What is the ruling on wearing a wedding ring to protect oneself from suspicion and people's gossip – not to imitate disbelievers – in a society that thinks ill of someone who sees a girl with a young man if there is no wedding ring?

If the ring is made of gold, it is forbidden for men but permissible for women. As for silver, it is permissible for both genders. It is not part of the guidance of Muslims, but rather a custom of the disbelievers, said to be Pharaonic or Christian. Therefore, it should be abandoned due to the likelihood of imitating disbelievers, especially if it is accompanied by a corrupt belief that it brings spouses together and prevents their separation, for this is polytheism (shirk (definition)).