Sahih al-Bukhari
Sahih al-Bukhari 5875
Arabic hadith text
حَدَّثَنَا آدَمُ بْنُ أَبِي إِيَاسٍ، حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ، عَنْ قَتَادَةَ، عَنْ أَنَسِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ قَالَ لَمَّا أَرَادَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَنْ يَكْتُبَ إِلَى الرُّومِ قِيلَ لَهُ إِنَّهُمْ لَنْ يَقْرَءُوا كِتَابَكَ إِذَا لَمْ يَكُنْ مَخْتُومًا. فَاتَّخَذَ خَاتَمًا مِنْ فِضَّةٍ، وَنَقْشُهُ مُحَمَّدٌ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ. فَكَأَنَّمَا أَنْظُرُ إِلَى بَيَاضِهِ فِي يَدِهِ.
Translation
Anas ibn Malik reported that when the Prophet wanted to write to the Romans, he was told that they would not read his letter unless it was sealed. So he made a silver ring engraved “Muhammad, Messenger of Allah.” I can still picture its whiteness on his hand.