Question:
Assalamualaikum SS Dato’ Seri Mufti. I want to ask, is it permissible for me to perform the ablution while wearing my ring? If it is permissible, how should I do so?
Answer:
Waalaikumussalam wrt,
Alhamdulillah, praise and thanks to Allah for the countless blessings He has blessed us all with. Blessings and salutations to the Prophet Muhammad PBUH, his wives, his family, companions and all those that follow his teachings to the day of judgement.
Allah SWT commanded a person to perform the ablution before performing certain worships such as, prayer, tawaf (circumambulation), touching the mushaf al-Quran and others. Allah SWT states:
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا إِذَا قُمْتُمْ إِلَى الصَّلَاةِ فَاغْسِلُوا وُجُوهَكُمْ وَأَيْدِيَكُمْ إِلَى الْمَرَافِقِ وَامْسَحُوا بِرُءُوسِكُمْ وَأَرْجُلَكُمْ إِلَى الْكَعْبَيْنِ ۚ وَإِن كُنتُمْ جُنُبًا فَاطَّهَّرُوا ۚ
“O you who have believed, when you rise to [perform] prayer, wash your faces and your forearms to the elbows and wipe over your heads and wash your feet to the ankles. And if you are in a state of janabah, then purify yourselves.”
Surah al-Maidah (6)
There are other advantages for those who perform ablution perfecting it. Among them is a hadith narrated by Uthman Ibn ‘Affan RA, the Prophet PBUH said:
منْ تَوَضَّأَ فَأَحْسَنَ الوضوءَ، خَرَجَت خَطَايَاهُ مِنْ جسَدِهِ حتَّى تَخْرُجَ مِنْ تحتِ أَظفارِهِ
“He who performed ablution well, his sins would come out from his body, even coming out from under his nails.”
Sahih Muslim (1/216)
Originally, the ruling of wearing ring for men is permissible with the exception of rings made from gold. Gold rings are haram for men according to a hadith narrated by Abu Hurairah RA:
أنَّهُ نَهَى عَنْ خَاتَمِ الذَّهَبِ
“Allah's Apostle (ﷺ) forbade the wearing of gold signet ring.”
Sahih Muslim (2089)
Whereas for women, the consensus of scholars state that it is permissible for women to wear gold as an adornment for herself and it is haram for men. (Refer al-Minhaj Syarh Sahih al-Muslim lin Nawawi, 14:65)
Regarding the ruling and way to perform ablution while wearing a ring, the scholars have two differing opinions on the matter:
- According to the majority of jurists (fuqaha’), it is obligatory to move the ring when washing the hand, if the ring is tight where it is uncertain whether water can reach the skin underneath it. However, if the ring is loose or it is certain that water reaches the skin, then it is not obligatory to move the ring, it is sunnah to do so.
- Malikiyyah scholars hold the opinion that it is not obligatory to move the ring on one’s fingers even if it is tight, if the ring is permissible in syarak. (Refer al-Mausu’ah al-Fiqhiyyah al-Kuwaitiyyah, 11:30)
However, it is different if a person is performing tayammum or purifying himself. The majority of scholars from the Malikiyyah, Syafi’iyyah and Hanabilah agreed that it is necessary to take the ring off during tayammum in ensuring the earth reaches the skin of the person performing tayammum. (Refer al-Mausu’ah al-Fiqhiyyah al-Kuwaitiyyah, 11:31)
Conclusion
According to the above discussion, in our opinion, the ablution of a person who wears a ring is valid. However, if the ring worn is tight and it is uncertain whether water reaches the skin underneath it, then it is obligatory for him to move the ring, ensuring water reaches his skin.
Moreover, we encourage anyone who is wearing a loose ring to also move the ring to ensure that water really reaches his skin. This is according to an Islamic legal maxim:
الْخُرُوجُ مِنْ الْخِلَافِ مُسْتَحَبٌّ
“Walking away of khilaf is prioritized.” (Refer al-Asybah wa al-Nadzair li al-Suyuti: 136)
May Allah SWT bless us with the right understanding in obeying the commandments of Islam and obedience in worship in line with what Allah SWT and the Prophet PBUH wishes. Amin.
Wallahua’lam.