Signet-rings - Section 1

Ibn ‘Umar said the Prophet (ﷺ) took a signet-ring of gold. A version:

says he put it on his right hand, then threw it away and took one of silver on which he engraved, “Muhammad God’s messenger,” saying, “No one must engrave anything in the manner of this signet-ring of mine.” When he wore it he put the stone next the palm of his hand. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

عَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُمَا قَالَ: اتَّخَذَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ خَاتَمًا مِنْ ذَهَبٍ وَفِي رِوَايَةٍ: وَجَعَلَهُ فِي يَدِهِ الْيُمْنَى ثُمَّ أَلْقَاهُ ثُمَّ اتَّخَذَ خَاتَمًا مِنْ الْوَرق نُقِشَ فِيهِ: مُحَمَّدٌ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ وَقَالَ: «لَا يَنْقُشَنَّ أَحَدٌ عَلَى نَقْشِ خَاتَمِي هَذَا» . وَكَانَ إِذَا لَبِسَهُ جَعَلَ فَصَّهُ مِمَّا يَلِي بَطْنَ كَفه

‘Ali said God's messenger forbade wearing Qassi material and anything dyed with saffron, using a gold ring, and reciting the Qur'an when making the bow. Muslim transmitted it.

وَعَنْ عَلِيٍّ قَالَ: نَهَى رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ عَنْ لُبْسِ الْقَسِّيِّ وَالْمُعَصْفَرِ وَعَنْ تَخْتُّمِ الذَّهَبِ وَعَنْ قِرَاءَةِ الْقُرْآنِ فِي الرُّكُوعِ. رَوَاهُ مُسلم

‘Abdallah b. ‘Abbas told that when God’s messenger saw a gold signet-ring on a man’s hand he pulled it off and threw it away saying, “One of you is making for a coal from hell and putting it on his hand.” After God’s messenger had departed someone said to the man, “Take your signet-ring and get some good from it,” but he replied, “No, I swear by God that I shall never take it when God’s messenger has thrown it away.” Muslim transmitted it.

وَعَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عَبَّاسٍ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ رَأَى خَاتَمًا مِنْ ذَهَبٍ فِي يَدِ رَجُلٍ فَنَزَعَهُ فَطَرَحَهُ فَقَالَ: «يَعْمِدُ أَحَدُكُمْ إِلَى جَمْرَةٍ مِنْ نَارٍ فَيَجْعَلُهَا فِي يَدِهِ؟» فَقِيلَ لِلرَّجُلِ بَعْدَمَا ذَهَبَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: خُذْ خَاتَمَكَ انْتَفِعْ بِهِ. قَالَ: لَا وَاللَّهِ لَا آخُذُهُ أَبَدًا وَقَدْ طَرَحَهُ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ. رَوَاهُ مُسلم

Anas said that when the Prophet (ﷺ) wanted to write to the Persian Emperor, the Byzantine Emperor and the Negus he was told that they would not accept a letter without a seal; so God’s messenger fashioned a seal in the form of a silver ring on which he engraved “Muhammad God’s messenger.” Muslim transmitted it. A version by Bukhari says the engraving on the seal was in three lines, “Muhammad” being one, “messenger” another, and “of God” another.

وَعَنْ أَنَسٍ أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ أَرَادَ أَنْ يَكْتُبَ إِلَى كِسْرَى وَقَيْصَرَ وَالنَّجَاشِيِّ فَقِيلَ: إِنَّهُمْ لَا يَقْبَلُونَ كِتَابًا إِلَّا بِخَاتَمٍ فَصَاغَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ خَاتَمًا حَلْقَةَ فِضَّةٍ نُقِشَ فِيهِ: مُحَمَّدٌ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ. رَوَاهُ مُسْلِمٌ. وَفِي رِوَايَةٍ لِلْبُخَارِيِّ: كَانَ نَقْشُ الْخَاتَمِ ثَلَاثَةَ أَسْطُرٍ: مُحَمَّدٌ سَطْرٌ ورسولُ الله سطر وَالله سطر

He said the Prophet’s signet-ring was of silver as was also its stone. Bukhari transmitted it.

وَعَنْهُ أَنَّ نَبِيَّ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ كَانَ خَاتَمُهُ مِنْ فِضَّةٍ وَكَانَ فَصُّهُ مِنْهُ. رَوَاهُ البُخَارِيّ

He said God’s messenger wore on his right hand a silver signet-ring with an Abyssinian stone, and put its stone next the palm of his hand. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

وَعَنْهُ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ لَبِسَ خَاتَمَ فِضَّةٍ فِي يَمِينِهِ فِيهِ فَصٌّ حَبَشِيٌّ كَانَ يَجْعَلُ فَصَّهُ مِمَّا يَلِي كَفه

He said, pointing to the little finger of his left hand, “The Prophet’s signet-ring was on this.” Muslim transmitted it.

وَعَنْهُ قَالَ: كَانَ خَاتَمُ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فِي هَذِهِ وَأَشَارَ إِلَى الْخِنْصِرِ منْ يَده الْيُسْرَى. رَوَاهُ مُسلم

‘Ali, pointing to the middle finger and the one next it, said, “God’s messenger forbade me to wear a signet-ring on this finger of mine or on this.” Muslim transmitted it.

وَعَنْ عَلِيٍّ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ: نَهَانِي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسلم إِن أَتَخَتَّمَ فِي إِصْبَعِي هَذِهِ أَوْ هَذِهِ قَالَ: فَأَوْمَأَ إِلَى الْوُسْطَى وَالَّتِي تَلِيهَا. رَوَاهُ مُسْلِمٌ

‘Abdallah b. Ja'far said the Prophet (ﷺ) used to wear a signet-ring on his right hand. Ibn Majah transmitted it, and Abu Dawud and Nasa’i transmitted it on ‘Ali’s authority.

عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ جَعْفَرٍ قَالَ: كَانَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَتَخَتَّمُ فِي يَمِينه. رَوَاهُ ابْن مَاجَه وَرَوَاهُ أَبُو دَاوُد وَالنَّسَائِيّ عَن عَليّ

Ibn ‘Umar said the Prophet (ﷺ) used to wear a signet-ring on his left hand. Abu Dawud transmitted it.

وَعَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ قَالَ: كَانَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يتختم فِي يسَاره. رَوَاهُ أَبُو دَاوُد

‘Ali told that the Prophet, taking some silk and putting it in his right hand, and taking some gold and putting it in his left hand, said, “These are prohibited to the male members of my people.” Ahmad, Abu Dawud and Nasa’i transmitted it.

وَعَنْ عَلِيٍّ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ أَخَذَ حَرِيرًا فَجَعَلَهُ فِي يَمِينِهِ وَأَخَذَ ذَهَبًا فَجَعَلَهُ فِي شِمَالِهِ ثُمَّ قَالَ: «إِنَّ هَذَيْنِ حَرَامٌ عَلَى ذُكُورِ أُمتي» . رَوَاهُ أَحْمد وَأَبُو دَاوُد وَالنَّسَائِيّ

Mu'awiya said God’s messenger forbade riding on panther-skins and wearing gold, except in small pieces. Abu Dawud and Nasa'i transmitted it.

وَعَن مُعَاوِيَةُ إِنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ نَهَى عَنْ رُكُوبِ النُّمُورِ وَعَنْ لُبْسِ الذَّهَبِ إِلَّا مُقَطَّعًا. رَوَاهُ أَبُو دَاوُدَ وَالنَّسَائِيُّ

Buraida reported the Prophet (ﷺ) as saying to a man who was wearing a signet-ring of yellow copper, “How is it that I notice the odour of idols in you ?” So he threw it away and came wearing an iron signet- ring, and when he said, “How is it that I see you wearing the adornment of the inhabitants of hell ?” he threw it away and asked God’s messenger what material he should use. He replied, “Silver, but do not let it weigh as much as a <i>mithqal</i>.” Tirmidhi, Abu Dawud and Nasa’i transmitted it. Muhyi as-Sunna said there is a sound tradition on the authority of Sahl b. Sa'd about the dower that the Prophet (ﷺ) said to a man, “Seek something, even though it should be an iron signet-ring.”

وَعَنْ بُرَيْدَةَ أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ لِرَجُلٍ عَلَيْهِ خَاتَمٌ مِنْ شَبَهٍ: «مَا لِي أَجِدُ مِنْكَ رِيحَ الْأَصْنَامِ؟» فَطَرَحَهُ ثُمَّ جَاءَ وَعَلَيْهِ خَاتَمٌ مِنْ حَدِيدٍ فَقَالَ: «مَا لِي أَرَى عَلَيْكَ حِلْيَةَ أَهْلِ النَّارِ؟» فَطَرَحَهُ فَقَالَ: يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ مِنْ أَيِّ شَيْءٍ أَتَّخِذُهُ؟ قَالَ: «مِنْ وَرِقٍ وَلَا تُتِمَّهُ مِثْقَالا» . رَوَاهُ التِّرْمِذِيّ وَأَبُو دَاوُد وَالنَّسَائِيّ

Ibn Mas'ud said there were ten things the Prophet (ﷺ) disliked :

yellow colouring, meaning khaluq, dyeing grey hair, trailing the lower garment, wearing a gold signet-ring, a woman decking herself before people who are not within the prohibited degrees, throwing dice, using spells, except with the <i>mu'awwidhat</i> (The last two suras of the Qur'an are known as <i>al mu’awwidhatan</i>. Here the plural is used, and the suggestion is made that it may include certain supplications and prayers using names of God ; or that suras cxii and cix may be added to the last two), wearing amulets, withdrawing the penis before the semen is discharged, and having intercourse with a woman who is suckling a child; but he did not declare them to be prohibited. Abu Dawud and Nasa’i transmitted it.

وَعَنِ ابْنِ مَسْعُودٍ قَالَ: كَانَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَكْرَهُ عَشْرَ خِلَالٍ: الصُّفْرَةَ يَعْنِي الخلوق وتغييرَ الشيب وجر الأزرار وَالتَّخَتُّمَ بِالذَّهَبِ وَالتَّبَرُّجَ بِالزِّينَةِ لِغَيْرِ مَحِلِّهَا وَالضَّرْبَ بِالْكِعَابِ وَالرُّقَى إِلَّا بِالْمُعَوِّذَاتِ وَعَقْدَ التَّمَائِمِ وَعَزْلَ الْمَاءِ لِغَيْرِ مَحِلِّهِ وَفَسَادَ الصَّبِيِّ غَيْرَ مُحَرِّمِهِ. رَوَاهُ أَبُو دَاوُد وَالنَّسَائِيّ

Ibn az-Zubair told that a woman client of theirs took az-Zubair’s daughter to ‘Umar b. al-Khattab wearing bells on her leg. ‘Umar cut them off and said he had heard God’s messenger say, “There is a devil along with each bell.” Abu Dawud transmitted it.

وَعَن ابنِ الزبيرِ: أَنَّ مَوْلَاةً لَهُمْ ذَهَبَتْ بِابْنَةِ الزُّبَيْرِ إِلَى عُمَرَ بْنِ الْخَطَّابِ وَفِي رِجْلِهَا أَجْرَاسٌ فَقَطَعَهَا عمر وَقَالَ: سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَقُولُ: «مَعَ كُلِّ جَرَسٍ شَيْطَانٌ» . رَوَاهُ أَبُو دَاوُد

Bunana, female client of ‘Abd ar-Rahman b. Hayyan al-Ansari, told that when she was with ‘A’isha a girl wearing tinkling little bells was brought in to her, whereupon she ordered that they were not to bring her in, where she was unless they cut off her little bells, for she had heard God’s messenger say, “The angels do not enter a house in which there is a bell.” Abu Dawud transmitted it.

وَعَنْ بُنَانَةَ مَوْلَاةِ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ حَيَّانَ الْأنْصَارِيّ كانتْ عندَ عائشةَ إِذْ دُخِلَتْ عَلَيْهَا بِجَارِيَةٍ وَعَلَيْهَا جَلَاجِلُ يُصَوِّتْنَ فَقَالَتْ: لَا تُدْخِلُنَّهَا عَلَيَّ إِلَّا أَنْ تُقَطِّعُنَّ جَلَاجِلَهَا سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَقُولُ: «لَا تَدْخُلُ الْمَلَائِكَةُ بَيْتًا فِيهِ أَجْرَاس» . رَوَاهُ أَبُو دَاوُد

‘Abd ar-Rahman b. Tarafa told that his grandfather ‘Arfaja b. As'ad who had had his nose cut off at the battle of al-Kulab (This was a battle about ten years before the Hijra in which the tribe of Tamim was engaged) got a silver nose, but it developed a stench, so the Prophet (ﷺ) ordered him to get a gold nose. Tirmidhi, Abu Dawud and Nasa’i transmitted it.

وَعَنْ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ طَرَفَةَ أَنَّ جَدَّهُ عَرفجةَ بن أسعد قُطِعَ أَنْفُهُ يَوْمَ الْكُلَابِ فَاتَّخَذَ أَنْفًا مِنْ وَرِقٍ فَأَنْتَنَ عَلَيْهِ فَأَمَرَهُ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ أَنْ يَتَّخِذَ أَنْفًا مِنْ ذَهَبٍ. رَوَاهُ التِّرْمِذِيّ وَأَبُو دَاوُد وَالنَّسَائِيّ

Abu Huraira reported God’s messenger as saying, “If anyone wants to put a ring of fire on one he loves let him put a gold ring on him ; if anyone wants to put a necklace of fire on one he loves let him put a gold necklace on him ; and if anyone wants to put a bracelet of fire on one he loves let him put a gold bracelet on him. Keep to silver and amuse yourselves with it.” Abu Dawud transmitted it.

وَعَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ: «مَنْ أَحَبَّ أَنْ يُحَلِّقَ حَبِيبَهُ حَلَقَةً مِنْ نَارٍ فَلْيُحَلِّقْهُ حَلَقَةً مِنْ ذَهَبٍ وَمَنْ أَحَبَّ أَنْ يُطَوِّقَ حَبِيبَهُ طَوْقًا مِنْ نَارٍ فَلْيُطَوِّقْهُ طَوْقًا مِنْ ذَهَبٍ وَمَنْ أَحَبَّ أَنْ يُسَوِّرَ حَبِيبَهُ سِوَارًا مِنْ نَار فليسوره مِنْ ذَهَبٍ وَلَكِنْ عَلَيْكُمْ بِالْفِضَّةِ فَالْعَبُوا بِهَا» . رَوَاهُ أَبُو دَاوُد

Asma’ daughter of Yazid reported God’s messenger as saying, “Any woman who wears a gold necklace will have a similar one of fire put on her neck on the day of resurrection, and any woman who puts a gold earring in her ear will have a similar one of fire put in her ear by God on the day of resurrection.” Abu Dawud and Nasa’i transmitted it.

وَعَن أَسْمَاءَ بِنْتِ يَزِيدَ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ: «أَيُّمَا امْرَأَةٍ تَقَلَّدَتْ قِلَادَةً مِنْ ذَهَبٍ قُلِّدَتْ فِي عُنُقِهَا مِثْلُهَا مِنَ النَّارِ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ وَأَيُّمَا امْرَأَةٍ جَعَلَتْ فِي أُذُنِهَا خُرْصًا مِنْ ذَهَبٍ جَعَلَ اللَّهُ فِي أُذُنِهَا مِثْلَهُ مِنَ النَّارِ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ» . رَوَاهُ أَبُو دَاوُدَ وَالنَّسَائِيّ

A sister of Hudhaifa reported God’s messenger as saying, “You women have in silver something with which to adorn yourselves. I assure you that any woman of you who adorns herself with gold which she displays will be punished for it.” Abu Dawud and Nasa’i transmitted it.

وَعَن أُخْت لِحُذَيْفَة أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ: «يَا مَعْشَرَ النِّسَاءِ أَمَا لَكُنَّ فِي الْفِضَّةِ مَا تُحَلَّيْنَ بِهِ؟ أَمَا إِنَّهُ لَيْسَ مِنْكُنَّ امْرَأَةٌ تُحَلَّى ذَهَبًا تُظْهِرُهُ إِلَّا عُذِّبَتْ بِهِ» . رَوَاهُ أَبُو دَاوُد وَالنَّسَائِيّ

‘Uqba b. ‘Amir told that God's messenger used to restrain people who adorned themselves and wore silk, saying, “If you want the adornment and silk of paradise, do not wear them in this world.” Nasa'i transmitted it.

عَنْ عُقْبَةَ بْنِ عَامِرٍ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ كانَ يمنعُ أهلَ الْحِلْيَةَ وَالْحَرِيرَ وَيَقُولُ: «إِنْ كُنْتُمْ تُحِبُّونَ حِلْيَةَ الْجَنَّةِ وَحَرِيرَهَا فَلَا تَلْبَسُوهَا فِي الدُّنْيَا» . رَوَاهُ النَّسَائِيّ

Ibn ‘Abbas told that God’s messenger got a signet-ring, but when he wore it he said, “This has distracted me from you ; since today I have been giving a look at it and giving a look at you.” He then threw it away. Nasa’i transmitted it.

وَعَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ اتَّخَذَ خَاتَمًا فَلَبِسَهُ قَالَ: «شَغَلَنِي هَذَا عَنْكُمْ مُنْذُ الْيَوْمَ إِلَيْهِ نَظْرَةٌ وإِليكم نظرة» ثمَّ أَلْقَاهُ. رَوَاهُ النَّسَائِيّ

Malik said :

I dislike youths being dressed with any gold, for I have heard that God's messenger forbade wearing a gold signet-ring ; and I disapprove of it for men, both old and young. He transmitted it in <i>al-Muwatta</i>.

وَعَن مَالك قَالَ: أَنا أكره ن يُلْبَسَ الْغِلْمَانُ شَيْئًا مِنَ الذَّهَبِ لِأَنَّهُ بَلَغَنِي أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ نهى عَن التختمِ بالذهبِ فَأَنا أكره لِلرِّجَالِ الْكَبِيرِ مِنْهُمْ وَالصَّغِيرِ. رَوَاهُ فِي الْمُوَطَّأِ