Is It Permissible to Wear an Engagement Ring?

Shaykh Bali himself announced that he has returned from his earlier view on this matter — and the two reasons are very clear.

How the Question Comes Up

The engagement has taken place. The young man wears a ring so that everyone knows he is now engaged; the young woman wears one too, so that people know her word has been settled.

Meanwhile someone speaks up — this is the custom of the disbelievers, it amounts to tashabbuh. Unease spreads through the house, and the ring is left lying in its box.

So the question is simple — what is the ruling on wearing an engagement ring?

Shaykh Bali said that contemporary scholars are divided into two views here — and he also openly stated which view he himself holds.

The Shaykh's Answer

The Shaykh says — there is no problem in wearing an engagement ring; this is what I say now.

There are two reasons. One, the ring is no longer a distinctive symbol of non-Muslims — it has become common among Muslims themselves. Two, it is not part of their religion. However, if the ring has something like a cross on it, that is different — that is a religious symbol, and then it is not permissible.

The first view was — this is a habit of the disbelievers, so it is tashabbuh. But the Shaykh's words are that when a purely customary matter becomes accepted among Muslims themselves, it is mubah.

The Evidence — Where the Boundary Lies

مَنْ تَشَبَّهَ بِقَوْمٍ فَهُوَ مِنْهُمْ

Whoever imitates a people is one of them. (Sunan Abi Dawud)Copy

This hadith is the basis of the first view. The Shaykh's explanation — it is tashabbuh only when the thing is part of their religion or their own distinctive symbol. A ring engraved with a cross is therefore not acceptable in any way.

What to Do

1. If the ring has a cross or any religious symbol, do not wear it.
2. No gold ring for men — this ruling is separate, do not forget it.
3. Do not touch your fiancée under the pretext of putting a ring on her — before the marriage contract, she is a woman unrelated to you.
4. Where scholars differ, do not blame anyone — hold on to proper etiquette.

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Source: Based on the talk of Shaykh Wahid Abdussalam Bali

Translation and compilation: Raqi Faisal Ahmed Sabit — Al Qur'an Ruqyah Healing Center