Signet-Rings (Kitab Al-Khatam)

كتاب الخاتم

Chapter 1: What Has Been Reported About Using A Ring

Narrated Anas bin Malik

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."

The tradition mentioned above has also been transmitted by Anas through a different chain of narrators. This version as transmitted by 'Isa b. Yunus adds

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.

Narrated Anas

The signet-ring of the Prophet (ﷺ) was of silver with an Abyssinian stone.

Narrated Anas

The signet-ring of the Prophet (ﷺ) was all of silver as was also its stone.

Narrated Ibn 'Umar

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.

The tradition mentioned above has also been transmitted by Ibn 'Umar through a different chain of narrators from the Prophet (ﷺ). This version adds

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.

The tradition mentioned above has also been transmitted by Ibn 'Umar through different chain of narrators from the Prophet (ﷺ). This version adds

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.

Chapter 2: What Has Been Reported About Not Using A Ring

Anas b. Malik said that he saw a silver signet-ring on the hand of the Prophet (ﷺ) only for a day. The people then fashioned and wore (rings). The Prophet (ﷺ) then threw it away and the people also threw (them.)Abu Dawud said

Ziyad b. Sa'd, Shu'aib and Ibn Musafir transmitted it from al-Zuhri. 'Ali said in their versions: "of silver".

Chapter 3: What Has Been Reported About The Gold Ring

Narrated Abdullah ibn Mas'ud

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.

Chapter 4: Iron Rings

Narrated Buraydah ibn al-Hasib

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."

Iyas b. al-Harith b. al-Mu'aiqib quoting his grandfather said and his grandfather from his mother's side was Abu Dhubab

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).

Narrated Ali

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.

Chapter 5: What Has Been Related About Wearing A Ring On The Right Hand Or Left

Narrated Ali ibn AbuTalib

The Prophet (ﷺ) used to wear the signet-ring on his right hand.

Narrated Abdullah ibn Umar

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".

Nafi' said that Ibn 'Umar used to wear his signet-ring on his left hand.

Muhammad ibn Ishaq said

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.

Chapter 6: What Has Been Reported About Anklets

Ibn az-Zubayr told that a woman client of theirs took az-Zubayr's daughter to Umar ibn al-Khattab wearing bells on her legs. Umar cut them off and said that he had heard the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) say

There is a devil along with each bell.

Bunanah, female client of 'Abd al-Rahman b. Hayyan al-Ansari told that when she was with 'Aishah a girl wearing little tinkling bells was brought in to her. She ordered that they were not to bring her in where she was unless they cut off her little bells. She said

I heard the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) say: The angels do not enter a house in which there is a bell.

Chapter 7: What Has Been Reported About Bracing Teeth With Gold

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.