RINGS

Arabic k͟hātim ( خاتم‎ ), pl. k͟hawātim . Silver signet-rings are lawful, but a gold ring is not allowed. (See Ṣaḥīḥu ʾl-Buk͟hārī , p. 871.) Ibn ʿUmar says, “The Prophet took a gold ring and put it on his right hand, but he afterwards threw it away, and took a silver ring, on which was engraved Muḥammadun Rasūlu ʾllāh , i.e . ‘Muḥammad the Me enger of God,’ and he said, ‘Let none of you engrave on your ring like mine.’ And when he wore the ring he used to have the signet under his finger and close to the palm of his hand.” ʿAlī says the ring was on the little finger of the left hand, and that Muḥammad forbade a ring being worn upon the fore or middle finger. Anas says the Prophet’s ring was of silver and on his right hand . Modern Muslims usually wear a silver ring on the little finger of the right hand, with a signet of cornelian or other stone, upon which is engraved the wearer’s name, with the addition of the word ʿabdu ( عبد‎ ), “His servant,” meaning the servant or worshipper of God. This signet-ring is used for signing documents, letters, . A little ink is daubed upon it with one of the fingers, and it is pre ed upon the paper—the person who uses the ring having first touched the paper with his tongue and moistened the place upon which the impre ion is to be made. There is no restriction in Muslim law regarding rings for women. They are generally of gold, and are worn on the fingers, in the ears, and in the nose. RIQQ ( رق‎ ). The servitude of a slave. [ SLAVERY .] RISĀLAH ( رسالة‎ ). Apostleship. The office of an apostle or prophet. [ PROPHETS .]