“When Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) wished to write to the non-Arabs, he was told: ‘The non-Arabs will not accept a letter unless it bears a seal.’ He therefore created a signet, and [even now] I can see its whiteness in the palm of his hand.”
حَدَّثَنَا إِسْحَاقُ بْنُ مَنْصُورٍ، قَالَ: حَدَّثَنَا مُعَاذُ بْنُ هِشَامٍ، قَالَ: حَدَّثَنِي أَبِي، عَنْ قَتَادَةَ، عَنْ أَنَسِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ، قَالَ: لَمَّا أَرَادَ رَسُولُ اللهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَنْ يَكْتُبَ إِلَى الْعَجَمِ قِيلَ لَهُ: إِنَّ الْعَجَمَ لا يَقْبَلُونَ إِلا كِتَابًا عَلَيْهِ خَاتَمٌ، فَاصْطَنَعَ خَاتَمًا، فَكَأَنِّي أَنْظُرُ إِلَى بَيَاضِهِ فِي كَفِّهِ.
“The inscription engraved [in Arabic script] on the signet ring of Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) was: Muhammadun forming one line, Rasulu forming one line, and Allahi forming one line.”
"The Prophet (ﷺ) wrote to Chosroes, Caesar and the Negus, whereupon he was told: 'The non-Arabs will not accept a letter unless it bears a seal.' Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) therefore cast a signet which had a silver ring, and on which was engraved; “Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah.”
حَدَّثَنَا نَصْرُ بْنُ عَلِيٍّ الْجَهْضَمِيُّ أَبُو عَمْرٍو، قَالَ: حَدَّثَنَا نُوحُ بْنُ قَيْسٍ، عَنْ خَالِدِ بْنِ قَيْسٍ، عَنْ قَتَادَةَ، عَنْ أَنَسِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ، أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم كَتَبَ إِلَى كِسْرَى وَقَيْصَرَ وَالنَّجَاشِيِّ، فَقِيلَ لَهُ: إِنَّهُمْ لا يَقْبَلُونَ كِتَابًا، إِلا بِخَاتَمٍ، فَصَاغَ رَسُولُ اللهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم، خَاتَمًا حَلْقَتُهُ فِضَّةٌ، وَنُقِشَ فِيهِ: مُحَمَّدٌ رَسُولُ اللهِ.
“Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) chose a signet ring of silver, so it was in his possession. Then it was in the possession of Abu Bakr and the possession of 'Umar. Then it was in the possession of 'Uthman, until it fell into the well of Aris. Its engraved inscription was: ‘Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah.”