Women Wearing Jewelry

Question: Is it permissible for women to wear jewelry (adornment)?

Summary:

It is permissible for women to wear jewelry and adornment in principle, and this is among their special characteristics that Allah has permitted for them, with two main conditions: that it does not involve imitation of men, and that they do not display their adornment to non-mahrams except what Allah has allowed. The Qur’an, Sunnah, and the consensus of scholars and the early generations all indicate its permissibility.

Answer:

In the name of Allah, all praise is due to Allah, and may Peace and Blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ)

From the Qur'an:

  • Surah Az-Zukhruf 43:18
    ˹Do they attribute to Him˺ those who are brought up in fineries

    In this verse there is a clear indication that jewelry is among the characteristics of women, and Allah acknowledged it for them and did not forbid them from it.

  • (Surah An-Nur 24:31)
    and not to reveal their adornments except what normally appears.

    This indicates that a woman has adornment that she wears, and that the prohibition is displaying it to non-mahrams, not wearing it. It is established from the Prophet ﷺ that he saw rings, bracelets, earrings, and other types of adornment on women, and he did not object to their wearing jewelry itself, but only to what involved extravagance or wrongdoing.

From the Sunnah:

  • Hasan (Al-Albani) Sunan Abi Dawud 1563'Amr bin Shu'aib on his father's authority said that his grandfather reported:
    A woman came to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) and she was accompanied by her daughter who wore two heavy gold bangles in her hands. He said to her: Do you pay zakat on them? She said: No. He then said: Are you pleased that Allah may put two bangles of fire on your hands? Thereupon she took them off and placed them before the Prophet (ﷺ) saying: They are for Allah and His Apostle.

    He did not forbid her from wearing them, but rather commanded paying zakat. Likewise, there are many other hadiths that indicate the Prophet’s ﷺ approval of their adornment.

From the Scholars:

  • Ibn Abd al-Barr said:
    “The scholars have unanimously agreed that women may wear gold and adorn themselves with it.” And al-Nawawi said: “The Muslims agreed on the permissibility of gold for women and not for men.”

    And the righteous early generations continued to acknowledge this without objection. They only forbade women from displaying adornment to non-mahrams and from excessive extravagance, not from wearing it itself.

It is permissible for women to wear jewelry with the following considerations: That it does not involve imitation of men. That it does not involve extravagance or arrogance. That the woman does not display it to non-mahrams. That she pays its zakat if it reaches the nisab. The basic ruling on women wearing jewelry is that it is permissible and legislated, and it is part of their adornment that Allah has allowed for them. Textual evidence even indicates that it is specific to them, with consideration of the rulings related to zakat, not displaying adornment to non-mahrams, and avoiding extravagance.

And Allah knows best.

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