Can Muslim Men Wear Gold Watches?

Question

Can Muslim men wear gold watches? And what about making or repairing them?

Bottom Line

Making and repairing are allowed, but wearing is not.

Quick Answer

Muslim men cannot wear gold watches. The Prophet ﷺ forbade gold for men and allowed it for women. A watch made of gold, even if functional, is treated as an adornment and therefore haram for men. Owning, repairing, or selling a gold watch as a financial asset is fine, because gold itself is halal to buy and sell.

Key Takeaway

• Gold is prohibited for men by clear hadith and scholarly consensus.
• A gold watch is treated as jewelry, not as a neutral tool.
• Owning, repairing, or selling a gold watch as a financial asset is fine because gold itself is halal to buy and sell.

Detailed Answer

When it comes to personal adornment, Islam sets clear boundaries for men and women. Gold, while a symbol of luxury and status in many cultures, carries a specific ruling in Shari‘ah: it is halal for women and haram for men. This isn’t about restriction for the sake of hardship, but about preserving balance, dignity, and distinction between genders. One of the most common modern questions is whether this ruling extends to gold watches, objects that are both functional and decorative. Scholars have addressed this directly, leaving no ambiguity: a gold watch is not merely a tool; it is an adornment and thus falls under the prohibition for men.

The Prophet ﷺ explicitly prohibited men from wearing gold. ‘Ali ibn Abi Talib (RA) reported:

“The Messenger of Allah ﷺ took a piece of silk in his right hand and some gold in his left, then said: ‘These two are haram for the males of my ummah and halal for the females.’” Abu Dawud 4057

Imam al-Nawawi stated that there is consensus among scholars: gold rings and, by extension, all forms of gold adornment are haram for men, even if only plated or partially gold.

The Standing Committee for Scholarly Research ruled:

“If the watch or its band is made of gold, it is not permissible for men to wear it. If it is not made of gold, then it is permissible.”

(Fatawa al-Lajnah al-Daimah, 24/63)

Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymin clarified:

“There is nothing wrong with gold-plated watches for women, but for men they are haram, because the Prophet ﷺ forbade gold for the males of his ummah.” (Majmu‘ Fatawa wa Rasail, 11/62)

As for making or repairing gold watches: if intended for women, it is permissible, since gold is lawful for them. But if intended for men, it is haram, because Allah forbids helping others in sin:

“…Do not help one another in sin and transgression.” Qur’an 5:2

What This Means for You

If you are a Muslim man, you cannot wear gold watches, whether pure or plated. You may wear silver, leather, steel, or other permissible materials as the Prophet ﷺ himself wore a silver ring.

And Allah knows best.

References

Primary Sources

Qur’an

1. Al-Ma’idah 5:2: Do not help one another in sin and transgression.

Hadith

2. Abu Dawud 4057: Gold and silk are forbidden for men, permitted for women.
3. al-Nasai 5144: Same narration confirming the prohibition.
4. Ibn Majah 3595: Reinforcement of prohibition.

Secondary Sources

5. Al-Nawawi, Sharh Sahih Muslim (14/32): Consensus on the prohibition of gold for men.
6. Fatawa al-Lajnah al-Daimah, 24/63 & 24/67: Rulings on gold watches and rings.
7. Majmu‘ Fatawa Ibn ‘Uthaymin, 11/62: Clarification on watches for women vs men.