Short answer
Yes. A Muslim man may wear one silver ring, and in the Hanafi school it should weigh less than one mithqal (about 4.37 grams). The stone can be any gem. Rings of iron, steel, brass, copper or platinum are not allowed for men in the Hanafi school, though the Shafi'is allow them. Other silver jewellery, like chains and bracelets, is not allowed for men.
A man may wear a single silver ring weighing less than one mithqal. Rings of other metals are makruh tahrimi for men. Wearing a ring is sunnah for someone who needs a seal, such as a judge or ruler; for others, leaving it is better, though wearing it is allowed.
Other madhhabs
- Shafi'i
- Rings of iron, copper and other non-gold metals are allowed for men, and on the stronger view are not even disliked; there is no fixed weight beyond what is customary.
Explanation
The Prophet ﷺ had a gold ring made, then threw it away and had a silver one made instead, and people followed him in wearing silver rings. Abu Bakr, Umar and Uthman wore that ring after him. So a silver ring is the one piece of jewellery that a Muslim man may wear without doubt.
Weight. The Hanafi books limit it to less than one mithqal, about 4.37 grams. Many chunky fashion rings weigh more, so if you buy a silver ring, check the weight.
The stone. The setting can hold any stone: agate (aqiq), ruby, sapphire or a diamond. Wear the ring on the little finger of either hand. Turning the stone towards the palm, as the Prophet did, is fine but not required.
Other metals. In the Hanafi school, iron, steel, brass and copper rings are makruh tahrimi for men, and most Hanafi muftis put platinum, titanium and tungsten in the same group, since the permission was given for silver only. This matters for wedding bands: see do Muslims wear wedding rings. Gold is haram for men in every school, as explained in is gold haram for men.
Other silver. A man may use silver for a belt buckle or a sword fitting, but silver chains, bracelets and earrings copy women's jewellery and are not allowed. See can Muslim men wear jewellery.
The evidence
Sahih al-Bukhari 5866
Sahih... ثم اتخذ خاتما من فضة فاتخذ الناس خواتيم الفضة ...
"Then he had a ring made of silver, and the people took to wearing silver rings."
Shows the Prophet wore a silver ring after discarding gold.
Sahih Muslim 2090
Sahih... يعمد أحدكم إلى جمرة من نار فيجعلها في يده ...
"One of you reaches for a burning coal from the Fire and puts it on his hand."
Shows a gold ring is not allowed, which is why silver became the men's ring.
Where the ruling is recorded
- al-Hidaya, Kitab al-Karahiyya, section on clothing. Only a silver ring is allowed for men.
- al-Durr al-Mukhtar with Radd al-Muhtar, Kitab al-Hazr wa al-Ibaha, section on clothing. The one-mithqal limit, other metals, and when wearing a ring is better left.
- Minhaj al-Talibin, Kitab al-Zakat, chapter on the zakat of gold and silver. The Shafi'i ruling on silver for men.
This answer is pending review by the scholars on our team. Quran translation by Sahih International. Hadith Arabic from the standard editions of the six books and the Muwatta, with gradings as recorded there; the English is our own rendering. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.