Utensils

Question:

Assalamu ‘alaykum, I need to urgently purchase a bed, the bed I had in mind has silver weaver into it’s fabric for anti bacterial purposes. Is this permissible to use or should I abstain?

Answer:

Bismillah Ar-Rahmanir Rahim

All thanks and praise are due to Allah and peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah.

It is permissible in the Shafi`ie madhhab to use items that are blended or has some silver in them, even if it is a large quantity, as long as there is a need for that. Imam An-Nawawi (radia Allahu `anhu) mentions in Al-Minhaj:

وما ضبب بذهب أو فضة ضبة كبيرة لزينة حرم أو صغيرة بقدر الحاجة فلا أو صغيرة لزينة أو كبيرة لحاجة جاز في الأصح. قلت: المذهب تحريم ضبة الذهب مطلقا والله أعلم

What has been beautified with gold or silver in big amount for the purpose of beautification is impermissible. However, if it is a small amount and done for a need, then it is permissible. If it is big but for a need, it is permissible according to the most authentic opinion. I say: The official opinion in the madhhab is the impermissibility of anything soldered with gold generally (i.e. regardless of its size).