Grand Ayatullah Shirazi remarks on ruling of using gold for men
The daily scholarly meeting of Grand Ayatollah Seyyed Sadegh al-Hosseini al-Shirazi was held on Thursday and Friday, the 11th and 12th of Sha’ban. In these sessions, like the previous meetings, the Marja answered the questions of the attendees about various jurisprudential issues.
Regarding the ruling on the use of gold for men, Grand Ayatollah Shirazi said: This issue has been covered in Urwa al-Wuthqa and is a point of disagreement among jurists. A group of jurists consider the use of gold absolutely forbidden for men, while another group deem the practice not absolutely haram.
Regarding the use of gold for adornment, his Eminence said: Among the issues that have been discussed among jurists is whether the use of gold is not permissible for a man at all, or whether adorning with gold is also haram? For example, wearing a gold-coated tooth, or adorning clothes with gold, or holding a gold rosary in hand. The opinion of Fuqaha is divided on this matter, but some have considered the latter use as permissible, and I hold the same opinion.
The Marja continued: This group of jurists have argued that, based on the hadith, the concept of forbidden use of gold relates to wearing it, so practices such as using gold earrings, gold rings, gold anklets, and gold bangles are haram for men, but, otherwise, the use of gold is not haram for men.
Regarding the use of gold while praying, Grand Ayatollah Shirazi said: There is a difference among jurists regarding this issue, and a group of jurists have issued a fatwa that the use of gold, in addition to being forbidden, also renders Salaat invalid.
