Q 5: The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) says, If a man puts on a necklace, he will be excluded from the intercession of Muhammad. Does necklace here mean any kind of gold and silver necklaces; for I (Part No. 1; Page No. 121) used to cite this Hadith to warn the Muslim students who put on silver necklaces?

A: Wearing necklaces, rings or certain types of string to ward off evils is forbidden and is considered an act of Shirk (associating others with Allah in His Divinity or worship) no matter what kind they are; because the Prophet (peace be upon him) prohibited this act and renounced those who do it; it denotes reliance on someone other than Allah, Glorified be He. We should depend on Allah Alone, for He is the controller of good and evil and the Healer. When the Prophet (peace be upon him) saw a man with a brass ring in his hand, he asked, "What is that?" The man replied, "Something to protect me against Al-Wahinah [weakness; a fever]." The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, "Cast it off, for verily it would only increase your weakness. If you die with it on, you will never be successful." The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) also says, Anyone who wears an amulet commits an act of Shirk. May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.