I have recently read in a book by Shaykh Al-Albaani that it is impermissible for men to wear any type of rings or jewelry regardless of what it is made of (I am aware that it is not permissible for men to wear gold). Also, the book stated that it was not permissible for women to wear rings or any other type of jewelry made of gold. Is this true? If so or if not, please give evidence of this from Qur'aan and/or Hadeeth.

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 'alyhi wa sallam, is His slave and Messenger.

Muslim scholars have agreed that wearing golden rings is forbidden for men. They have disagreed about wearing a silver ring, an iron ring and the like. The most correct opinion is that it is allowed. The evidence for that is the narration that the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam , wore a silver ring on his hand. [Muslim] Some scholars even believe that it is Sunnah to wear a silver ring. As for the iron ring, a narration reads that the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said to a person: "Search for something (to wear on your finger), even if it be an iron ring." [Al-Bukhari]

As for the other narration reported by Imaams Abu-Daawood and At-Tirmithi that the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said to a person who was wearing a iron ring: "Why is it that I see you wearing the adornment of the inhabitants of Hell?" Then it is a weak narration.

As for women wearing ring-shaped golden ornaments, it is permissible according to the texts that allow wearing gold for women in general. Allaah Says (what means): {So is one brought up in ornaments while being during conflict un-evident [attributed to Allaah]?}[Quran 43:18] The word ornaments mentioned in the verse includes golden and other kinds of ornaments.

Ibn Maajah reported that the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, once held silk in his left hand and gold in his right hand and said: "Both of these are prohibited to the males of my nation and lawful for females." Some scholars believe there is consensus upon this ruling.

Those scholars who do not agree with the opinion of Shaykh Al-Albaani which is contrary to this say that the texts he relied upon are either weak, abrogated, or contrary to the other sound narrations.

Allaah Knows best.