Question:
Is it permissible for a man to wear suasa ring?
Answer:
Suasa according to Kamus Besar Dewan Bahasa is a mixture of metals of gold and copper. [1] Thus, suasa ring is made from the mixture of gold and copper.
The Ruling of Men Wearing Gold as an Adornment
It is prohibited for men to wear gold as an adornment. This is in accordance to a hadith by the Prophet PBUH:
أُحِلَّ الذَّهَبُ وَالْحَرِيرُ لإِنَاثِ أُمَّتِي وَحُرِّمَ عَلَى ذُكُورِهَا
"Gold and silk have been permitted for the females of my Ummah, and forbidden to the males."
Sunan al-Nasai’e (5148)
In another narration, the Prophet PBUH said:
مَنْ كَانَ يُؤْمِنُ بِاللهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الْآخِرِ فَلَا يَلْبَسْ حَرِيرًا وَلَا ذَهَبًا
“He who believes in Allah SWT and the hereafter, do not wear silk and gold.”
Sunan al-Imam Ahmad in his Musnad (22249)
The Ruling of Men Wearing Gold Ring
Knowing the prohibition of men to wear gold as an adornment, it can be concluded that wearing gold ring for men is also prohibited. This is made clear by a hadith from the Prophet PBUH, from Abu Hurairah RA:
أنَّهُ نَهَى عَنْ خَاتَمِ الذَّهَبِ
“The Prophet [SAW] forbade gold rings.”
Sahih Muslim (2089)
Al-Imam al-Nawawi Rahimahullah said that it is permissible for women to wear gold ring according to ijmak (consensus of scholars), while it is prohibited for men to wear gold ring. [2]
In another hadith, Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) saw a person wearing a gold signet ring in his hand. He (the Holy Prophet) pulled it off and threw it away, saying:
يَعْمِدُ أَحَدُكُمْ إِلَى جَمْرَةٍ مِنْ نَارٍ فَيَجْعَلُهَا فِي يَدِهِ
“One of you is wishing live coal from Hell. And putting it on his hand.”
Sahih Muslim (2029)
The prohibition and threat to the man that wear the gold ring in the above hadith proves the prohibition for men to wear gold rings.
The Ruling for Men to Wear Suasa Ring
As mentioned above, suasa ring or also known as colored gold ring is made from the mixture of gold and copper. Thus, its composition is not pure gold but is mixed with other metals, such as copper.
To our knowledge, suasa has its own percentage of metals mixture. Generally, suasa is made out of (approximation) 70% copper, 20% gold and 10% silver. These metals are mixed through certain methods to produce suasa.
Hence, what is scholars’ opinion regarding rings or anything that made from gold mixed with other metals?
In mazhab Syafi’e, al-Imam al-Nawawi Rahimahullah explains the case for any metal plated with gold, in his book al-Majmu’:
لَوْ كَانَ الْخَاتَمُ فِضَّةً وَمَوَّهَهُ بِذَهَبٍ أَوْ مَوَّهَ السَّيْفَ وَغَيْرَهُ مِنْ آلَاتِ الْحَرْبِ أَوْ غَيْرِهَا بِذَهَبٍ فَإِنْ كَانَ تَمْوِيهًا يَحْصُلُ منه شئ إنْ عُرِضَ عَلَى النَّارِ فَهُوَ حَرَامٌ بِالِاتِّفَاقِ وإن لم يحصل منه شئ فطريقان (أصحهما) وَبِهِ قَطَعَ الْعِرَاقِيُّونَ يَحْرُمُ لِلْحَدِيثِ (وَالثَّانِي) فِيهِ وَجْهَانِ حَكَاهُمَا الْبَغَوِيّ وَسَائِرُ الْخُرَاسَانِيِّينَ أَوْ جُمْهُورُهُمْ أَحَدُهُمَا (يَحْرُمُ) (وَالثَّانِي) يَحِلُّ لِأَنَّهُ كَالْعَدَمِ
If a ring is made of silver mixed (with fire) with gold, or a sword or other tools of war, and it is plated with gold, if it is melted back using fire, and there is still gold (can be separated back into its own form) then it is prohibited according to ijmak (majority of scholars). If the gold can no longer return back to its form, then there are two opinions (the stronger opinion among the two) and it was decided by al-Iraq scholars that it is prohibited. (Both) of the opinions is narrated by al-Baghawi, and the scholars of Khurasan or the majority of them, prohibit it and (the second opinion) permits it for it is ruled as if there is no gold (there are no gold after it is melted back). [3]
Conclusion
According to the above statements, in our opinion it is prohibited and impermissible for men to wear suasa ring. This is in accordance to the hadith that prohibits men to wear gold as an adornment, as it has been clearly prohibited by the Prophet PBUH.
We also apply the Islamic legal maxim of:
إذا اجتَمَع الحلالُ والحرامُ غُلِّبَ الحرام
“If the halal and the haram are joined, then the haram takes precedence” [4]
The composition of a ring that contains gold is still considered as gold since there is some gold percentage in it even if there are other metals mixed with it. The prohibition is based on the fact that if the ring is melted back and there is still gold left, then it is prohibited. The same applies to when it is melted back, and there is no gold left, the strong opinion state that it is also prohibited, as stated by al-Imam al-Nawawi.
It is permissible for men to wear rings made from silver, for the Prophet PBUH’s ring is made from silver. Thus, choose something that is permissible according to syara’ and avoid the syubhah (uncertainty). Wallahua’lam.