On Purchasing a Bed with Silver in it

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).

 Imam Ahmed ibn Hijazi ibn Budayr Al-Fushayni (rahimahu Allah) mentioned in his commentary on Nazmu Matn Ghayat At-Taqrib:

روي البخاري عن عاصم الأحول: رأيت قدح رسول الله صلي الله عليه وسلم عند أنس بن مالك رضي الله عنه وكان قد انصدع: اي انشق فسلسله بفضة: أي شده بخيط فضة والفاعل هو أنس كما روي البيهقي. قال أنس: لقد سقيت رسول الله صلي الله عليه وسلم في هذا القدح أكثر من كذا وكذا. ففيه جواز استعمال المضبب للحاجة بفضة ضبة صغيرة بلا كراهة فإن كانت كبيرة للحاجة كما قال الناظم فمكروه. ومرجع الكبيرة والصغيرة العرف.

Al-Bukhari narrated on the authority of `Asim Al-Ahwal: I saw the cup of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) with Anas ibn Malik (may Allah be pleased with him) and it has a friction and it was chained with silver. the one who did it was Anas as narrated by Al-Bayhaqi> Anas said: I have given the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) many times water in this cup. This indicates that it is permissible to use the utensil soldered with small piece silver without any reprehensibility as long as it is for a need. if there is a need but the amount is big, then it is reprehensible (makruh). Deciding whether it is big or small depends on the custom.

In conclusion, the opinion in the madhhab is what has been mentioned by Imam An-Nawawi. So, there is no harm in using silver in the bed you want to buy as long as there is a valid need for this which is to maintain hygiene and protect the health of you and your family.

Wallahu `alam

Answered by: Shaykh Ahmed Saad Al-Azhari