36. Signet Rings
Sunan Abi Dawud 4214Sahih
أَرَادَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ أَنْ يَكْتُبَ إِلَى بَعْضِ الأَعَاجِمِ فَقِيلَ لَهُ إِنَّهُمْ لاَ يَقْرَءُونَ كِتَابًا إِلاَّ بِخَاتَمٍ فَاتَّخَذَ خَاتَمًا مِنْ فِضَّةٍ وَنَقَشَ فِيهِ مُحَمَّدٌ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ wanted to write to some persian rulers. He was told that they would not read a letter without a seal in the form of a silver ring on which he engraved "Muhammad the Messenger of Allah."
Sunan Abi Dawud 4215Sahih
فَكَانَ فِي يَدِهِ حَتَّى قُبِضَ
It remained in his hand until he died, in the hand of 'Abu Bakr until he died, in the hand of 'Umar until he died, and in the hand of 'Uthman. When he was near a well, it fell down in it. He ordered to take it out, but it could not be found.
Sunan Abi Dawud 4216Sahih
كَانَ خَاتَمُ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ مِنْ وَرِقٍ فَصُّهُ حَبَشِيٌّ
The signet-ring of the Prophet ﷺ was of silver with an Abyssinian stone.
Sunan Abi Dawud 4217Sahih
كَانَ خَاتَمُ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ مِنْ فِضَّةٍ كُلُّهُ فَصُّهُ مِنْهُ
The signet-ring of the Prophet ﷺ was all of silver as was also its stone.
Sunan Abi Dawud 4218Sahih
اتَّخَذَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ خَاتَمًا مِنْ ذَهَبٍ وَجَعَلَ فَصَّهُ مِمَّا يَلِي بَطْنَ كَفِّهِ وَنَقَشَ فِيهِ مُحَمَّدٌ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ فَاتَّخَذَ النَّاسُ خَوَاتِمَ الذَّهَبِ فَلَمَّا رَآهُمْ قَدِ اتَّخَذُوهَا رَمَى بِهِ وَقَالَ لاَ أَلْبَسُهُ أَبَدًا ثُمَّ اتَّخَذَ خَاتَمًا مِنْ فِضَّةٍ نَقَشَ فِيهِ مُحَمَّدٌ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ثُمَّ لَبِسَ الْخَاتَمَ بَعْدَهُ أَبُو بَكْرٍ ثُمَّ لَبِسَهُ بَعْدَ أَبِي بَكْرٍ عُمَرُ ثُمَّ لَبِسَهُ بَعْدَهُ عُثْمَانُ حَتَّى وَقَعَ فِي بِئْرِ أَرِيسَ
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ took a signet-ring of gold, and put the stone next the palm of his hand. He engraved on it "Muhammad, the Messenger of Allah". The people then took signet-rings of gold. When he saw that they had taken them (like his ring) he threw it away and said: I shall never wear it. He then fashioned a silver ring and engraved on it "Muhammad, the Messenger of Allah". Then Abu Bakr wore it after him, then 'Umar wore it after Abu Bakr, and the 'Uthman wore it after 'Umar till it fell down in a well called Aris. Abu Dawud said: The people did not disagree on 'Uthman till the signet-rin fell down from his hand.
Sunan Abi Dawud 4219Sahih
فَنَقَشَ فِيهِ مُحَمَّدٌ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ وَقَالَ لاَ يَنْقُشْ أَحَدٌ عَلَى نَقْشِ خَاتَمِي هَذَا
He engraved on it "Muhammad, the Messenger of Allah." and said: "No one must engrave anything in the manner of this signet-ring of mine. He then transmitted the rest of the tradition.
Sunan Abi Dawud 4220Graders disagree
فَالْتَمَسُوهُ فَلَمْ يَجِدُوهُ فَاتَّخَذَ عُثْمَانُ خَاتَمًا وَنَقَشَ فِيهِ مُحَمَّدٌ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ قَالَ فَكَانَ يَخْتِمُ بِهِ أَوْ يَتَخَتَّمُ بِهِ
They searched for it but could not find it. 'Uthman then fashioned a signet-ring and engraved on it "Muhammad, the Messenger of Allah". He used to wear it or stamp with it.
Sunan Abi Dawud 4221Sahih
أَنَّهُ رَأَى فِي يَدِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ خَاتَمًا مِنْ وَرِقٍ يَوْمًا وَاحِدًا فَصَنَعَ النَّاسُ فَلَبِسُوا وَطَرَحَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ فَطَرَحَ النَّاسُ
Ziyad b. Sa'd, Shu'aib and Ibn Musafir transmitted it from al-Zuhri. 'Ali said in their versions: "of silver".
كَانَ نَبِيُّ اللَّهِ ﷺ يَكْرَهُ عَشْرَ خِلاَلٍ الصُّفْرَةَ يَعْنِي الْخَلُوقَ وَتَغْيِيرَ الشَّيْبِ وَجَرَّ الإِزَارِ وَالتَّخَتُّمَ بِالذَّهَبِ وَالتَّبَرُّجَ بِالزِّينَةِ لِغَيْرِ مَحِلِّهَا وَالضَّرْبَ بِالْكِعَابِ وَالرُّقَى إِلاَّ بِالْمُعَوِّذَاتِ وَعَقْدَ التَّمَائِمِ وَعَزْلَ الْمَاءِ لِغَيْرِ أَوْ غَيْرِ مَحِلِّهِ أَوْ عَنْ مَحِلِّهِ وَفَسَادَ الصَّبِيِّ غَيْرَ مُحَرِّمِهِ
The Prophet of Allah ﷺ disliked ten things: Yellow colouring, meaning khaluq, dyeing grey hair, trailing the lower garment, wearing a gold signet-ring, a woman decking herself before people who are not within the prohibited degrees, throwing dice, using spells except with the Mu'awwidhatan, wearing amulets, withdrawing the penis before the semen is discharged, in the case of a woman who is wife or not a wife, and having intercourse with a woman who is suckling a child; but he did not declare them to be prohibited. Abu Dawud said: Only the transmitters of Basrah have transmitted this tradition.
Sunan Abi Dawud 4223Graders disagree
أَنَّ رَجُلاً جَاءَ إِلَى النَّبِيِّ ﷺ وَعَلَيْهِ خَاتَمٌ مِنْ شَبَهٍ فَقَالَ لَهُ مَا لِي أَجِدُ مِنْكَ رِيحَ الأَصْنَامِ فَطَرَحَهُ ثُمَّ جَاءَ وَعَلَيْهِ خَاتَمٌ مِنْ حَدِيدٍ فَقَالَ مَا لِي أَرَى عَلَيْكَ حِلْيَةَ أَهْلِ النَّارِ فَطَرَحَهُ فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ مِنْ أَىِّ شَىْءٍ أَتَّخِذُهُ قَالَ اتَّخِذْهُ مِنْ وَرِقٍ وَلاَ تُتِمَّهُ مِثْقَالاً
A man came to the Prophet ﷺ and he was wearing a signet-ring of yellow copper. He said to him: How is it that I notice the odour of idols in you? So he threw it away, and came wearing an iron signet ring. He (the Prophet) said: What is it that I see you wearing the adornment of the inhabitants of Hell? So he threw it away. He asked: Messenger of Allah, what material I must use? He said: Make it of silver, but do not weigh it as much as a mithqal, The narrator Muhammad did not say: " 'Abd Allah b. Muslim," and al-Hasan did not say: "al-Sulami al-Marwazi."
Sunan Abi Dawud 4224Graders disagree
كَانَ خَاتَمُ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ مِنْ حَدِيدٍ مَلْوِيٌّ عَلَيْهِ فِضَّةٌ قَالَ فَرُبَّمَا كَانَ فِي يَدِهِ قَالَ وَكَانَ الْمُعَيْقِيبُ عَلَى خَاتَمِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ
The signet-ring of the Prophet ﷺ was of iron polished with silver. Sometimes it remained in my possession. Al-Mu'ayqib was in charge of the signet-ring of the Prophet ﷺ.
Sunan Abi Dawud 4225Sahih
قَالَ لِي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ قُلِ اللَّهُمَّ اهْدِنِي وَسَدِّدْنِي وَاذْكُرْ بِالْهِدَايَةِ هِدَايَةَ الطَّرِيقِ وَاذْكُرْ بِالسَّدَادِ تَسْدِيدَكَ السَّهْمَ قَالَ وَنَهَانِي أَنْ أَضَعَ الْخَاتَمَ فِي هَذِهِ أَوْ فِي هَذِهِ لِلسَّبَّابَةِ وَالْوُسْطَى شَكَّ عَاصِمٌ وَنَهَانِي عَنِ الْقَسِّيَّةِ وَالْمِيثَرَةِ قَالَ أَبُو بُرْدَةَ فَقُلْنَا لِعَلِيٍّ مَا الْقَسِّيَّةُ قَالَ ثِيَابٌ تَأْتِينَا مِنَ الشَّامِ أَوْ مِنْ مِصْرَ مُضَلَّعَةٌ فِيهَا أَمْثَالُ الأُتْرُجِّ قَالَ وَالْمِيثَرَةُ شَىْءٌ كَانَتْ تَصْنَعُهُ النِّسَاءُ لِبُعُولَتِهِنَّ
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said to me: Say: O Allah, guide me, and set me right. Remember by guidance (hidayah) the showing of the straight path, and remember by setting right (sadad) the setting right of an arrow. Then pointing to the middle finger and the one next to it, he said: He forbade me to wear a signet-ring on this finger of mine or on this (Asim was doubtful). He forbade me to wear qassiyyah (qasi garments) and mitharah. Abu Burdah said: We asked 'Ali: What is qasiyyah ? He said: These are garments imported to us from Syria or Egypt. They are stripped and marked like citrons. And mitharah was a thing made by women for their husbands.
Sunan Abi Dawud 4226Hasan or sahih
كَانَ يَتَخَتَّمُ فِي يَمِينِهِ
The Prophet ﷺ used to wear the signet-ring on his right hand.
كَانَ يَتَخَتَّمُ فِي يَسَارِهِ وَكَانَ فَصُّهُ فِي بَاطِنِ كَفِّهِ
The Prophet ﷺ used to wear the signet-ring on his left hand, and put its stone next the palm of his hand. Abu Dawud said: Ibn Ishaq and Usamah b. Zaid transmitted from Nafi': "On his right hand".
Sunan Abi Dawud 4228Sahih
أَنَّ ابْنَ عُمَرَ كَانَ يَلْبَسُ خَاتَمَهُ فِي يَدِهِ الْيُسْرَى
Nafi' said that Ibn 'Umar used to wear his signet-ring on his left hand.
Sunan Abi Dawud 4229Hasan or sahih
رَأَيْتُ عَلَى الصَّلْتِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ نَوْفَلِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الْمُطَّلِبِ خَاتَمًا فِي خِنْصَرِهِ الْيُمْنَى فَقُلْتُ مَا هَذَا قَالَ رَأَيْتُ ابْنَ عَبَّاسٍ يَلْبَسُ خَاتَمَهُ هَكَذَا وَجَعَلَ فَصَّهُ عَلَى ظَهْرِهَا قَالَ وَلاَ يَخَالُ ابْنَ عَبَّاسٍ إِلاَّ قَدْ كَانَ يَذْكُرُ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ كَانَ يَلْبَسُ خَاتَمَهُ كَذَلِكَ
I saw as-Salt ibn Abdullah ibn Nawfal ibn AbdulMuttalib wearing the signet-ring on his right small finger. I asked: What is this? He replied: I saw Ibn Abbas wearing his ring in this manner. He put its stone towards the upper part of his palm. Ibn Abbas also mentioned that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to wear his signet-ring in his manner.
أَنَّ مَوْلاَةً لَهُمْ ذَهَبَتْ بِابْنَةِ الزُّبَيْرِ إِلَى عُمَرَ بْنِ الْخَطَّابِ وَفِي رِجْلِهَا أَجْرَاسٌ فَقَطَعَهَا عُمَرُ ثُمَّ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ يَقُولُ إِنَّ مَعَ كُلِّ جَرَسٍ شَيْطَانًا
There is a devil along with each bell.
Sunan Abi Dawud 4231Graders disagree
بَيْنَمَا هِيَ عِنْدَهَا إِذْ دُخِلَ عَلَيْهَا بِجَارِيَةٍ وَعَلَيْهَا جَلاَجِلُ يُصَوِّتْنَ فَقَالَتْ لاَ تُدْخِلْنَهَا عَلَىَّ إِلاَّ أَنْ تَقْطَعُوا جَلاَجِلَهَا وَقَالَتْ سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ يَقُولُ لاَ تَدْخُلُ الْمَلاَئِكَةُ بَيْتًا فِيهِ جَرَسٌ
I heard the Messenger of Allah ﷺ say: The angels do not enter a house in which there is a bell.
Sunan Abi Dawud 4232Hasan
أَنَّ جَدَّهُ عَرْفَجَةَ بْنَ أَسْعَدَ قُطِعَ أَنْفُهُ يَوْمَ الْكُلاَبِ فَاتَّخَذَ أَنْفًا مِنْ وَرِقٍ فَأَنْتَنَ عَلَيْهِ فَأَمَرَهُ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ فَاتَّخَذَ أَنْفًا مِنْ ذَهَبٍ
AbdurRahman ibn Tarafah said that his grandfather Arfajah ibn As'ad who had his nose cut off at the battle of al-Kilab got a silver nose, but it developed a stench, so the Prophet ﷺ ordered him to get a gold nose.
Sunan Abi Dawud 4233Hasan
حَدَّثَنَا الْحَسَنُ بْنُ عَلِيٍّ حَدَّثَنَا يَزِيدُ بْنُ هَارُونَ وَأَبُو عَاصِمٍ قَالاَ حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو الأَشْهَبِ عَنْ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ طَرَفَةَ عَنْ عَرْفَجَةَ بْنِ أَسْعَدَ بِمَعْنَاهُ قَالَ يَزِيدُ قُلْتُ لأَبِي الأَشْهَبِ أَدْرَكَ عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنُ طَرَفَةَ جَدَّهُ عَرْفَجَةَ قَالَ نَعَمْ
I asked AbulAshhab: Did AbdurRahman ibn Tarafah meet his grandfather Arfajah? He replied: Yes.
Sunan Abi Dawud 4234Hasan
حَدَّثَنَا مُؤَمَّلُ بْنُ هِشَامٍ حَدَّثَنَا إِسْمَاعِيلُ عَنْ أَبِي الأَشْهَبِ عَنْ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ طَرَفَةَ بْنِ عَرْفَجَةَ بْنِ أَسْعَدَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ أَنَّ عَرْفَجَةَ بِمَعْنَاهُ
The tradition mentioned above has also been transmitted by 'Arfajah through a different chain of narrators to the same effect.
Sunan Abi Dawud 4235Hasan
قَدِمَتْ عَلَى النَّبِيِّ ﷺ حِلْيَةٌ مِنْ عِنْدِ النَّجَاشِيِّ أَهْدَاهَا لَهُ فِيهَا خَاتَمٌ مِنْ ذَهَبٍ فِيهِ فَصٌّ حَبَشِيٌّ قَالَتْ فَأَخَذَهُ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ بِعُودٍ مُعْرِضًا عَنْهُ أَوْ بِبَعْضِ أَصَابِعِهِ ثُمَّ دَعَى أُمَامَةَ ابْنَةَ أَبِي الْعَاصِ ابْنَةَ ابْنَتِهِ زَيْنَبَ فَقَالَ تَحَلَّىْ بِهَذَا يَا بُنَيَّةُ
The Prophet ﷺ got some ornaments presented by Negus as a gift to him. They contained a gold ring with an Abyssinian stone. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ turning his attention from it took it by means of a stick or his finger, then called Umamah, daughter of Abul'As and daughter of his daughter Zaynab, and said: Wear it, my dear daughter.
Sunan Abi Dawud 4236Hasan
مَنْ أَحَبَّ أَنْ يُحَلِّقَ حَبِيبَهُ حَلْقَةً مِنْ نَارٍ فَلْيُحَلِّقْهُ حَلْقَةً مِنْ ذَهَبٍ وَمَنْ أَحَبَّ أَنْ يُطَوِّقَ حَبِيبَهُ طَوْقًا مِنْ نَارٍ فَلْيُطَوِّقْهُ طَوْقًا مِنْ ذَهَبٍ وَمَنْ أَحَبَّ أَنْ يُسَوِّرَ حَبِيبَهُ سِوَارًا مِنْ نَارٍ فَلْيُسَوِّرْهُ سِوَارًا مِنْ ذَهَبٍ وَلَكِنْ عَلَيْكُمْ بِالْفِضَّةِ فَالْعَبُوا بِهَا
The Prophet ﷺ said: If anyone wants to put a ring of fire on one he loves, let him put a gold ring on him: if anyone wants to put a necklace of fire on one he loves, let him put a gold necklace on him, and if anyone wants to put a bracelet of fire on one he loves let him put a gold bracelet on him. Keep to silver and amuse yourselves with it.
يَا مَعْشَرَ النِّسَاءِ أَمَا لَكُنَّ فِي الْفِضَّةِ مَا تَحَلَّيْنَ بِهِ أَمَا إِنَّهُ لَيْسَ مِنْكُنَّ امْرَأَةٌ تَحَلَّى ذَهَبًا تُظْهِرُهُ إِلاَّ عُذِّبَتْ بِهِ
The Prophet ﷺ as saying: You women folk, have in silver something with which you adorn yourselves. I assure you that any woman of you who adorns herself with gold which she displays will be punished for it.
أَيُّمَا امْرَأَةٍ تَقَلَّدَتْ قِلاَدَةً مِنْ ذَهَبٍ قُلِّدَتْ فِي عُنُقِهَا مِثْلَهُ مِنَ النَّارِ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ وَأَيُّمَا امْرَأَةٍ جَعَلَتْ فِي أُذُنِهَا خُرْصًا مِنْ ذَهَبٍ جُعِلَ فِي أُذُنِهَا مِثْلُهُ مِنَ النَّارِ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ
The Prophet ﷺ as saying: Any woman who wears a gold necklace will have a similar one of fire put on her neck on the Day of Resurrection, and any woman who puts a gold earring in her ear will have a similar one of fire put in her ear on the Day of Resurrection.
Sunan Abi Dawud 4239Sahih
نَهَى عَنْ رُكُوبِ النِّمَارِ وَعَنْ لُبْسِ الذَّهَبِ إِلاَّ مُقَطَّعًا
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ forbade to ride on panther skins and to wear gold except a little. Abu Dawud said: The narrator Abu Qilabah did not meet Mu'awiyah.