Arabic (Original)
حَدَّثَنَا وَكِيعٌ عَنْ شُعْبَةَ عَنْ قَتَادَةَ وَابْنُ جَعْفَرٍ حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ قَتَادَةَ الْمَعْنَى عَنْ أَنَسٍ أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ أَرَادَ أَنْ يَكْتُبَ كِتَابًا إِلَى الرُّومِ فَقِيلَ لَهُ إِنْ لَمْ يَكُنْ مَخْتُومًا لَمْ يُقْرَأْ كِتَابُكَ فَاتَّخَذَ خَاتَمًا مِنْ وَرِقٍ وَنَقَشَ فِيهِ مُحَمَّدٌ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ فَكَأَنِّي أَنْظُرُ إِلَى بَيَاضِهِ فِي كَفِّهِ.
English Translation
Waki' told us, from Shu'bah, from Qatadah — and Ibn Ja'far told us, Shu'bah told us, he said: I heard Qatadah, the meaning being the same, from Anas, that the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, wanted to write a letter to the Byzantines, and it was said to him, "If it is not sealed, your letter will not be read." So he had a signet ring made of silver, engraved with "Muhammad, Messenger of God" — and it is as though I can still see its whiteness in his palm.