Q. Why is it forbidden for Muslim men to wear gold jewelry? As a new Muslim, I could not find anything in the Qur’an on this point, nor was I able to get a satisfactory answer.
M. Elizondo
A. The Prophet once held a piece of gold in one hand and silk in the other and said: "These two are forbidden to the men of my community, permissible for women." This is a clear prohibition, which we take as it is. If the Qur’an or the Prophet makes the reason for prohibition clear, then it would be taken as stated. If not, we may try to find the reason, but it will always remain as a ‘probable’ reason, not final. In this case, we can cite two probable reasons. The first is that gold is the major type of currency. It should remain in circulation, not reserved by the rich. Women are allowed gold jewelry as a concession. The other reason is that poor people may feel very deprived when they see rich friends wearing gold. In order to spare the Muslim community such feelings, God has forbidden what is considered to be excessive luxury. There may be other reasons which we do not know.
Women and driving
Q. Is it permissible in Islam for women to drive?
A.R. Afifa
A. It is permissible for a woman to drive a car, in the same way as it is permissible for her to ride a horse or use a washing machine. There is no Islamic restriction in this connection, apart from the ordinary requirements of dress and appearance when a woman goes out.
Having said that, I should add that women are not allowed to drive in Saudi Arabia as a matter of national regulations. The restriction is not made on religious grounds.
Glorifying dead sheikhs
Q. What is the view on those people who spend time reciting the praises of their dead sheikhs to whom they attribute miracles of all sorts? They glorify their sheikhs, such as Abd Al-Qadir Al-Jailani, in superlative terms, and pray to him to help them with their wishes.
Abdul Rauoof, Alkhobar
A. Sheikh Abd Al-Qadir Al-Jailani was a scholar of great piety. He never claimed for himself any special powers. He tried hard to impress on people the need to live according to Islamic teachings. However, after his death people started to attribute to him exceptional powers. They claimed that he could work out miracles, answer their prayers and grant their wishes. He never claimed that in his life, let alone after his death. Anyone who believes that he can work out any miracles or grant wishes actually make of him a partner to God. This is the gravest sin anyone can commit. Unfortunately, some people appoint themselves guardians of such deceased figures, giving them the status of a saint, when no such status exists in Islam. These guardians exploit people’s ignorance, persuading them that they can intercede with such ‘saints’ and these, in turn, intercede with God to give them what they wish for. All this is false fabrication. Nothing can be achieved through this means, except landing a person in the category of those who associate partners with God. Thus, they take themselves out of the Islamic fold and condemn themselves to shirk, or polytheism.