Caution: Translations of Quran and Ḥadīth may lead to possible misapplications and misinterpretations. This site is intended for students of sacred knowledge that are proficient in comprehending classical Arabic and have a strong foundation in Islamic sciences. Also note that religious injunctions rely on several aspects beyond what one may glean through reading individual aḥādīth.

ذِكْرُ الْعِلَّةِ الَّتِي مِنْ أَجْلِهَا اتَّخَذَ الْمُصْطَفَى ﷺ الْخَاتَمَ مِنْ فِضَّةٍ

ibnhibban:6392Muḥammad b. Isḥāq b. Saʿīd al-Saʿdī > ʿAlī b. Khashram > ʿĪsá b. Yūnus > Saʿīd > Qatādah > Anas

[Machine] The Messenger of Allah ﷺ wanted to write to the non-Arabs, so they told him that they only read a book that has a seal with an inscription. So the Messenger of Allah ﷺ ordered a silver seal to be made and inscribed on it "Muhammad, Messenger of Allah."  

ابن حبّان:٦٣٩٢أَخْبَرَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ إِسْحَاقَ بْنِ سَعِيدٍ السَّعْدِيُّ قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا عَلِيُّ بْنُ خَشْرَمٍ قَالَ أَخْبَرَنَا عِيسَى بْنُ يُونُسَ عَنْ سَعِيدٍ عَنْ قَتَادَةَ عَنْ أَنَسٍ

أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ أَرَادَ أَنْ يَكْتُبَ إِلَى الْأَعَاجِمِ فَقَالُوا لَهُ أَنَّهُمْ لَا يَقْرَءُونَ كِتَابًا إِلَّا بِخَاتَمٍ فِيهِ نَقْشٌ فَأَمَرَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ بِخَاتَمٍ فِضَّةٍ فَنَقَشَ فِيهِ «مُحَمَّدٌ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ»  


See similar narrations below:

Collected by Bukhārī, Muslim, Nasāʾī, Abū Dāwūd, Aḥmad
bukhari:2938ʿAlī b. al-Jaʿd > Shuʿbah > Qatādah > Anas

When the Prophet ﷺ intended to write a letter to the ruler of the Byzantines, he was told that those people did not read any letter unless it was stamped with a seal. So, the Prophet ﷺ got a silver ring-- as if I were just looking at its white glitter on his hand ---- and stamped on it the expression "Muhammad, Apostle of Allah".  

البخاري:٢٩٣٨حَدَّثَنَا عَلِيُّ بْنُ الْجَعْدِ أَخْبَرَنَا شُعْبَةُ عَنْ قَتَادَةَ قَالَ

سَمِعْتُ أَنَسًا ؓ يَقُولُ لَمَّا أَرَادَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ أَنْ يَكْتُبَ إِلَى الرُّومِ قِيلَ لَهُ إِنَّهُمْ لاَ يَقْرَءُونَ كِتَابًا إِلاَّ أَنْ يَكُونَ مَخْتُومًا فَاتَّخَذَ خَاتَمًا مِنْ فِضَّةٍ فَكَأَنِّي أَنْظُرُ إِلَى بَيَاضِهِ فِي يَدِهِ وَنَقَشَ فِيهِ مُحَمَّدٌ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ  

bukhari:7162Muḥammad b. Bashhār > Ghundar > Shuʿbah > Qatādah > Anas b. Mālik

When the Prophet ﷺ intended to write to the Byzantines, the people said, "They do not read a letter unless it is sealed (stamped)." Therefore the Prophet ﷺ took a silver ring----as if I am looking at its glitter now----and its engraving was: 'Muhammad, Apostle of Allah'.  

البخاري:٧١٦٢حَدَّثَنِي مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ بَشَّارٍ حَدَّثَنَا غُنْدَرٌ حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ قَتَادَةَ عَنْ أَنَسِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ قَالَ

لَمَّا أَرَادَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ أَنْ يَكْتُبَ إِلَى الرُّومِ قَالُوا إِنَّهُمْ لاَ يَقْرَءُونَ كِتَابًا إِلاَّ مَخْتُومًا فَاتَّخَذَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ خَاتَمًا مِنْ فِضَّةٍ كَأَنِّي أَنْظُرُ إِلَى وَبِيصِهِ وَنَقْشُهُ مُحَمَّدٌ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ  

muslim:2092cMuḥammad b. al-Muthanná And Ibn Bashhār > Ibn al-Muthanná > Muḥammad b. Jaʿfar > Shuʿbah > Qatādah > Anas b. Mālik

Anas b. Malik reported that when Messenger of Allah ﷺ decided to write letters to the Byzantine (Emperor) they (his Companions) told him that they would not read a letter unless it is sealed. (Then) Messenger of Allah ﷺ had a silver ring made (for himself), (its shape is so vivid in my mind) as if I see its brightness in the band of Messenger of Allah ﷺ and its engravement was (Muhammad, Messenger of Allah).  

مسلم:٢٠٩٢cحَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْمُثَنَّى وَابْنُ بَشَّارٍ قَالَ ابْنُ الْمُثَنَّى حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ جَعْفَرٍ حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ قَتَادَةَ يُحَدِّثُ عَنْ أَنَسِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ قَالَ

لَمَّا أَرَادَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ أَنْ يَكْتُبَ إِلَى الرُّومِ قَالَ قَالُوا إِنَّهُمْ لاَ يَقْرَءُونَ كِتَابًا إِلاَّ مَخْتُومًا قَالَ فَاتَّخَذَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ خَاتَمًا مِنْ فِضَّةٍ كَأَنِّي أَنْظُرُ إِلَى بَيَاضِهِ فِي يَدِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ نَقْشُهُ مُحَمَّدٌ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ  

muslim:2092eNaṣr b. ʿAlī al-Jahḍamī > Nūḥ b. Qays > Akhīh Khālid b. Qays > Qatādah > Anas

"Muhammad, the Messenger of Allah."  

مسلم:٢٠٩٢eحَدَّثَنَا نَصْرُ بْنُ عَلِيٍّ الْجَهْضَمِيُّ حَدَّثَنَا نُوحُ بْنُ قَيْسٍ عَنْ أَخِيهِ خَالِدِ بْنِ قَيْسٍ عَنْ قَتَادَةَ عَنْ أَنَسٍ

أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ أَرَادَ أَنْ يَكْتُبَ إِلَى كِسْرَى وَقَيْصَرَ وَالنَّجَاشِيِّ فَقِيلَ إِنَّهُمْ لاَ يَقْبَلُونَ كِتَابًا إِلاَّ بِخَاتِمٍ فَصَاغَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ خَاتَمًا حَلَقَةً فِضَّةً وَنَقَشَ فِيهِ مُحَمَّدٌ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ  

nasai:5278Ḥumayd b. Masʿadah > Bishr / Ibn al-Mufaḍḍal > Shuʿbah > Qatādah > Anas

"The Messenger of Allah [SAW] wanted to write to the Romans, and 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 engraved on it (were the words): 'Muhammad Rasul Allah.'"  

النسائي:٥٢٧٨أَخْبَرَنَا حُمَيْدُ بْنُ مَسْعَدَةَ عَنْ بِشْرٍ وَهُوَ ابْنُ الْمُفَضَّلِ قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ عَنْ قَتَادَةَ عَنْ أَنَسٍ قَالَ

أَرَادَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ 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  

nasai:5201Ḥumayd b. Masʿadah > Bishr / Ibn al-Mufaḍḍal > Shuʿbah > Qatādah > Anas

"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)."  

النسائي:٥٢٠١أَخْبَرَنَا حُمَيْدُ بْنُ مَسْعَدَةَ عَنْ بِشْرٍ وَهُوَ ابْنُ الْمُفَضَّلِ قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ عَنْ قَتَادَةَ عَنْ أَنَسٍ قَالَ

أَرَادَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ 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  

abudawud:4214ʿAbd al-Raḥīm b. Muṭarrif al-Ruʾāsī > ʿĪsá > Saʿīd > Qatādah > Anas b. Mālik

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."  

أبو داود:٤٢١٤حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الرَّحِيمِ بْنُ مُطَرِّفٍ الرُّؤَاسِيُّ حَدَّثَنَا عِيسَى عَنْ سَعِيدٍ عَنْ قَتَادَةَ عَنْ أَنَسِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ قَالَ

أَرَادَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ أَنْ يَكْتُبَ إِلَى بَعْضِ الأَعَاجِمِ فَقِيلَ لَهُ إِنَّهُمْ لاَ يَقْرَءُونَ كِتَابًا إِلاَّ بِخَاتَمٍ فَاتَّخَذَ خَاتَمًا مِنْ فِضَّةٍ وَنَقَشَ فِيهِ مُحَمَّدٌ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ  

ahmad:13046Muḥammad b. Bishr > Saʿīd b. Abū ʿArūbah > Qatādah > Anas b. Mālik

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." (Using translation from Abū Dāʾūd 4214)   

أحمد:١٣٠٤٦حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ بِشْرٍ حَدَّثَنَا سَعِيدُ بْنُ أَبِي عَرُوبَةَ عَنْ قَتَادَةَ عَنْ أَنَسِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ حَدَّثَهُمْ

أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللهِ ﷺ أَرَادَ أَنْ يَكْتُبَ إِلَى الْأَعَاجِمِ فَقِيلَ إِنَّهُمْ لَا يَقْبَلُونَ كِتَابًا إِلَّا بِنَقْشٍ فَاتَّخَذَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ خَاتَمًا مِنْ فِضَّةٍ وَنَقَشَ فِيهِ مُحَمَّدٌ رَسُولُ اللهِ  

ahmad:13916Muḥammad b. Jaʿfar > Shuʿbah And Ḥajjāj > Shuʿbah > Qatādah > Anas b. Mālik

Anas b. Malik reported that when Messenger of Allah ﷺ decided to write letters to the Byzantine (Emperor) they (his Companions) told him that they would not read a letter unless it is sealed. (Then) Messenger of Allah ﷺ had a silver ring made (for himself), (its shape is so vivid in my mind) as if I see its brightness in the band of Messenger of Allah ﷺ and its engravement was (Muhammad, Messenger of Allah). (Using translation from Muslim 2092c)  

أحمد:١٣٩١٦حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ جَعْفَرٍ حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ وَحَجَّاجٌ قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي شُعْبَةُ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ قَتَادَةَ يُحَدِّثُ عَنْ أَنَسِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ قَالَ

لَمَّا أَرَادَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ أَنْ يَكْتُبَ إِلَى الرُّومِ كِتَابًا قَالُوا إِنَّهُمْ لَا يَقْرَءُونَ كِتَابًا إِلَّا مَخْتُومًا قَالَ فَاتَّخَذَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ خَاتَمًا مِنْ فِضَّةٍ كَأَنِّي أَنْظُرُ إِلَى بَيَاضِهِ فِي يَدِ رَسُولِ اللهِ ﷺ نَقْشُهُ مُحَمَّدٌ رَسُولُ اللهِ  

ahmad:12720Muḥammad b. Jaʿfar > Shuʿbah And Ḥajjāj > Shuʿbah > Qatādah > Anas b. Mālik

Anas b. Malik reported that when Messenger of Allah ﷺ decided to write letters to the Byzantine (Emperor) they (his Companions) told him that they would not read a letter unless it is sealed. (Then) Messenger of Allah ﷺ had a silver ring made (for himself), (its shape is so vivid in my mind) as if I see its brightness in the band of Messenger of Allah ﷺ and its engravement was (Muhammad, Messenger of Allah). (Using translation from Muslim 2092c)  

أحمد:١٢٧٢٠حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ جَعْفَرٍ حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ وَحَجَّاجٌ قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي شُعْبَةُ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ قَتَادَةَ يُحَدِّثُ عَنْ أَنَسِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ قَالَ

لَمَّا أَرَادَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ أَنْ يَكْتُبَ إِلَى الرُّومِ قَالُوا إِنَّهُمْ لَا يَقْرَءُونَ كِتَابًا إِلَّا مَخْتُومًا قَالَ فَاتَّخَذَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ خَاتَمًا مِنْ فِضَّةٍ كَأَنِّي أَنْظُرُ إِلَى بَيَاضِهِ فِي يَدِ رَسُولِ اللهِ ﷺ نَقْشُهُ مُحَمَّدٌ رَسُولُ اللهِ  

ahmad:12738Muḥammad b. Jaʿfar > Saʿīd And Muḥammad b. Bakrqāl > Saʿīd > Qatādah > Anas b. Mālik

[Machine] "When the Messenger of Allah ﷺ wanted to write to some non-Arabs, it was said to him that they do not accept a letter without a seal. So, he took a silver seal with the engraving '[This is] the seal of Muhammad, the Messenger of Allah.' It is as if I am looking at its shine or brilliance in the hand of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ."  

أحمد:١٢٧٣٨حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ جَعْفَرٍ حَدَّثَنَا سَعِيدٌ وَمُحَمَّدُ بْنُ بَكْرٍقَالَ أَخْبَرَنَا سَعِيدٌ عَنْ قَتَادَةَ عَنْ أَنَسِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ

أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللهِ ﷺ لَمَّا أَرَادَ أَنْ يَكْتُبَ إِلَى نَاسٍ مِنْ هَذِهِ الْأَعَاجِمِ قِيلَ لَهُ إِنَّهُمْ لَا يَقْبَلُونَ كِتَابًا إِلَّا بِخَاتَمٍ قَالَ فَاتَّخَذَ خَاتَمًا مِنْ فِضَّةٍ نَقْشُهُ وَقَالَ ابْنُ بَكْرٍ وَنَقْشُهُ مُحَمَّدٌ رَسُولُ اللهِ كَأَنِّي أَنْظُرُ إِلَى بَصِيصِهِ أَوْ وَبِيصِهِ فِي يَدِ رَسُولِ اللهِ ﷺ