Answered by Ustadha Shaista Maqbool
What exactly is meant by “wearing” when it is said men cannot wear silk? Would a silk shawl that one carries on the shoulder, or a handkerchief that one keeps in the pocket be permissible? What about silk turbans?
Wa’alaikum assalaam warahmatu Allah,
“It is not disliked to pray on a rug of silk because what is prohibited for men: is wearing [actually] or effectively, such as a blanket. As for benefiting [from it] by any means – it is not prohibited [to do such].” Nahlawi, al-Hazr wal-Ibahah
What is meant by “wearing” silk is what one would normally describe/associate as wearing. For example, one would say, “he is wearing a shawl,” or “he is wearing a turban.”
However, you would not say, “he is wearing a handkerchief.
Additionally, ‘wearing’ constitutes that which ‘in effect’ is wearing: i.e. a blanket. One wouldn’t say, “he is wearing a blanket,” but a blanket may serve a purpose similar to that of clothes, which in effect, one may describe as ‘wearing’.
One should take note: the silk which is prohibited to wear is pure silk, not manufactured silk. Pure silk can have a rough texture, is rare to come across, and is many times more expensive than manufactured silk. The width of four fingers of pure silk on the ends or sleeves of a garment is permissible, not more. If the silk is spread out ( i.e. one finger-width here, another there), it is not combined, such that one may have a total of more than the four finger-width yet the garment would still be permissible to wear.
And Allah knows best.
Shaista Maqbool