Gold and Silk in the Qur’an

 

Many Muslims believe that gold and silk are forbidden for men. However, a thorough examination of the Qur’an reveals a different perspective, one that challenges this widely held assumption.  

 

Frequency of the Words "Gold" (ذَهَب, dhahab) and "Silk" (حَرِير, harīr) in the Qur’an

 

The Qur’an mentions gold (dhahab) in eight verses:  

 

It has been adorned for people to love the desire of women; and to want sons, and ornaments made from gold and silver, and trained horses, and livestock, and fields. These are the enjoyment of the world, and with God is the best abode. 3:14

 

Those who have rejected and died while they were rejecters, if the earth full of gold were to be ransomed with it would not be accepted from any of them. For these there will be a painful retribution and they will have no supporters. 3:91

 

O you who believe, many of the Priests and Monks consume the money of the people in falsehood, and they repel from the path of God. And those who hoard gold and silver, and do not spend it in the cause of God, give them news of a painful retribution. 9:34

 

They will have gardens of delight with rivers flowing beneath them, and they will be adorned with bracelets of gold and they will wear green garments of fine silk. They will sit in it on raised thrones. Beautiful is the reward, and beautiful is the dwelling. 18:31

 

God will admit those who believe and do good works to estates with rivers flowing beneath them, wherein they will be adorned with bracelets of gold and pearls, and their garments will be of silk. 22:23

 

They will enter gardens of delight, where they will be adorned with bracelets of gold and pearls, and their garments in it will be of silk. 35:33

 

Why then are not golden bracelets bestowed on him, or the angels are accompanying him?43:53

 

They will be served with golden trays and cups, and they will find everything the self desires and the eyes wish for, and you will abide therein. 43:71

 

 

The word silk (harīr) appears in three verses:  

 

God will admit those who believe and do good works to estates with rivers flowing beneath them, wherein they will be adorned with bracelets of gold and pearls, and their garments will be of silk. 22:23

 

They will enter gardens of delight, where they will be adorned with bracelets of gold and pearls, and their garments in it will be of silk. 35:33

 

And He rewarded them for their patience with a paradise and silk. 76:12

 

In none of these verses does Allah prohibit gold or silk for men. Instead, these materials are described as blessings and adornments for believers, both in this life and the hereafter.  

 

 

Adornments in this life

 

Allah has made His blessings clear and warns against those who would forbid what He has allowed.

 

Say: “Who has made forbidden the nice things that God has brought forth for His servants and the good provisions?” Say: “They are meant for those who believe during this worldly life, and they will be exclusive for them on the Day of Resurrection.” It is such that We explain the revelations for those who know. 7:32

 

This verse is profound in its simplicity: the adornments of Allah are for believers in this life and are promised exclusively in the Hereafter. Gold and silk are never restricted by gender in the Qur'an.

 

"And do not say about what your tongues assert of untruth, 'This is lawful and this is unlawful,' to invent falsehood against Allah." (16:116)

 

Lost are those who kill their children foolishly, out of ignorance, and make forbidden what God has provided for them—falsely attributing lies to God. They are lost. They are not guided. (6:140)

 

These verses explicitly condemns those who arbitrarily forbid what Allah has made lawful. If gold and silk were truly prohibited for men, the Qur’an being fully detailed (6:114) would have stated so.