48/47. Chapter:
Sunan an-Nasai 5201 — The Seal Ring of the Prophet
Description of the Ring of the Prophet [SAW]
Hadith About the Prophet's Seal Ring and Its Inscription
Sunan an-Nasai : 5201
Sunan an-NasaiHadith Number 5201
أَخْبَرَنَا حُمَيْدُ بْنُ مَسْعَدَةَ، عَنْ بِشْرٍ، - وَهُوَ ابْنُ الْمُفَضَّلِ - قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ، عَنْ قَتَادَةَ، عَنْ أَنَسٍ، قَالَ أَرَادَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَنْ يَكْتُبَ إِلَى الرُّومِ فَقَالُوا إِنَّهُمْ لاَ يَقْرَءُونَ كِتَابًا إِلاَّ مَخْتُومًا . فَاتَّخَذَ خَاتَمًا مِنْ فِضَّةٍ كَأَنِّي أَنْظُرُ إِلَى بَيَاضِهِ فِي يَدِهِ وَنُقِشَ فِيهِ مُحَمَّدٌ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ .
It was narrated that Anas said: "The Messenger of Allah [SAW] wanted to write to the Romans, but they (the Companions) said: 'They do not read any letter unless it has a seal.' So he took a ring of silver, and it is as if I can see its whiteness on his hand, and on it were engraved (the words): "Muhammad Rasul Allah (Muhammad the Messenger of Allah)."
Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 5201In-book reference : Book 48, Hadith 162English translation : Vol. 6, Book 48, Hadith 5204
Summary of Sunan an-Nasai Hadith 5201
This Hadith about the Prophet's seal ring explains why the Messenger of Allah [SAW] took a silver ring. Anas said that the Prophet wanted to write to the Romans, and the Companions told him that they would not read a letter unless it had a seal. So he took a silver ring. Anas remembered its whiteness on his hand, and the words engraved on it were Muhammad Rasul Allah. The core message is about using a seal for official letters and keeping the inscription clear. People searching for Muhammad Rasul Allah ring, Prophet's seal ring, or hadith about sealing letters will find the main detail here: the ring was used as a seal and carried a specific inscription.
What we learn from this hadith
- The Prophet used a silver ring as a seal for letters.
- The inscription on the ring was Muhammad Rasul Allah.
- The Hadith shows attention to accepted ways of sending official letters.
