Daily Hadith

It was narrated that Ibn ‘Umar (RA) said: “The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) wore a ring of silver, then he had engraved on it (the words) ‘Muhammad Rasul Allah’ (Muhammad the Messenger of Allah). And he said: ‘No one should have his ring engraved like this ring of mine.’” 

(Sunan ibn Majah, Vol. 4, Book 32, Hadith 3639)

The Hadith referenced describes the Seal of the Prophet (ﷺ). This ring was not merely a piece of jewelry but a functional administrative tool used for authenticating official correspondence.

Here are the specific details regarding the physical characteristics, the purpose, and the ruling mentioned in the narration:

1. Physical Characteristics

  • Material: The ring was made of pure silver. While the Prophet (ﷺ) initially had a gold ring, he discarded it when the wearing of gold was prohibited for men, switching permanently to silver.

  • The Stone (Abyssinian): Other narrations (Sahih Muslim) specify that the stone of the ring was "Abyssinian" (Habashi), which scholars interpret as either being a dark-colored gemstone (like Onyx or Agate) or originating from that region.

  • The Inscription: The words "Muhammad Rasul Allah" (Muhammad the Messenger of Allah) were engraved on the seal.

    • To show respect to the Divine, the words were stacked from bottom to top: Allah was at the top, Rasul in the middle, and Muhammad at the bottom.

2. The Functional Purpose

The Prophet (ﷺ) began wearing this ring specifically when he decided to send letters to foreign kings and emperors (such as the rulers of Rome and Persia).

He was told that these rulers would not read or accept any letter unless it bore a formal seal. Thus, the ring served as his official signature.

3. The Prohibition: "No one should have his ring engraved like this"

The command "No one should have his ring engraved like this ring of mine" was given for two primary reasons:

  • Preventing Forgery: Since the ring was used to sign state documents and treaties, allowing others to have the same engraving would have led to administrative chaos and the possibility of forged letters being sent in the Prophet's name.

  • Uniqueness of Status: The title "Messenger of Allah" was unique to him. For anyone else to wear a ring claiming that status would be factually incorrect and spiritually inappropriate.