Writing the dowry on a piece of silk

 

Upper-class
people have the custom of writing the dowry on a piece of pure silk. Is
this permissible?

Praise be to Allaah. 

It
is not permissible, because it is not permissible for men to use silk as
clothing or for any other purpose. It is permissible for women to wear it.
This usage of silk is a men’s affair, hence it is haraam. We should not
be deceived by the fact that so many people follow this custom, or that so
many people see it and do not speak out against it. This is like all other
haraam things that people customarily do. A group of our companions have
clearly stated that it is haraam to write the dowry on silk. And Allaah
knows best.