its meaning, we include it with it; and whatever is not included in its meaning, we do not include it with it. And in matters where we are uncertain, the original ruling is permissibility. Among the things we are uncertain about is the stitched lower garment. Some people wear a stitched lower garment, meaning one that does not open, and they wrap it around their body and tie it with a rope. Do we say that this is permissible, or that it resembles a shirt or trousers? We say it is permissible because it does not resemble a shirt or trousers. Trousers have a tube for each leg, and a shirt has a sleeve for each hand and covers the upper body. So, there is no harm in this. Some people use it nowadays because they say it is further from exposing the private parts. We say that as long as it is called a lower garment, it is a lower garment and it is lawful.