48/53. Chapter:
Sunan an-Nasai 5217 — The Prophet's Seal Ring After His Death
Taking Off One's Ring When Entering Al-Khala' (The Area in Which One Relieves Oneself)
Hadith About the History of the Prophet's Seal Ring
Sunan an-Nasai : 5217
Sunan an-NasaiHadith Number 5217
أَخْبَرَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ مَعْمَرٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو عَاصِمٍ، عَنِ الْمُغِيرَةِ بْنِ زِيَادٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا نَافِعٌ، عَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم لَبِسَ خَاتَمًا مِنْ ذَهَبٍ ثَلاَثَةَ أَيَّامٍ فَلَمَّا رَآهُ أَصْحَابُهُ فَشَتْ خَوَاتِيمُ الذَّهَبِ فَرَمَى بِهِ فَلاَ نَدْرِي مَا فَعَلَ ثُمَّ أَمَرَ بِخَاتَمٍ مِنْ فِضَّةٍ فَأَمَرَ أَنْ يُنْقَشَ فِيهِ مُحَمَّدٌ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ وَكَانَ فِي يَدِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم حَتَّى مَاتَ وَفِي يَدِ أَبِي بَكْرٍ حَتَّى مَاتَ وَفِي يَدِ عُمَرَ حَتَّى مَاتَ وَفِي يَدِ عُثْمَانَ سِتَّ سِنِينَ مِنْ عَمَلِهِ فَلَمَّا كَثُرَتْ عَلَيْهِ الْكُتُبُ دَفَعَهُ إِلَى رَجُلٍ مِنَ الأَنْصَارِ فَكَانَ يَخْتِمُ بِهِ فَخَرَجَ الأَنْصَارِيُّ إِلَى قَلِيبٍ لِعُثْمَانَ فَسَقَطَ فَالْتُمِسَ فَلَمْ يُوجَدْ فَأَمَرَ بِخَاتَمٍ مِثْلِهِ وَنَقَشَ فِيهِ مُحَمَّدٌ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ .
It was narrated from Ibn 'Umar that: The Messenger of Allah [SAW] wore a ring of gold for three days, and when his Companions saw it, gold rings became popular. Then he threw it away and we did not realize what he had done. Then he ordered that a ring of silver be made, and that (the words): "Muhammad Rasul Allah" be engraved on it. It remained on the hand of the Messenger of Allah [SAW] until he died, then on the hand of Abu Bakr until he died, then on the hand of 'Umar until he died. Then (it remained) on the hand of 'Uthman for the first six years of his duties, but when he had to write many letters, he gave it to a man from among Ansar who used to seal letters with it. Then the Ansari went out to a well belonging to 'Uthman and the ring fell. They looked for it but could not find it. He ordered that a similar ring be made and engraved (the words): "Muhammad Rasul Allah" on it.
Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 5217In-book reference : Book 48, Hadith 178English translation : Vol. 6, Book 48, Hadith 5220
Summary of Sunan an-Nasai Hadith 5217
This Hadith gives a longer account of the Prophet's seal ring. Ibn Umar said that the Messenger of Allah [SAW] wore a gold ring for three days, then threw it away after gold rings spread among the Companions. He then ordered a silver ring to be made with Muhammad Rasul Allah engraved on it. The report says it stayed with the Prophet until he died, then with Abu Bakr, then Umar, then Uthman for the first six years of his duties. When Uthman had many letters, the ring was used for sealing, then it fell into a well and was not found. A similar ring was then made with the same inscription. This is a key Hadith for searches about the Prophet's seal ring history.
What we learn from this hadith
- The Prophet moved from a gold ring to a silver ring in this report.
- The silver ring carried the inscription Muhammad Rasul Allah.
- The narration traces the ring through later holders and mentions its loss.
