The seal is a rectangular piece of red agate, about 1 cm in length, inscribed

with / (i.e. Allah "God" in the first line, and Muhammad rasl "Muhammad,
messenger" in the second). According to Muslim historiographical tradition,
Muhammad's original seal was inherited b Abu !a"r, #mar, and #thman, but lost b
#thman in a well in Medina. $he seal of Muhammad was held to ha%e magic &ualities,
comparable to those attributed to the 'eal of 'olomon, and the loss of the seal
amounted to the loss of the caliphate and the loss of unit among Muslims. #thman is
said to ha%e made a replica of the seal, and this seal was supposedl found in the
capture of !aghdad (()*+) and brought to ,stanbul.-+.
A different design of the "seal of Muhammad" is circular, based on /ttoman era
manuscript copies of the letters of Muhammad0 this %ariant has become part of a
widespread design of 1ihadist flags since 2334. 'ince the appearance of these flags in
1ihadism, some 1ewelr manufacturers ha%e offered actual signet rings in this design
aimed at "1ihobbists".-).