Wedding Ring In Islam - Rules For Bride And Groom

Rings are worn by many people as it holds various kinds of symbols. They signify commitment, love and loyalty. Rings are seen to represent an unbreakable bond, especially in marriage. So it’s common for married couples to wear their rings on their hands. It shows that they are officially married to someone.

The designs are often similar with a little bit of a difference in the sizing. However, how does Islam view wedding ring? The following is an explanation about the wedding ring in Islam:

Tradition Of Exchanging Wedding Rings

In Islamic marriage, wedding rings also play a part. But what are the rules on wearing them? It is quite well known that in Islam, there is a teaching of marriage without dating. So a marriage in Islam doesn’t go through the whole process of engagement or even exchanging wedding rings. 

You can also read on Dating in Islam Haram or Halal to know more.

The reason for that is because dating in Islam is seen as an act that is close to sin. The tradition of wearing wedding rings with the spouse comes from the West, it goes against the teaching of Islam. It’s a tradition that has been adopted by the people with any religion background. Now the tradition is a very normal thing, in fact it would be weird for a marriage without any ring exchange.

Rules Of Wearing Gold Ring For Men

In some hadiths, it is said that it is haram in Islam for men to wear a ring that is made out of gold. The rule is mentioned in some stories and hadiths:

• “It was narrated from Abu Musa that the Messenger of Allah (SAW) said: ‘Gold and silk have been permitted for the females of my Ummah, and forbidden to the males.’” (Sunan an-Nasa’i)
• A story from the hadith of Abdullah Allah ibn Abbas mentioned that when “Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) saw a person wearing a gold signet ring in his hand, He (the Holy Prophet) pulled it off and threw it away, saying: One of you is wishing live coal from Hell and putting it on his hand.” When Allah’s Messenger left, a friend told the person to pick up the ring. However the person said no as Allah’s Messenger had said it was haram.

This means that if a man wants to wear a wedding ring, he can choose to wear one that is not made out of pure gold. According to the hadiths from Sahih Al-Bukhari, Allah’s Messenger wore a silver ring on his finger. In it is a carving of his own name, Muhammad Messenger of Allah.

Rules Of Wearing Wedding Ring In Islam

There is a rule that dictates how a wedding ring should worn in Islam. It could be considered as part of the Muslim Wedding Planning Guide. The women may wear their ring on any finger they choose. But the men are not allowed to do so. Muslim men must not wear the ring on their index or middle finger, as mentioned in the hadith.

The Messenger of Allah once told Ali that he should not wear the ring on particular fingers. Ali raised his middle and index finger. A Muslim man is said to be makruh if he wears the wedding ring on those fingers. Some scholars agree that it is sunnah for men to wear the wedding ring on his little finger. It will not cause any disruptions in his activity if the ring is worn on that finger.

Which Is Better, The Left Rr Right Hand?

Though it is not compulsory, a husband can still wear his ring to make his wife happy. The wife should also know the Ways to Love Your Husband in Islam and Sweet Things to Say to Your Husband. The act of wearing the ring shows that he has a special bond with his wife. But which hand will be better for wearing the ring?

The Left Hand

According to Hanafi, Maliki, and Hambali, it is better to wear the wedding ring on the left hand.

The Right Hand

But some say that to wear the ring as part of an accessory then it’s better to be on the right hand. As Anas bin Malik said that “the Prophet wore his ring in the right hand.”

Due to these differing thoughts, a compromise was made by Ibn Hajar al-‘Asqalani. He said that it’s better to wear the wedding ring on the right hand if it acts as an accessory. But if it is used to give stamps or seals, which was common in the olden days, then wear it on the left hand. The right hand can still move freely and help the left hand that is giving the stamps.

Causes Of Wedding Ring To Be Haram

There are some things that can cause the wedding ring to be haram due to being shirk, which are:

1. Carving names inside the ring in the hope that it will create a stronger bond between a wife and a husband. This is haram because it does not fall under any teaching of Islam. There is no relation between the act of carving and forming a sacred bond.
2. Believing that the wedding ring has power. It can form a strong bond when worn but can be a bad sign when taken off. Instead here are Powerful Ways to Make Your Relationship Incredible.
3. Believing more on the symbolism of the wedding ring rather than facing the truth about the household. A harmonious family cannot be built based on the ring but through effort and open communication.
4. Wedding ring can be haram if it causes troubles to the married couples.
5. It is haram if the marriage bond is not declared as official through religious means, for instance a contract marriage.

So those are some explanation about wedding ring in Islam and how to wear it according to the religion. Wedding ring often causes debates among the Muslim community. It may incite fights between married couples. It’s important to note that a wedding ring should not be put above the experience of being married itself.