❀ 7 Shar‘i Rulings on Filling Teeth with Gold, Silver, or Steel ❀
Derived from: Fatāwā ad-Dīn al-Khālis, Volume 1, Page 408
Is it permissible to fill a tooth with iron, gold, or silver?
What is the ruling on wuḍū and ghusl in such a condition?
Filling teeth due to medical needs—such as cavities or pain—is permissible in Sharīʿah.
Such fillings may be done using steel, gold, or silver, based on several aḥādīth and athār (reports from the Companions and Tabiʿīn).
His nose was cut off in battle.
He initially had a silver prosthetic made, which began to emit an unpleasant odor.
The Prophet ﷺ instructed him to replace it with a nose made of gold.
“It is reported from more than one scholar that they strengthened their teeth with gold. This ḥadīth is their evidence.”
“Based on this ḥadīth, scholars have deemed it permissible to use gold to strengthen the teeth or create a prosthetic nose.”
“This ḥadīth establishes the permissibility of using a small amount of gold for men in cases of necessity, such as dental repair when other materials are ineffective.”
Reported by ʿAbdullāh ibn Aḥmad in Zawā’id al-Musnad (1/72):
➤ Wāqid ibn ʿAbdullāh at-Tamīmī stated:
“I saw ʿUthmān ibn ʿAffān رضي الله عنه with gold covering on his teeth.”
Although the chain contains an unknown narrator, this narration is supported by several similar reports.
Once a tooth is filled, it is considered part of the internal body.
Hence, even if water does not reach the filled area, wuḍū and ghusl remain valid.
There is no Shar‘ī objection to this.
The use of gold, silver, or steel for dental filling is permissible—but only in cases of medical necessity.
If other materials are suitable, gold should be avoided unless needed.
✔ It is permissible to fill teeth with gold, silver, or steel if medically required.
✔ Such fillings do not affect the validity of wuḍū or ghusl, even if water does not reach the filled area.
✔ This ruling is supported by authentic aḥādīth, scholarly opinions, and practices of the Companions and Tabiʿīn.
ھذا ما عندي، واللہ أعلم بالصواب
Derived from: Fatāwā ad-Dīn al-Khālis, Volume 1, Page 408
❖ Question:
Is it permissible to fill a tooth with iron, gold, or silver?
What is the ruling on wuḍū and ghusl in such a condition?
✿ ① Shar‘ī Ruling on Dental Fillings
Filling teeth due to medical needs—such as cavities or pain—is permissible in Sharīʿah.
Such fillings may be done using steel, gold, or silver, based on several aḥādīth and athār (reports from the Companions and Tabiʿīn).
✿ ② Evidence: Repairing Teeth or Nose with Gold or Silver
✔ Ḥadīth of ʿArfajah ibn Saʿd رضي الله عنه:
His nose was cut off in battle.
He initially had a silver prosthetic made, which began to emit an unpleasant odor.
The Prophet ﷺ instructed him to replace it with a nose made of gold.
- Abū Dāwūd (2/23), Ḥadīth 4232 — Chapter: Strengthening Teeth with Gold
- al-Tirmidhī (2/153), Ḥadīth 842
- Mishkāt al-Maṣābīḥ (2/389)
✿ ③ Opinions of the Scholars
✔ Imām al-Tirmidhī رحمه الله:
“It is reported from more than one scholar that they strengthened their teeth with gold. This ḥadīth is their evidence.”
✔ ʿAlī al-Qārī رحمه الله in
“Based on this ḥadīth, scholars have deemed it permissible to use gold to strengthen the teeth or create a prosthetic nose.”
✔ Imām al-Khaṭṭābī رحمه الله in
“This ḥadīth establishes the permissibility of using a small amount of gold for men in cases of necessity, such as dental repair when other materials are ineffective.”
✿ ④ Athār from the Companions and Tabiʿīn
Reported by ʿAbdullāh ibn Aḥmad in Zawā’id al-Musnad (1/72):
➤ Wāqid ibn ʿAbdullāh at-Tamīmī stated:
“I saw ʿUthmān ibn ʿAffān رضي الله عنه with gold covering on his teeth.”
Although the chain contains an unknown narrator, this narration is supported by several similar reports.
- Also found in Kanz al-ʿUmmāl (6/496), Ḥadīth 17447
- Muṣannaf Ibn Abī Shaybah (8/310) reports that leading Tabiʿīn such as Mūsā ibn Ṭalḥah, Nāfiʿ ibn Jubayr, al-Ḥasan, al-Mughīrah, Ibrāhīm an-Nakhaʿī, and Thābit al-Bunānī considered it permissible to reinforce teeth with gold.
✿ ⑤ Ruling on Wuḍū and Ghusl After Dental Filling
Once a tooth is filled, it is considered part of the internal body.
Hence, even if water does not reach the filled area, wuḍū and ghusl remain valid.
There is no Shar‘ī objection to this.
✿ ⑥ Permissibility Conditioned on Necessity
The use of gold, silver, or steel for dental filling is permissible—but only in cases of medical necessity.
If other materials are suitable, gold should be avoided unless needed.
✿ ⑦ Conclusion:
✔ It is permissible to fill teeth with gold, silver, or steel if medically required.
✔ Such fillings do not affect the validity of wuḍū or ghusl, even if water does not reach the filled area.
✔ This ruling is supported by authentic aḥādīth, scholarly opinions, and practices of the Companions and Tabiʿīn.
ھذا ما عندي، واللہ أعلم بالصواب
