________________________________________________________________________ | w w w |\ | || || | || |\ | o_,_7 _|| . _o_7 _|| 4_|_|| o_w_, |\ | ( : / (_) / ( . |\ | |\ | || || | || |T | | || | |\ | . _, _8 |_D_|| . _,_,_,_D_|| 4_|| q ]_o_7_o _|_c 4_|_|| _|,_p q |\ | (_): / (_): . : / (_S (_S / |\ | |\ | In the Name of Allah, the Compassionate, the All-Merciful |\ | Greeting of Allah be upon Muhammad and the pure members of his House |\ |_______________________________________________________________________|\ Salamun `Alaykum The following question was kindly answered by Maulana Rizvi. Fee Amaanillah, Akil Karim Acting Moderator for ABDG-A ---------- Forwarded message ---------- QUESTION: I understand that it is not permissible for a male to wear "clothing" items made of 100% silk. Most good quality neck ties are made of 100% silk, however I acknowledge that ties made of other materials are available. Is it permissible for a male to wear an item of 100% silk, not as clothing, but as a "decoration" such as a pocket square or neck tie. Please reply according to the Risala of Ayatullah Khui, and/or according to Ayatullah Sistani. (Please note that many brothers and sisters follow Ayatullah Khui and refer to Ayatullah Sistani for new Risala.) ANSWER: According to Ayatullah al-Khu`i: Wearing a dress made of 100% silk is haram for men at all times. However, he says: "There is no problem in carrying it [an item made from 100% silk] in salat and outside salat or in using it as bed-sheet or mantle --- as long as these items are not identified as `dress'. "And there is no problem in making the hem of dress with it [100% silk] although it is ihtiyat wajib* that the hem should not be more than four fingers in width. "And there is similarly no problem in using it [100% silk] for waist-band...lace/braid...even the inner-linning of suits, etc. "But a dress (libas) which is not sufficient [by itself for appropriate covering] in salat, then it is ihtiyat wajib** to refrain from it." (Minhaju 's-Salihiyn, vol. 1, p. 139) * & ** In both these cases, Ayatullah Sistani says it is ihtiyat mustahab, not wajib. (Minhaju 's-Salihiyn, vol. 1, p.179) In the light of the above, the use of a dress with pocket square would be allowed. About the neck-tie, I am still not sure how we would classify it -- as an item of dress or a decorative part of it? Yours in Islam, Sayyid Muhammad Rizvi