Sunnah of Wearing Rings
Total Hadiths 14
The Sunnah of Wearing Rings: Authentic Hadiths and Meanings
These authentic narrations detail the Sunnah of wearing rings as practiced by the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) and his companions. Initially, the Prophet (ﷺ) wore a gold signet ring but discarded it, declaring he would never wear it again, which led his followers to do the same. He then adopted a silver ring engraved with 'Muhammad the Messenger of Allah' to serve as an official seal for correspondence with foreign rulers who required one. Narrations describe the ring as being made entirely of silver or featuring an Abyssinian stone. According to Islamic history, this blessed silver ring was worn by the Prophet (ﷺ) until his death, and was subsequently passed down to the caliphs Abu Bakr, 'Umar, and 'Uthman, before unfortunately falling into the well of Aris.
حَدَّثَنَا نُصَيْرُ بْنُ الْفَرَجِ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو أُسَامَةَ، عَنْ عُبَيْدِ اللَّهِ، عَنْ نَافِعٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ، قَالَ اتَّخَذَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم 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 . قَالَ أَبُو دَاوُدَ وَلَمْ يَخْتَلِفِ النَّاسُ عَلَى عُثْمَانَ حَتَّى سَقَطَ الْخَاتَمُ مِنْ يَدِهِ .
Ibn 'Umar Narrated from:
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.
Reference : Sunan Abi Dawud 4218In-book reference : Book 36, Hadith 5English translation : Book 35, Hadith 4206
حَدَّثَنَا عُثْمَانُ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ بْنُ عُيَيْنَةَ، عَنْ أَيُّوبَ بْنِ مُوسَى، عَنْ نَافِعٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ، فِي هَذَا الْخَبَرِ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَنَقَشَ فِيهِ " مُحَمَّدٌ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ " . وَقَالَ " لاَ يَنْقُشْ أَحَدٌ عَلَى نَقْشِ خَاتَمِي هَذَا " . ثُمَّ سَاقَ الْحَدِيثَ .
Ibn 'Umar Narrated from:
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.
Reference : Sunan Abi Dawud 4219In-book reference : Book 36, Hadith 6English translation : Book 35, Hadith 4207
حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى بْنِ فَارِسٍ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو عَاصِمٍ، عَنِ الْمُغِيرَةِ بْنِ زِيَادٍ، عَنْ نَافِعٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ، بِهَذَا الْخَبَرِ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ فَالْتَمَسُوهُ فَلَمْ يَجِدُوهُ فَاتَّخَذَ عُثْمَانُ خَاتَمًا وَنَقَشَ فِيهِ " مُحَمَّدٌ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ " . قَالَ فَكَانَ يَخْتِمُ بِهِ أَوْ يَتَخَتَّمُ بِهِ .
Ibn 'Umar Narrated from:
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.
Reference : Sunan Abi Dawud 4220In-book reference : Book 36, Hadith 7English translation : Book 35, Hadith 4208
حَدَّثَنَا وَهْبُ بْنُ بَقِيَّةَ، عَنْ خَالِدٍ، عَنْ سَعِيدٍ، عَنْ قَتَادَةَ، عَنْ أَنَسٍ، بِمَعْنَى حَدِيثِ عِيسَى بْنِ يُونُسَ زَادَ فَكَانَ فِي يَدِهِ حَتَّى قُبِضَ وَفِي يَدِ أَبِي بَكْرٍ حَتَّى قُبِضَ وَفِي يَدِ عُمَرَ حَتَّى قُبِضَ وَفِي يَدِ عُثْمَانَ فَبَيْنَمَا هُوَ عِنْدَ بِئْرٍ إِذْ سَقَطَ فِي الْبِئْرِ فَأَمَرَ بِهَا فَنُزِحَتْ فَلَمْ يُقْدَرْ عَلَيْهِ .
Anas Narrated from:
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.
Reference : Sunan Abi Dawud 4215In-book reference : Book 36, Hadith 2English translation : Book 35, Hadith 4203
حَدَّثَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، وَأَحْمَدُ بْنُ صَالِحٍ، قَالاَ حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ وَهْبٍ، أَخْبَرَنِي يُونُسُ بْنُ يَزِيدَ، عَنِ ابْنِ شِهَابٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي أَنَسٌ، قَالَ كَانَ خَاتَمُ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم مِنْ وَرِقٍ فَصُّهُ حَبَشِيٌّ .
Anas Narrated from:
The signet-ring of the Prophet (ﷺ) was of silver with an Abyssinian stone.
Reference : Sunan Abi Dawud 4216In-book reference : Book 36, Hadith 3English translation : Book 35, Hadith 4204
حَدَّثَنَا أَحْمَدُ بْنُ يُونُسَ، حَدَّثَنَا زُهَيْرٌ، حَدَّثَنَا حُمَيْدٌ الطَّوِيلُ، عَنْ أَنَسِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ، قَالَ كَانَ خَاتَمُ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم مِنْ فِضَّةٍ كُلُّهُ فَصُّهُ مِنْهُ .
Anas Narrated from:
The signet-ring of the Prophet (ﷺ) was all of silver as was also its stone.
Reference : Sunan Abi Dawud 4217In-book reference : Book 36, Hadith 4English translation : Book 35, Hadith 4205
حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الرَّحِيمِ بْنُ مُطَرِّفٍ الرُّؤَاسِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا عِيسَى، عَنْ سَعِيدٍ، عَنْ قَتَادَةَ، عَنْ أَنَسِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ، قَالَ أَرَادَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَنْ يَكْتُبَ إِلَى بَعْضِ الأَعَاجِمِ فَقِيلَ لَهُ إِنَّهُمْ لاَ يَقْرَءُونَ كِتَابًا إِلاَّ بِخَاتَمٍ فَاتَّخَذَ خَاتَمًا مِنْ فِضَّةٍ وَنَقَشَ فِيهِ " مُحَمَّدٌ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ " .
Anas bin Malik Narrated from:
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."
Reference : Sunan Abi Dawud 4214In-book reference : Book 36, Hadith 1English translation : Book 35, Hadith 4202
حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ سُلَيْمَانَ، لُوَيْنٌ عَنْ إِبْرَاهِيمَ بْنِ سَعْدٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ شِهَابٍ، عَنْ أَنَسِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ، أَنَّهُ رَأَى فِي يَدِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم خَاتَمًا مِنْ وَرِقٍ يَوْمًا وَاحِدًا فَصَنَعَ النَّاسُ فَلَبِسُوا وَطَرَحَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَطَرَحَ النَّاسُ . قَالَ أَبُو دَاوُدَ رَوَاهُ عَنِ الزُّهْرِيِّ زِيَادُ بْنُ سَعْدٍ وَشُعَيْبٌ وَابْنُ مُسَافِرٍ كُلُّهُمْ قَالَ مِنْ وَرِقٍ .
Anas bin Malik Narrated from:
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".
Reference : Sunan Abi Dawud 4221In-book reference : Book 36, Hadith 8English translation : Book 35, Hadith 4209
حَدَّثَنَا نَصْرُ بْنُ عَلِيٍّ، حَدَّثَنِي أَبِي، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الْعَزِيزِ بْنُ أَبِي رَوَّادٍ، عَنْ نَافِعٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ، أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم كَانَ يَتَخَتَّمُ فِي يَسَارِهِ وَكَانَ فَصُّهُ فِي بَاطِنِ كَفِّهِ . قَالَ أَبُو دَاوُدَ قَالَ ابْنُ إِسْحَاقَ وَأُسَامَةَ - يَعْنِي ابْنَ زَيْدٍ - عَنْ نَافِعٍ بِإِسْنَادِهِ فِي يَمِينِهِ .
`Abdullah bin `Umar Narrated from:
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".
Reference : Sunan Abi Dawud 4227In-book reference : Book 36, Hadith 14English translation : Book 35, Hadith 4215
حَدَّثَنَا هَنَّادٌ، عَنْ عَبْدَةَ، عَنْ عُبَيْدِ اللَّهِ، عَنْ نَافِعٍ، أَنَّ ابْنَ عُمَرَ، كَانَ يَلْبَسُ خَاتَمَهُ فِي يَدِهِ الْيُسْرَى .
Nafi Narrated from:
Ibn 'Umar used to wear his signet-ring on his left hand.
Reference : Sunan Abi Dawud 4228In-book reference : Book 36, Hadith 15English translation : Book 35, Hadith 4216
