Which is more deserving of a donation: completing the construction of a poor maternal uncle's house, or building a minaret for a mosque in one's hometown?

All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.

The scholars have differed regarding the ruling on wearing rings of different metals. Some held that it is permissible to wear rings of silver, iron, and lead, and impermissible to wear rings of gold. This is the view of the Hanafis and the Hanbalis.

Others held that it is permissible to wear rings of silver, but impermissible to wear rings of any other metal, such as iron, lead, and brass. This is the view of the Shafi'is. They cited as evidence the narration of Buraydah that a man came to the Prophet (PBUH) wearing an iron ring. He (PBUH) said: "What is it that I see on you, the adornment of the people of Hell?" So he cast it away. Then he came wearing a brass ring. He (PBUH) said: "What is it that I see on you, the odor of idols?" So he cast it away. Then he said: "O Messenger of Allah, from what should I wear?" He (PBUH) said: "From silver, if you wish, so long as it does not reach a mithqal." [Abu Dawood and An-Nasaa'i]

The view of the Hanbalis and Hanafis is that it is permissible to wear rings of iron, provided it is not intended for adornment. This is because iron is a cheap metal, and wearing it for adornment implies belittling oneself. The evidence that it is not forbidden is the saying of Allah (which means): {And We certainly gave David from Us bounty. [We said], "O mountains, repeat [praises] with him, and birds [as well]. And We made iron pliable for him."} [Quran 34:10] And there are narrations stating that the Prophet (PBUH) wore an iron ring.

What appears to be the preponderant view, and Allah knows best, is the permissibility of wearing rings of iron, provided that one is not wearing them for adornment or pride. As for the narration of Buraydah, it is weak due to the presence of Maimoonah bint Karamah, who is unknown, and the weakness of Umayyah ibn Shaykh.

The Hanbali scholar Al-Buhooti said in Kashshaaf al-Qinaa' regarding the ruling on an iron ring: "It is permissible for a man to wear a ring of iron, for a Hadith states that the Prophet (PBUH) ordered a man who wanted to marry to find something, even if it was an iron ring, and the Prophet (PBUH) did not order him to find something unlawful. And because it is lawful to use it for other purposes, it is also lawful to wear it as a ring. However, it is disliked to wear an iron ring for adornment, because it is the adornment of the people of Hell, and because it is the adornment of the people of poverty and it is not an ornament. So wearing it for adornment is considered an act of belittling oneself, unless one is poor and cannot afford anything else."

Thus, there is no harm in wearing an iron ring, and there is no specified number of rings that can be worn, as long as it is not for adornment, pride, or imitation of women.

And Allah knows best.