Sunan Abu Dawud #4219
Signet-Rings (Kitab Al-Khatam)
The Arabic includes the chain of narration (sanad) and the collector's commentary; the English translation shows the Prophet's words only.
حَدَّثَنَا نُصَيْرُ بْنُ الْفَرَجِ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو أُسَامَةَ، عَنْ عُبَيْدِ اللَّهِ، عَنْ نَافِعٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ، قَالَ اتَّخَذَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم خَاتَمًا مِنْ ذَهَبٍ وَجَعَلَ فَصَّهُ مِمَّا يَلِي بَطْنَ كَفِّهِ وَنَقَشَ فِيهِ " مُحَمَّدٌ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ " . فَاتَّخَذَ النَّاسُ خَوَاتِمَ الذَّهَبِ فَلَمَّا رَآهُمْ قَدِ اتَّخَذُوهَا رَمَى بِهِ وَقَالَ " لاَ أَلْبَسُهُ أَبَدًا " . ثُمَّ اتَّخَذَ خَاتَمًا مِنْ فِضَّةٍ نَقَشَ فِيهِ " مُحَمَّدٌ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ " . ثُمَّ لَبِسَ الْخَاتَمَ بَعْدَهُ أَبُو بَكْرٍ ثُمَّ لَبِسَهُ بَعْدَ أَبِي بَكْرٍ عُمَرُ ثُمَّ لَبِسَهُ بَعْدَهُ عُثْمَانُ حَتَّى وَقَعَ فِي بِئْرِ أَرِيسَ . قَالَ أَبُو دَاوُدَ وَلَمْ يَخْتَلِفِ النَّاسُ عَلَى عُثْمَانَ حَتَّى سَقَطَ الْخَاتَمُ مِنْ يَدِهِ .
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) took a signet-ring of gold, and put the stone next the palm of his hand. He engraved on it "Muhammad, the Messenger of Allah". The people then took signet-rings of gold. When he saw that they had taken them (like his ring) he threw it away and said: I shall never wear it. He then fashioned a silver ring and engraved on it "Muhammad, the Messenger of Allah". Then Abu Bakr wore it after him, then 'Umar wore it after Abu Bakr, and the 'Uthman wore it after 'Umar till it fell down in a well called Aris.
Abu Dawud said: The people did not disagree on 'Uthman till the signet-rin fell down from his hand.
Narrated by Narrated Ibn 'Umar:
Context
In this narration, Ibn 'Umar describes how the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) initially wore a gold signet ring but discarded it upon seeing others imitate him. He then adopted a silver ring, which was subsequently worn by his successors. This illustrates the Prophet's concern for distinguishing Islamic practices from those of non-believers.
Modern Application
Today, this hadith can inspire individuals to be mindful of their choices in adornment and to consider how their actions may influence others. It encourages a thoughtful approach to personal style that reflects one's values.
Topics
This hadith is tagged with Clothing Etiquette and Islamic Dress Code because it addresses the appropriateness of adornment and the Prophet's intention to differentiate Islamic practices from those of others.
Related Ayahs
سُورَةُ الفَتۡحِ
Al-Fath (The Victory)
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
1 ayah
مُّحَمَّدٌۭ رَّسُولُ ٱللَّهِ ۚ وَٱلَّذِينَ مَعَهُۥٓ أَشِدَّآءُ عَلَى ٱلْكُفَّارِ رُحَمَآءُ بَيْنَهُمْ ۖ تَرَىٰهُمْ رُكَّعًۭا سُجَّدًۭا يَبْتَغُونَ فَضْلًۭا مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ وَرِضْوَٰنًۭا ۖ سِيمَاهُمْ فِى وُجُوهِهِم مِّنْ أَثَرِ ٱلسُّجُودِ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ مَثَلُهُمْ فِى ٱلتَّوْرَىٰةِ ۚ وَمَثَلُهُمْ فِى ٱلْإِنجِيلِ كَزَرْعٍ أَخْرَجَ شَطْـَٔهُۥ فَـَٔازَرَهُۥ فَٱسْتَغْلَظَ فَٱسْتَوَىٰ عَلَىٰ سُوقِهِۦ يُعْجِبُ ٱلزُّرَّاعَ لِيَغِيظَ بِهِمُ ٱلْكُفَّارَ ۗ وَعَدَ ٱللَّهُ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَعَمِلُوا۟ ٱلصَّٰلِحَٰتِ مِنْهُم مَّغْفِرَةًۭ وَأَجْرًا عَظِيمًۢا
Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah; and those with him are forceful against the disbelievers, merciful among themselves. You see them bowing and prostrating [in prayer], seeking bounty from Allah and [His] pleasure. Their mark is on their faces from the trace of prostration. That is their description in the Torah. And their description in the Gospel is as a plant which produces its offshoots and strengthens them so they grow firm and stand upon their stalks, delighting the sowers - so that Allah may enrage by them the disbelievers. Allah has promised those who believe and do righteous deeds among them forgiveness and a great reward.
سُورَةُ البَيِّنَةِ
Al-Bayyina (The Evidence)
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
1 ayah
رَسُولٌۭ مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ يَتْلُوا۟ صُحُفًۭا مُّطَهَّرَةًۭ
A Messenger from Allah, reciting purified scriptures
سُورَةُ البَقَرَةِ
Al-Baqara (The Cow)
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
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وَقَالَ لَهُمْ نَبِيُّهُمْ إِنَّ ءَايَةَ مُلْكِهِۦٓ أَن يَأْتِيَكُمُ ٱلتَّابُوتُ فِيهِ سَكِينَةٌۭ مِّن رَّبِّكُمْ وَبَقِيَّةٌۭ مِّمَّا تَرَكَ ءَالُ مُوسَىٰ وَءَالُ هَٰرُونَ تَحْمِلُهُ ٱلْمَلَٰٓئِكَةُ ۚ إِنَّ فِى ذَٰلِكَ لَءَايَةًۭ لَّكُمْ إِن كُنتُم مُّؤْمِنِينَ
And their prophet said to them, "Indeed, a sign of his kingship is that the chest will come to you in which is assurance from your Lord and a remnant of what the family of Moses and the family of Aaron had left, carried by the angels. Indeed in that is a sign for you, if you are believers."
وَلَمَّا جَآءَهُمْ رَسُولٌۭ مِّنْ عِندِ ٱللَّهِ مُصَدِّقٌۭ لِّمَا مَعَهُمْ نَبَذَ فَرِيقٌۭ مِّنَ ٱلَّذِينَ أُوتُوا۟ ٱلْكِتَٰبَ كِتَٰبَ ٱللَّهِ وَرَآءَ ظُهُورِهِمْ كَأَنَّهُمْ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ
And when a messenger from Allah came to them confirming that which was with them, a party of those who had been given the Scripture threw the Scripture of Allah behind their backs as if they did not know [what it contained].
سُورَةُ آلِ عِمۡرَانَ
Aal-i-Imraan (The Family of Imraan)
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
1 ayah
وَإِذْ أَخَذَ ٱللَّهُ مِيثَٰقَ ٱلَّذِينَ أُوتُوا۟ ٱلْكِتَٰبَ لَتُبَيِّنُنَّهُۥ لِلنَّاسِ وَلَا تَكْتُمُونَهُۥ فَنَبَذُوهُ وَرَآءَ ظُهُورِهِمْ وَٱشْتَرَوْا۟ بِهِۦ ثَمَنًۭا قَلِيلًۭا ۖ فَبِئْسَ مَا يَشْتَرُونَ
And [mention, O Muhammad], when Allah took a covenant from those who were given the Scripture, [saying], "You must make it clear to the people and not conceal it." But they threw it away behind their backs and exchanged it for a small price. And wretched is that which they purchased.
Common Words
133 total106 unique13 repeated
ٱلله7x
من6x
فى4x
رسول3x
ٱلذين3x
إن3x
على2x
ٱلكفار2x
ذلك2x
أوتوا2x
ٱلكتب2x
وراء2x
ظهورهم2x
محمد1x
وٱلذين1x
معه1x
أشداء1x
رحماء1x
بينهم1x
ترىهم1x
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About Sunan Abu Dawud
This hadith is #4219 from Sunan Abu Dawud, in the Book of Signet-Rings (Kitab Al-Khatam). It is graded Sahih and narrated by Narrated Ibn 'Umar:.