Short answer
The Prophet ﷺ wore a silver ring, mainly to seal his letters. In the Hanafi school a silver ring is permitted for any man, but it is a sunnah for someone who needs a seal, such as a ruler or judge; for others leaving it is better. He wore it on the little finger, on the right hand and on the left. The Shafi'i school calls a silver ring sunnah for men in general.
A silver ring under one mithqal is permitted for men. It is sunnah for one who needs a seal, such as a ruler or judge, and for others not wearing it is better. It is worn on the little finger, and the later Hanafi texts prefer the left hand.
Other madhhabs
- Shafi'i
- Wearing a silver ring on the little finger is sunnah for men in general, and Nawawi preferred the right hand.
Explanation
When the Prophet ﷺ wanted to write to foreign rulers, he was told that they only read letters bearing a seal. So he had a silver ring made, engraved with "Muhammad Rasul Allah". Abu Bakr, Umar and Uthman used that ring after him as rulers. Its main purpose was to seal letters.
The Hanafi view. Because the ring was worn for a need, the Hanafi texts say it is a sunnah for a man who needs a seal, such as a ruler, judge or official, and that for others it is permitted but leaving it is better. A man who wears a silver ring out of love for the Prophet is not blamed. Women may wear rings of gold or silver freely as adornment.
Which finger and hand. Anas pointed to the little finger of the left hand, and another report says the Prophet wore his ring on his right hand. Ali said he was told not to wear his ring on the middle finger or the one beside it. So wear it on the little finger of either hand. The later Hanafi texts prefer the left.
The metal and the stone. In the Hanafi school a man's ring must be silver and under about 4.37 grams; see can men wear a silver ring. The stone can be any gem. Reports that aqeeq or other stones bring blessing are not authentic; see are birthstones haram. A ring has nothing to do with marriage, so unmarried men may wear one too; see wedding rings.
The evidence
Quran, Surah Al-Ahzaab 33:21
لَّقَدْ كَانَ لَكُمْ فِى رَسُولِ ٱللَّهِ أُسْوَةٌ حَسَنَةٌۭ لِّمَن كَانَ يَرْجُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ وَٱلْيَوْمَ ٱلْءَاخِرَ وَذَكَرَ ٱللَّهَ كَثِيرًۭا ﴿٢١﴾
There has certainly been for you in the Messenger of Allah an excellent pattern for anyone whose hope is in Allah and the Last Day and [who] remembers Allah often.
The Prophet's practice is the model, read in light of why he did it.
Sahih al-Bukhari 65
Sahih... فاتخذ خاتما من فضة نقشه محمد رسول الله ...
"So he had a silver ring made, engraved with 'Muhammad Rasul Allah'."
The ring was made to seal letters.
Sahih Muslim 2095
Sahih... كان خاتم النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم في هذه وأشار إلى الخنصر من يده اليسرى ...
"The Prophet's ring was on this one, and he pointed to the little finger of his left hand."
The left little finger.
Sahih Muslim 2094
Sahih... لبس خاتم فضة في يمينه ...
"He wore a silver ring on his right hand."
The right hand is also reported.
Sahih Muslim 2078
Sahih... نهاني رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم أن أتختم في إصبعي هذه أو هذه ...
"The Messenger of Allah forbade me from wearing a ring on this finger or this one."
Ali pointed to the middle and index fingers.
Where the ruling is recorded
- al-Durr al-Mukhtar with Radd al-Muhtar, Kitab al-Hazr wa al-Ibaha, section on clothing. Leaving the ring is better for those other than a ruler, judge or one who needs it; which hand to wear it on.
- al-Hidaya, Kitab al-Karahiyya, section on clothing. Men wear rings of silver only; the ruler and judge need a seal.
- al-Majmu' (Nawawi), Kitab al-Zakat, chapter on gold and silver. The Shafi'i view on men's silver rings and the preferred hand.
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.