Question: Is it permissible for a woman to wear an engagement ring?

Question: Is it permissible for a woman to wear an engagement ring?

As-Shaykh Muhammad bin Abdillah as-Subayyl (1) answered by saying,"It is permissible for a woman to wear whatever type of ring she desires; it doesn't matter if the ring is gold, silver or other than that. However, if she intends by wearing this [engagement] ring to follow and imitate the non-Muslims in their ways, it is not permissible for her to wear it.

Furthermore, if she believes that this ring will increase the love between her and her [future] husband, she has fallen into an impermissible belief. [She should be aware] that Allah, the Most High, is the one who causes people to love one another. [So I say] it is better [for her] to leave off wearing an engagement ring. This is a means of preventing herself from falling into the hazardous things that I have mentioned. And Allah knows best (as-Subayyal 26, 27)." (2)

(1) As-Shaykh Muhammad bin Abdillah as-Subayyl is an Imam at The Holy Mosque of Makkah. He has taught some of today's most famous scholars; scholars such as: as-Shaykh Salih al-Fawzaan and as-Shaykh Abdur-Rahman al-'Ajlaan.

(2) As-Subayyal, Muhammad. Religious Verdicts Pertaining to the Muslim Woman. Algeria: Dar al-Miraath, First Print.

Jameel Finch al-Makki
Umm al-Quraa University
Makkah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
28th Thul Q'adah, 1430 / November 16, 2009