Sunan an-Nasa'i 5201

Chapter: Description of the Ring of the Prophet [SAW]

Differing grades 3 scholars’ grades Muttafaq ‘alayh (Bukhari and Muslim) Sunan an-Nasa'i 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)."

Reported by An-Nasa’i (No. 5201, 5278), Al-Bukhari (No. 65, 2938, 5875, 7162), Muslim (No. 2092c, 2092d, 2092e), Abu Dawud (No. 4214) and Ahmad (No. 12259, 12277, 12399, 12573, 12849, 13407).

Classical commentary

Al-Sindi — Hashiyat al-Sindi on Sunan al-Nasa'i

قَوْله ( فَقَالُوا إِنَّهُمْ إِلَخْ ) يَدُلّ عَلَى أَنَّهُ مَا اِتَّخَذَ خَاتَمًا إِلَّا عِنْد الْحَاجَة إِلَيْهَا فَالْأَصْل تَرْكه وَقَالَ الْخَطَّابِيّ وَذَلِكَ لِأَنَّ الْخَاتَم مَا كَانَ مِنْ عَادَة الْعَرَب لُبْسه.…

Scholars’ grades

The 3 scholars cited do not give the same grade: each one is shown below.

Scholar	Grade	Applies to	Work
Al-Albanid. 1420 AH	AuthenticSahih	The hadith	No. 5201
Zubair Ali Zaid. 1435 AH	Good (hasan)Hasan	The hadith	No. 5201
Abd al-Fattah Abu Ghuddahd. 1417 AH	AuthenticSahih	The hadith	No. 5201

Other versions

Authentic Muttafaq ‘alayh (Bukhari and Muslim) Sahih al-Bukhari 65

Once the Prophet (ﷺ) wrote a letter or had an idea of writing a letter. The Prophet (ﷺ) was told that they (rulers) would not read letters unless they were sealed. So the Prophet (ﷺ) got a silver ring made with "Muhammad Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)" engraved on it. As if I were just observing its white…

كَتَبَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم كِتَابًا ـ أَوْ أَرَادَ أَنْ يَكْتُبَ ـ فَقِيلَ لَهُ إِنَّهُمْ لاَ يَقْرَءُونَ كِتَابًا إِلاَّ مَخْتُومًا‏.‏ فَاتَّخَذَ خَاتَمًا مِنْ فِضَّةٍ نَقْشُهُ مُحَمَّدٌ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ‏.‏…

Narrated by Anas ibn Mālik

Authentic Muttafaq ‘alayh (Bukhari and Muslim) Sahih al-Bukhari 2938

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…

إِنَّهُمْ لاَ يَقْرَءُونَ كِتَابًا إِلاَّ أَنْ يَكُونَ مَخْتُومًا‏.‏ فَاتَّخَذَ خَاتَمًا مِنْ فِضَّةٍ، فَكَأَنِّي أَنْظُرُ إِلَى بَيَاضِهِ فِي يَدِهِ، وَنَقَشَ فِيهِ مُحَمَّدٌ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ‏.‏

Narrated by Anas ibn Mālik

Authentic Muttafaq ‘alayh (Bukhari and Muslim) Sahih al-Bukhari 5875

When the Prophet (ﷺ) intended to write to the Byzantines, it was said to him, "Those people do not read your letter unless it is stamped." So the Prophet (ﷺ) took a silver ring and got 'Muhammad, the Apostle of Allah' engraved on it .... as if I am now looking at its glitter in his hand.

فَاتَّخَذَ خَاتَمًا مِنْ فِضَّةٍ، وَنَقْشُهُ مُحَمَّدٌ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ‏.‏ فَكَأَنَّمَا أَنْظُرُ إِلَى بَيَاضِهِ فِي يَدِهِ

Narrated by Anas ibn Mālik

Authentic Muttafaq ‘alayh (Bukhari and Muslim) Sahih al-Bukhari 7162

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'.

فَاتَّخَذَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم خَاتَمًا مِنْ فِضَّةٍ، كَأَنِّي أَنْظُرُ إِلَى وَبِيصِهِ، وَنَقْشُهُ مُحَمَّدٌ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ‏.‏

Narrated by Anas ibn Mālik

Authentic Muttafaq ‘alayh (Bukhari and Muslim) Sahih Muslim 2092c

Anas b. Malik reported that when Allah's Messenger (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) Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) had a silver ring made (for himself), (its shape is so vivid in my mind) as…

فَاتَّخَذَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم خَاتَمًا مِنْ فِضَّةٍ كَأَنِّي أَنْظُرُ إِلَى بَيَاضِهِ فِي يَدِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم نَقْشُهُ مُحَمَّدٌ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ‏.‏

Narrated by Anas ibn Mālik

Authentic Muttafaq ‘alayh (Bukhari and Muslim) Sahih Muslim 2092d

I perceive as if I am looking at its brightness in his hand.

فَاصْطَنَعَ خَاتَمًا مِنْ فِضَّةٍ ‏.‏ قَالَ كَأَنِّي أَنْظُرُ إِلَى بَيَاضِهِ فِي يَدِهِ ‏.‏

Narrated by Anas ibn Mālik

See all 17 versions

Authentic Muttafaq ‘alayh (Bukhari and Muslim) Sahih Muslim 2092e

"Muhammad, the Messenger of Allah."

فَصَاغَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم خَاتَمًا حَلَقَةً فِضَّةً وَنَقَشَ فِيهِ مُحَمَّدٌ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ‏.‏

Narrated by Anas ibn Mālik

Authentic Muttafaq ‘alayh (Bukhari and Muslim) Sunan Abu Dawud 4214

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."

إِنَّهُمْ لاَ يَقْرَءُونَ كِتَابًا إِلاَّ بِخَاتَمٍ فَاتَّخَذَ خَاتَمًا مِنْ فِضَّةٍ وَنَقَشَ فِيهِ ‏"‏ مُحَمَّدٌ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ‏"

Narrated by Anas ibn Mālik

Authentic Muttafaq ‘alayh (Bukhari and Muslim) Sunan an-Nasa'i 5278

"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.'"

فَاتَّخَذَ خَاتَمًا مِنْ فِضَّةٍ كَأَنِّي أَنْظُرُ إِلَى بَيَاضِهِ فِي يَدِهِ وَنُقِشَ فِيهِ مُحَمَّدٌ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ‏.‏

Narrated by Anas ibn Mālik

Not graded Muttafaq ‘alayh (Bukhari and Muslim) Musnad Ahmad 12259