Pilgrims embarking on the 2016 annual Hajj have been advised to seek piety and Allah’s forgiveness instead of wearing gold teeth for glamour when they reach Saudi Arabia.
The Chief Imam of Uthman bn Affan Mosque, Malam Abubakar Yusuf, gave the advice on Monday in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ilorin.
Yusuf said that gold teeth or grills had been denounced by some clerics as expensive, ostentatious, and superficial displays that strained the finances of the pilgrims.
“The wisdom behind Hajj is beyond fashion. It is an act of worship like five daily prayers, Ramadan, Zakat, among others, and one does not need fashion with it,’’ he said.
He said that gold teeth were dental prosthesis sometimes used for cosmetic purposes.
“Gold teeth or grills are made of metal, either silver, gold or diamond, which has become popular with pilgrims and are permanently attached to existing teeth,’’ Yusuf said.
The cleric said that it was not permissible for men to wear gold teeth fitted unless that was essential.
According to him, it is haraam (forbidden) for a man to wear gold or adorn himself with it.
“With regard to women, if it is customary for women to adorn themselves with gold teeth, then there is nothing wrong with them doing that.
“A woman may plate her teeth with gold if it is customary for women to adorn themselves in this manner and it is not extravagance,” Yusuf said.
He also said, “If a woman dies in this state or if a man dies who wore a gold tooth out of necessity, then it should be removed, unless there is the fear of mutilation of the corpse.
“Gold is considered to be a kind of wealth and wealth is to be inherited by the heirs of the deceased.
“Leaving it (gold) with the deceased and burying it is a waste of money, ’’ he said.
Yusuf, therefore, advised the pilgrims on piety, love of Allah and to concentrate on Hajj, rather than wasting energy and money on gold teeth.
NAN.
