Is it permissible to wear a watch on the left hand?

The Shaykh : Listen to those who have not heard from the great men!
The student: Allah is the Greatest!!

The Shaykh : Let them hear!
The student : Is it permissible to wear a watch on the left hand?

The Shaykh : Of course, in legal terminology, the words "permissible" and "not permissible" correspond to "lawful" and "forbidden." "Not permissible" means forbidden, and "permissible" means allowed. If we interpret this young man's question by taking "is it permissible" to mean "is it not forbidden?", the answer is: yes, it is not forbidden. But at the same time, it is not recommended to wear the watch on the left hand, because that is a custom of the disbelievers. On this occasion, we mention two points. The first is known to most students of knowledge, at least: "The prohibition by the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) of imitating the disbelievers." But what many do not know is: "The command of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) for Muslims to differ from the disbelievers." The command to differ from the disbelievers is one thing, and the prohibition of imitating the disbelievers is another. The difference is that one who does not differ from the disbelievers in their prevalent customs, in which the general public participates, is not imitating them, but at the same time, he is commanded to differ from them. The difference between the two issues appears in the prohibition of imitation on one hand, and the command to differ on the other, in a natural cosmic phenomenon that a human being cannot control, whether he is a Muslim or a disbeliever, which is: gray hair. Gray hair is part of the Sunnah of Allah (Mighty and Majestic) in His creation. Gray hair is not specific to the Muslim or the disbeliever, for both are human beings who are distinguished by faith and obedience to the Most Merciful. As for gray hair, it is a natural matter, like all that pertains to man as a creation of the Most Merciful. If a Muslim grows gray, it is not of his making, and if a disbeliever grows gray, it is not of his making. So it is not said: this is imitation of that, because it is not within his control or power. Nevertheless, the Wise Lawgiver says: And there are many texts in which the command to differ appears. You are not far from the subject of: . The matter differs regarding trimming the mustache and letting the beard grow, because this is within a person's power, will, and ability. Nevertheless, He concluded these two commands with His saying: . For this reason, Ibn Taymiyyah (may Allah have mercy on him) says in his great book, *Iqtida' al-Sirat al-Mustaqim Mukhalafat Ahl al-Jahim*: "The repetition by the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) of this phrase means that there is a legal rule: namely, that the Muslim should intentionally differ from the disbeliever, even in something he does not control," as we gave the example of gray hair earlier: . Thus, it has become clear to us that it is recommended for us to intentionally differ from the polytheists in everything in which we can differ from them. The closest example is what this young man asked about. We see now that all people, without excluding a Muslim from a disbeliever, wear the wristwatch on the left hand. So we said: applying this comprehensive general text that has no limits, and we said: our differing from these disbelievers in something that is of their doing and something that is of our doing, so we must differ from them. We therefore see that we should wear watches on our right hands, not on our left, in order to differ from the disbelievers. But for one who does not do that, we do not say that he is imitating them, because this is not their emblem, nor is it a phenomenon of disbelief, as you see that the general public, even Muslims, wear the watch on the left hand. So, in short, it is permissible with dislike, not with prohibition. The answer has become clear, if Allah wills. But if anyone has an observation or question regarding the topic, we would like to hear it!