This excerpt is taken from Dr. Yusuf al-Qaradawi's book Halal and Haram in Islam, translated into Urdu by Muhammad Tahir Naqqash.
Gold and Silver Utensils:
That is why Islam has declared it forbidden for a Muslim household to have gold and silver utensils or pure silk beds. The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) gave a severe warning to those who deviate from this. Sayyida Umm Salama (may Allah be pleased with her) narrates:
إن الذى يأكل ويشرب فى أنية الذهب والفضة إنما يجرجر فى بطنه نار جهنم
"Whoever eats and drinks from gold and silver utensils, indeed he fills his stomach with the fire of Hell."
Reference: Bukhari, Book of Drinks, Chapter: Silver Utensils, Hadith: 5634 - Muslim, Book of Clothing, Chapter: Prohibition of Using Gold Utensils... Hadith: 2065
Sayyiduna Hudhaifa (may Allah be pleased with him) says:
نهانا رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم أن نشرب فى أنية الذهب والفضة وان ناكل فيها وعن لبس الحرير والديباج وأن نجلس عليه وقال: هو لهم فى الدنيا ولنا فى الآخرة
"The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) forbade us from eating and drinking from gold and silver utensils, and also prohibited wearing and sitting on silk and brocade clothes, and said: These things are for the disbelievers in this world, and for us will be in the Hereafter."
Reference: Bukhari, Book of Drinks, Chapter: Drinking from Gold Utensils, Hadith: 5632 and the wording is from Muslim, Book of Clothing: Chapter: Prohibition of Using Gold Utensils, Hadith: 2057 - similar
And when all these things are forbidden, then giving them as gifts or using them as decoration is also forbidden. The prohibition of gold and silver utensils and silk beds, etc., applies equally to both men and women. Because these things were forbidden to keep the home free from undesirable luxury items. Imam Ibn Qudamah (may Allah have mercy on him) has illuminated this very well. He says:
Considering the generality of the ruling of the hadith, this ruling is the same for both men and women because the reason for forbidding these things is extravagance, arrogance, and hurting the feelings of the poor, which concerns both parties. As for the permissibility of jewelry for women, it is so that they can adorn themselves for their husbands. For this necessity, it has been made permissible.
It may occur to someone to ask that if the reason for prohibition is this, then why are utensils made of yāqūt (ruby) and other precious stones not forbidden, which are even more valuable than gold and silver? The answer is that poor people are not familiar with these things, so the use of these things by the wealthy does not hurt the feelings of the poor. Also, these gems are found in such small quantities that making utensils from them is not even a question. Therefore, there is no need to declare them forbidden, but the case of gold and silver is different.
Reference: Al-Mughni, Vol. 8, p. 323
Besides these reasons, there is also an economic aspect, which we have already hinted at. In fact, gold and silver have the status of internationally secure capital for currency, which Allah has made a standard for the value of wealth. There is a kind of sovereign power in it that creates a proper balance in prices and serves as foreign exchange. Allah has guided its use in this way and blessed mankind with this bounty so that they keep it in circulation and this blessing was not given to them to keep it locked up at home as cash treasure or to make it useless by turning it into utensils and decorative items. Imam Ghazali (may Allah have mercy on him) has explained this very well in Ihya Ulum al-Din.
Whoever makes utensils of gold and silver from dirhams and dinars has shown ingratitude for the blessing, and his condition is worse than the one who hoards treasure, because his case is like the person who employed the ruler of the city in services like making cloth or sweeping, which ordinary people do. It is better to keep it than to use it in this way because clay, iron, lead, and copper are substitutes for gold and silver to preserve liquids, and utensils are only for preserving liquids, but the purpose of currency cannot be achieved with baked clay or iron, etc. Whoever is unaware of this reality should be enlightened by divine explanation and should be told this hadith:
من شرب فى أنية من ذهب أو فضة فكأنما يجرجر فى بطنه نار جهنم
"Whoever drinks from gold or silver utensils is as if he fills his stomach with the fire of Hell."
Reference: Bukhari, Book of Drinks, Chapter: Silver Utensils, Hadith: 5634 - Muslim, Book of Clothing, Chapter: Prohibition of Using Gold Utensils... Hadith: 2065, Ihya Ulum al-Din, Book of Gratitude and Patience 4-89
It would not be correct to think that as a result of this prohibition, Muslims face hardship in household matters. No! Rather, the range of pure and lawful things is quite wide beyond this. Glass, clay, porcelain, copper, and many other metal utensils are excellent! And beds and pillows made of cotton and linen, etc., are very fine things!
