77/25. Chapter:
Sahih Bukhari 5829 — Wearing Silk Except a Small Amount
The wearing of silk clothes by men
Hadith About Wearing Silk and the Two-Finger Exception
Sahih Bukhari : 5829
Sahih BukhariHadith Number 5829
حَدَّثَنَا أَحْمَدُ بْنُ يُونُسَ، حَدَّثَنَا زُهَيْرٌ، حَدَّثَنَا عَاصِمٌ، عَنْ أَبِي عُثْمَانَ، قَالَ كَتَبَ إِلَيْنَا عُمَرُ وَنَحْنُ بِأَذْرَبِيجَانَ أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم نَهَى عَنْ لُبْسِ الْحَرِيرِ إِلاَّ هَكَذَا، وَصَفَّ لَنَا النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم إِصْبَعَيْهِ. وَرَفَعَ زُهَيْرٌ الْوُسْطَى وَالسَّبَّابَةَ.
Abu `Uthman Narrated from:
While we were at Adharbijan, `Umar wrote to us: 'Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) forbade wearing silk except this much. Then the Prophet (ﷺ) approximated his two fingers (index and middle fingers) (to illustrate that) to us.' Zuhair (the sub-narrator) raised up his middle and index fingers.
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 5829In-book reference : Book 77, Hadith 46USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 7, Book 72, Hadith 719
Summary of Sahih Bukhari Hadith 5829
This hadith about wearing silk gives another wording of the same teaching. Abu Uthman reported that Umar wrote to them while they were in Adharbijan, saying that the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم forbade wearing silk except this much. The report then describes the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم bringing his index and middle fingers close together to show the amount. Zuhair, one of the narrators, raised his middle and index fingers while describing it. The key search phrase “silk except two fingers hadith” points directly to this narration. The teaching should be explained with care: the text allows only the small amount indicated, and it does not give room to make wider claims beyond that wording.
What we learn from this hadith
- The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم forbade wearing silk except a small indicated amount.
- The amount was shown by the index and middle fingers.
- Umar passed this instruction on in writing.
- The hadith should be read with the small exception clearly in mind.
