Answer: Abi Laila narrates that while Sayyidina Hudhaifa R.A was at Mada’in, when he asked for water. The chief of the village brought to  him a silver vessel. Hudhaifa threw it away and said,

إِنِّي لَمْ أَرْمِهِ إِلاَّ أَنِّي نَهَيْتُهُ فَلَمْ يَنْتَهِ،

“I have thrown it away because I told him not to use it, but he has not stopped using it.

وَإِنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم نَهَانَا عَنِ الْحَرِيرِ وَالدِّيبَاجِ وَالشُّرْبِ فِي آنِيَةِ الذَّهَبِ وَالْفِضَّةِ وَقَالَ ‏

The Prophet (ﷺ) forbade us to wear clothes of silk or silk brocade, and to drink in gold or silver utensils, and said,

“‏ هُنَّ لَهُمْ فِي الدُّنْيَا وَهْىَ لَكُمْ فِي الآخِرَةِ ‏”‏‏.‏

‘These things are for them (unbelievers) in this world and for you (Muslims) in the Hereafter.’ ” [Bukhari]

Hence, it is not permissible for men or women to eat or drink utensils made from gold or silver.

However, if a utensil is merely coated with gold or silver then it will be permissible to use it.

Furthermore, utensils that are made of materials other than gold and silver but are embellished with pieces of gold or silver can only be used for eating and drinking with the condition that,  the main part of the body intended to be used with such a utensil, does not touch the gold and silver.

Therefore, in a cup embellished with gold and silver, the condition is that the mouth does not touch the gold and silver.

In a plate, tray, and jug embellished with gold and silver, the condition is that the hand does not touch the gold and silver.

If this condition is met, then it will be permissible to eat and drink from such a  utensil.

ولا بأس بالانتفاع بالأواني المموهة بالذهب والفضة بالإجماع كذا في الاختيار شرح المختار (الفتاوى الهندية 5/ 335)

Yusuf Moosagie