Permissibility of Silk Clothing

[ummtaalib]

Q. Are men and women allowed to wear synthetic silk clothing?

 

 

A. Gold and silk have been permitted for females and forbidden for males. Rasulullah Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam said:

 

“Gold and silk have been permitted for the females of my Ummah, and forbidden to the males.” (Nasaai)

 

The silk forbidden for males refers to pure silk produced from silk worms. It does not refer to synthetic or manufactured silk that is commonly referred to as silk clothing nowadays. Therefore, it would be permissible for males to wear clothing made of synthetic or manufactured silk and it would be forbidden for them to wear clothing made of pure silk. (Ahsanul Fataawa 8/66)

 

However, it is permissible for females to wear both synthetic and pure silk clothing.

 

And Allah Ta’ala Knows Best

 

Mufti Ismaeel Bassa

 

Confirmation: 

Mufti Ebrahim Desai

 

(Islamic rulings on this Q&A newsletter are answered in accordance to the Hanafi Fiqh) 

 

Fatwa Department

Jamiatul Ulama (KZN) 

Council of Muslim Theologians