The Life & Character of the Seal of Prophets (sa) – Volume III — Page 182
Seal of the Prophets - Volume III 182 with a seal, the Holy Prophet sa had a silver ring prepared, which had the words Muḥammadur-Rasūlullāhi engraved on it. 1 With the thought of keeping the name of God the Exalted, superior and prominent, the order of the words as set by the Holy Prophet sa were that the word Allāh was written at the very top. The word Rusūl was engraved in the middle and the word Muḥammad was placed in the lowermost line. 2 Furthermore, since these letters were meant to take an imprint of this ring, to facilitate this purpose, these words were reversely engraved on the ring itself, so that when its imprint is put down, the words appeared straight, like the printing of a press. 3 Therefore, this ring of the Holy Prophet sa always remained on his finger and after his demise, Ḥaḍrat Abū Bakr ra , the first Caliph wore it on his finger. After him it remained on the finger of Ḥaḍrat ‘Umar ra , the second Caliph and then Ḥaḍrat ‘Uthman ra , the third Caliph, until one day it fell from his hand into a well named Arīs and was lost. 4 Ḥaḍrat ‘Uthman ra and his companions searched for three days, and emptied the well of all its water, but the ring was no where to be found. 5 Use of Wisdom in Discharging the Obligation of Preaching By this strategy of the Holy Prophet sa to have a ring prepared, by consultation of his companions, fundamental light is shed on how the Holy Prophet sa would employ all such ways in the work of preaching, as were necessary in attracting his addressee towards him, and in producing a positive effect on his heart. 1 * Ṣaḥīḥul-Bukhārī, Kitābul-‘Ilm, Bābu Mā Yudhkaru Fil-Munāwalati Wa Kitābu Ahlil-‘Ilmi Bil-‘Ilmi Ilal-Buldān, Ḥadīth No. 65 * Ṣaḥīḥul-Bukhārī, Kitābul-Jihādi Was-Siyar, Bābu Da‘watil-Yahūdiyyi Wan-Naṣrāniyyi. . . , Ḥadīth No. 2938 2 Sharḥul-‘Allāmatiz-Zarqānī ‘Alal-Mawāhibil-Ladunniyyah, By Allāmah Shihābuddīn Al-Qusṭalānī, Volume 5, p. 3, Wa Ammā Mukātabatuhū ‘Alaihiṣ-Ṣalātu Was-Salāmu Ilal-Mulūki Wa Ghairihim, Dārul-Kutubil-‘Ilmiyyah, Beirut, Lebanon, First Edition (1996) — (Note: This reference is authenticated by the letter of the Holy Prophet sa to Maqauqis of Egypt, the original of which has been discovered, and we have included its facsimile in this book ahead. ) 3 Sharḥul-‘Allāmatiz-Zarqānī ‘Alal-Mawāhibil-Ladunniyyah, By Allāmah Shihābuddīn Al-Qusṭalānī, Volume 5, p. 3, Wa Ammā Mukātabatuhū ‘Alaihiṣ-Ṣalātu Was-Salāmu Ilal-Mulūki Wa Ghairihim, Dārul-Kutubil-‘Ilmiyyah, Beirut, Lebanon, First Edition (1996) — (Furthermore, refer to the copy of the letter of the Holy Prophet sa to Maqauqis of Egypt, which has been included at another place in this book, wherein the writing Muḥammadur-Rasūlullāhī can be seen written straight, which is clear evidence of the fact that the engraving on the original ring was in reverse. ) 4 Ṣaḥīḥul-Bukhārī, Kitābul-Libās, Bābu Khātamil-Fiḍḍah, Ḥadīth No. 5866 5 Musnad, By Imām Aḥmad bin Ḥanbal Ṣaḥīḥul-Bukhārī, Kitābul-Libās, Bābu Hal Yuj‘alu Naqshul-Khātami Thālathata Aṣṭurin, Ḥadīth No. 5879 [Publishers]