What is the religious ruling on wearing an embroidered garment by men, if the person was unaware of the prohibition when he made it; should he wear it or throw it away?

All perfect praise be to Allaah, the Lord of the worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His slave and Messenger.

If the garment is embroidered with gold or silver threads, then it is absolutely impermissible for men to wear it. However, women are allowed to wear it, without restriction.

If the garment is embroidered with silk, then it is permissible for women to wear it, without restriction. As for men, it is permissible for them to wear silk only in case of a necessity or skin irritation. The same ruling applies if the silk lines in the garment are few. The limit of this is that the embroidered spot should not extend for more than four fingers. ‘Umar said, "The Messenger of Allaah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, forbade the wearing of silk, except for an area no more than two fingers, or three or four fingers." [Muslim]

An-Nawawi said:

This (version of the) hadith underlined the permissibility of wearing a garment with ornamental silk embroidery, as long as it is not more than two to four fingers in width. This is our adopted opinion and that of the majority of the Muslim scholars. One of the reported opinions of Imam Malik suggested that wearing a garment that is embroidered with silk threads is forbidden. However, some of the Maliki scholars held the opinion that it is permissible to wear a garment that is embroidered with silk threads without any specification of the embroidered spot. However, these two opinions are refuted by virtue of explicit hadiths.

Hence, if the embroidered spot does not exceed the width of four fingers, like its being a pocket or sleeve opening, there is no harm in wearing such a garment. The same applies if the garment has a lining of silk or hanging silk threads. The criterion is that the silk threads should not exceed the width of four fingers.

As for the clothes embellished with threads made of other than gold, silver, and silk, there is nothing wrong in them being worn by both men and women. This is classified under the permissible adornment that Allaah, the Exalted, allowed for His slaves and even enjoined in certain occasions.

Allaah, the Exalted, said (what means):

•        {O children of Adam, take your adornment at every mosque, and eat and drink, but be not excessive. Indeed, He likes not those who commit excess.} [Quran 7:31]

•        {Say, "Who has forbidden the adornment of Allaah that He has produced for His servants and the good [lawful] things of provision?"} [Quran 7:32]

Ibn ‘Abbaas reported that the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: "Eat, give charity and clothe yourselves, without being extravagant, and without showing off." [Al-Bukhari]

The conclusion is that it is permissible for women to wear any type of silk-made clothes, whereas it is impermissible for men to wear such clothes or those embellished with gold or silver. However, wearing silken clothes is allowable for men in case of necessity or if the silk threads do not exceed an area the width of four fingers.

It is impermissible for men to wear forbidden types of garments, and it is impermissible for him to throw it away because it is an item of property that should be preserved. He may sell it for the same price that he paid for it, offer it as a gift to a woman, or give it in charity.

Allaah Knows best.