Complete Translation of Sunan Abu-Dawud, Book 29:

Signet-Rings (Kitab Al-Khatam)


Chapter 1571: Fashioning a seal in the form of a ring


Book 29, Number 4202:

Narrated Anas b. Malik:

The Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) 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 Apostle of Allah."


Book 29, Number 4203:

The tradition mentioned above has also been transmitted by Anas through a different chain of narrators. This version as transmitted by 'Isa b. Yunus adds: It remained in his hand until he died, the hand of Abu Bakr until he died, in the hand of 'Umar until he died, and in the hand of 'Uthman. When he was near a well, it fell down into it. He ordered to take it out, but it could not be found.


Book 29, Number 4204:

Narrated Anas:

The signet-ring of the Prophet (peace_be_upon_him) was of silver with an Abyssinian stone.


Book 29, Number 4205:

Narrated Anas:

The signet-ring of the Prophet (peace_be_upon_him) was all of silver as was also its stone.


Book 29, Number 4206:

Narrated Ibn 'Umar:

The Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) took a signet-ring of gold, and put the stone next the palm of his hand. He engraved on it "Muhammad, the Apostle 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 Apostle of Allah." Then Abu Bakr wore it after him, then 'Umar wore it after Abu Bakr, and then '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-ring fell down from his hand.


Book 29, Number 4207:

The tradition mentioned above has also been transmitted by Ibn 'Umar through a different chain of narrators from the Prophet (peace_be_upon_him). This version adds: He engraved on it "Muhammad, the Apostle of Allah," and said: No one must engrave anything in the manner of this signet-ring of mine. He then transmitted the rest of the tradition


Book 29, Number 4208:

The tradition mentioned above has also been transmitted by Ibn 'Umar through a different chain of narrators from the Prophet (peace_be_upon_him). This version adds: They searched for it but could not find it. 'Uthman then fashioned a silver-ring and engraved on it "Muhammad, the Apostle of Allah." He used to wear it or stamp with it. (the narrator is doubtful)


Chapter 1572: Abandonment of wearing signet-rings


Book 29, Number 4209:

Narrated Anas b. Malik:

I saw a signet-ring on the hands of the Prophet (peace_be_upon_him) only for a day. The people then fashioned and wore (rings). The Prophet (peace_be_upon_him) then threw it away and the people also threw (them).

Abu Dawud said: Ziyad b. Sa'd, Shu'aib and Ibn Musafir transmitted it from al-Zuhri, 'Ali said in their versions: "of silver."


Chapter 1573: Signet-ring of gold


Book 29, Number 4210:

Narrated Abdullah ibn Mas'ud:

The Prophet of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) disliked ten things: 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 Mu'awwidhatan, wearing amulets, withdrawing the penis before the semen is discharged, in the case of a woman who is wife or not a wife, and having intercourse with a woman who is suckling a child; but he did not declare them to be prohibited.

Abu Dawud said: Only the transmitters of Basrah have transmitted this tradition.


Chapter 1574: Signet-ring of iron


Book 29, Number 4211:

Narrated Buraydah ibn al-Hasib:

A man came to the Prophet (peace_be_upon_him) and he was wearing a signet-ring of yellow copper. He said to him: How is it that I notice the odour of idols in you? So he threw it away, and came wearing an iron signet ring. He (the Prophet) said: What is it that I see you wearing the adornment of the inhabitants of Hell? So he threw it away. He asked: Apostle of Allah, what material I must use? He said: Make it of silver, but do not weigh it as much as a mithqal.

The narrator Muhammad did not say: "'Abd Allah b. Muslim," and al-Hasan did not say: "al-Sulaimi al-Marwazi."


Book 29, Number 4212:

Narrated Iyas b. al-Harith al-Mu'aiqib quoting his grandmother:

The signet-ring of the Prophet (peace_be_upon_him) was of iron polished with silver. Sometimes it remained in my possession. Al-Mu'ayqib was in charge of the signet-ring of the Prophet (peace_be_upon_him).


Book 29, Number 4213:

Narrated 'Ali:

The Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) said to me: Say: O Allah, guide me, and set me right. Remember by guidance (hidayah) the showing of the straight path, and remember by setting right (sidad) the setting right of an arrow. Then pointing to the middle finger and the one next to it, he said: He forbade me to wear a signet-ring on this finger of mine or on this ('Asim was doubtful). He forbade me to wear qisiyyah and mathirah. Abu Burdah said: We asked 'Ali: What is qisiyyah? He said: These are garments imported to us from Syria or Egypt. They are striped and marked like citrons. And mathirah are things made by woman for their husbands.


Chapter 1575: Wearing the signet ring on the right hand or the left hand


Book 29, Number 4214:

Narrated Ali ibn Abu Talib:

The Prophet (peace_be_upon_him) used to wear the signet-ring on his right hand.


Book 29, Number 4215:

Narrated Abdullah ibn Umar:

The Prophet (peace_be_upon_him) used to wear the signet-ring on his left hand, and put its stone next the palm of his hand.

Abu Dawud said: Ibn Ishaq and Usamah b. Zaid transmitted from Nafi': "on his right hand."


Book 29, Number 4216:

Narrated Nafi':

Ibn 'Umar used to wear his signet-ring on his left hand.


Book 29, Number 4217:

Narrated Abdullah ibn Abbas:

Muhammad ibn Ishaq said: I saw al-Salt ibn Abdullah ibn Nawfal ibn Abdul Muttalib wearing the signet-ring on his right small finger. I asked: What is this? He replied: I saw Ibn Abbas wearing his ring in this manner. He put its stone towards the upper part of his palm. Ibn Abbas also mentioned that the Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) used to wear his signet-ring in his manner.


Chapter 1576: Wearing little tinkling bells on legs


Book 29, Number 4218:

Narrated Umar ibn al-Khattab:

Ibn az-Zubayr told that a woman client of theirs took az-Zubayr's daughter to Umar ibn al-Khattab wearing bells on her legs. Umar cut them off and said that he had heard the Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) say: There is a devil along with each bell.


Book 29, Number 4219:

Bunanah, female client of 'Abd al-Rahman b. Hayyan al-Ansari told that when she was with 'A'ishah a girl wearing little bells was brought in to her. She ordered that they were not to bring her in where she was unless they cut off her little bells. She said: I heard the Prophet (peace_be_upon_him) say: The angels do not enter a house in which there is a bell.


Chapter 1577: Fastening teeth with gold


Book 29, Number 4220:

Narrated Arfajah ibn As'ad:

Abdur Rahman ibn Tarafah said that his grandfather Arfajah ibn As'ad who had his nose cut off at the battle of al-Kilab got a silver nose, but it developed a stench, so the Prophet (peace_be_upon_him) ordered him to get a gold nose.


Book 29, Number 4221:

Narrated Arfajah ibn As'ad:

The tradition mentioned above (No. 4220) has also been transmitted by Arfajah ibn As'ad through a different chain to the same effect.

Yazid said: I asked Abu al-Ashhab: Did Abdur Rahman ibn Tarafah meet his grandfather Arfajah? He replied: Yes.


Book 29, Number 4222:

The tradition mentioned above has also been transmitted by 'Arfajah through a different chain of narrators to the same effect.


Chapter 1578: Wearing gold by women


Book 29, Number 4223:

Narrated 'A'ishah, Ummul Mu'minin:

The Prophet (peace_be_upon_him) got some ornaments presented by Negus as a gift to him. They contained a gold ring with an Abyssinian stone. The Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) turning his attention from it took it by means of a stick or his finger, then called Umamah, daughter of Abu al-'As and daughter of his daughter Zaynab, and said: Wear it, my dear daughter.


Book 29, Number 4224:

Narrated Abu Hurairah:

The Prophet (peace_be_upon_him) said: 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.


Book 29, Number 4225:

Narrated A sister of Hudhayfah:

The Prophet (peace_be_upon_him) said: You women folk, have in silver something with which you adorn yourselves. I assure you that any woman of you who adorns herself with gold which she displays will be punished for it.


Book 29, Number 4226:

Narrated Asma', daughter of Yazid:

The Prophet (peace_be_upon_him) said: 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 on the Day of Resurrection.


Book 29, Number 4227:

Narrated Mu'awiyah ibn Abu Sufyan:

The Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) forbade to ride on panther skins and to wear gold except a little.

Abu Dawud said: The narrator Abu Qilabah did not meet Mu'awiyah.