Short answer
Jewellery and watches are removed, because they now belong to the heirs and burying wealth wastes it. A gold tooth or filling is removed only if it comes out easily without damaging the body; otherwise it is left. Internal implants such as plates, screws and pacemakers are left in place.
The dead are buried in the kafan only; jewellery and other valuables are removed, as they are part of the estate. Fixed items whose removal would mutilate the body are left, since the body's honour remains after death. Implants that are part of the body are not taken out.
The four schools agree on this.
Explanation
When the washing team prepares the body, they will ask the family about rings, earrings, bangles, a watch or a nose stud. Islam buries the dead in the plain white kafan, not in their finery. Everything the person owned now belongs to the estate, and burying gold or other valuables wastes wealth, which the Prophet ﷺ disliked.
Rings and jewellery. Remove them gently before the washing. If a ring will not come off, use soap or oil. If it is stuck fast, it may be cut. Hand the items to the family; they are divided with the estate. See a dead person's belongings.
Gold teeth and fillings. The Prophet ﷺ allowed a Companion who lost his nose in battle to have one made of gold, so gold used for a medical need is allowed in life. After death, if a gold crown comes out easily, it is removed and given to the heirs. If removing it would mean breaking the jaw or forcing the mouth, it is left. The Prophet ﷺ said that breaking a dead person's bone is like breaking it in life.
- Implants such as plates, screws, joint replacements and stents are left.
- Pacemakers are left for burial. They are removed only before cremation, which Muslims do not do.
- Artificial limbs, glasses, dentures and hearing aids that come off easily are removed.
- A wig or hair extensions are removed.
If the family is unsure, ask the mosque's washing team; they deal with this often. Never cut or open the body to take anything out.
The evidence
Quran, Surah Al-Israa 17:70
۞ وَلَقَدْ كَرَّمْنَا بَنِىٓ ءَادَمَ وَحَمَلْنَٰهُمْ فِى ٱلْبَرِّ وَٱلْبَحْرِ وَرَزَقْنَٰهُم مِّنَ ٱلطَّيِّبَٰتِ وَفَضَّلْنَٰهُمْ عَلَىٰ كَثِيرٍۢ مِّمَّنْ خَلَقْنَا تَفْضِيلًۭا ﴿٧٠﴾
And We have certainly honored the children of Adam and carried them on the land and sea and provided for them of the good things and preferred them over much of what We have created, with [definite] preference.
The body must not be damaged to take out an object.
Sahih al-Bukhari 2408
Sahih... وكره لكم قيل وقال وكثرة السؤال وإضاعة المال ...
"He disliked for you gossip, asking too much, and wasting wealth."
Burying valuables wastes wealth that belongs to the heirs.
Sunan Abi Dawud 3207
Graded sahih... كسر عظم الميت ككسره حيا ...
"Breaking a dead person's bone is like breaking it while he is alive."
Nothing should be removed in a way that harms the body.
Sunan Abi Dawud 4232
Graded hasan... فأنتن عليه فأمره النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم فاتخذ أنفا من ذهب ...
"It began to smell, so the Prophet ﷺ instructed him, and he had a nose made of gold."
Arfajah's silver nose went bad and the Prophet ﷺ approved gold instead, so gold used for a medical need is allowed.
Where the ruling is recorded
- al-Fatawa al-Hindiyya, Kitab al-Salah, chapter on the jana'iz, section on shrouding. The dead are shrouded in the kafan only.
- Radd al-Muhtar (Ibn Abidin), Kitab al-Salah, Bab Salat al-Janazah, burial. Valuables in a grave belong to the heirs; the honour of the body after death.
Checked by our team. For a more accurate answer to your own situation, consult a scholar. Quran translation by Sahih International. Hadith Arabic from the standard editions of the six books and the Muwatta, with gradings as recorded there; the English is our own rendering. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.