Jami at-Tirmidhi 2718
Jami at-Tirmidhi · Book 42: Chapters on Seeking Permission · What Has Been Related About Putting A Seal On A Letter
Narrated Anas bin Malik:
حَدَّثَنَا إِسْحَاقُ بْنُ مَنْصُورٍ ، أَخْبَرَنَا مُعَاذُ بْنُ هِشَامٍ ، حَدَّثَنِي أَبِي ، عَنْ قَتَادَةَ ، عَنْ أَنَسِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ ، قَالَ لَمَّا أَرَادَ نَبِيُّ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَنْ يَكْتُبَ إِلَى الْعَجَمِ قِيلَ لَهُ إِنَّ الْعَجَمَ لاَ يَقْبَلُونَ إِلاَّ كِتَابًا عَلَيْهِ خَاتَمٌ فَاصْطَنَعَ خَاتَمًا . قَالَ فَكَأَنِّي أَنْظُرُ إِلَى بَيَاضِهِ فِي كَفِّهِ . قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى هَذَا حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ صَحِيحٌ .
"When the Prophet of Allah (ﷺ) wanted to write to the foreigners, it was said to him: 'The foreigners do not accept a letter unless it has a seal.' So he had a ring made." He said: "It is as if I am now looking at its whiteness in his hand."
Grade: Sahih (Darussalam)