He was also asked—may Allah have mercy on him:
“May a soldier wear anything of silk, gold, or silver in battle, or when enemy envoys come to the Muslims?”
He replied:
Praise be to Allah. Wearing silk in battle out of necessity is permissible by the agreement of the Muslims. This applies when nothing else can serve its purpose in deflecting weapons and providing protection.
As for wearing it to intimidate the enemy, the scholars hold two views. The stronger view is that it is permissible. The troops of Syria wrote to Umar ibn al-Khattāb: “When we encounter the enemy and see that they have covered their weapons”—meaning with silk—“we feel fear in our hearts because of it.” Umar wrote back to them: “You too should cover your weapons as they cover theirs.”
Moreover, wearing silk involves a display of pride, and Allah loves such a display during battle. As reported in the Sunan collections, the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said:
“There is a kind of pride that Allah loves and a kind that Allah hates. The pride that Allah loves is a man’s proud bearing in battle and when giving charity. As for the pride that Allah hates, it is pride expressed in transgression and boasting.”
“On the day of Uhud, Abū Dujāna walked proudly