Arabic (Original)
حَدَّثَنَا عَفَّانُ حَدَّثَنَا حَمَّادُ بْنُ سَلَمَةَ حَدَّثَنَا عَلِيُّ بْنُ زَيْدٍ عَنْ أَنَسِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ أَنَّ مَلِكَ الرُّومِ أَهْدَى إِلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ مُسْتُقَةً مِنْ سُنْدُسٍ فَكَأَنِّي أَنْظُرُ إِلَى يَدَيْهَا تَذَبْذَبَانِ مِنْ طُولِهِمَا فَجَعَلَ الْقَوْمُ يَلْتَمِسُونَهَا وَيَقُولُونَ أُنْزِلَتْ عَلَيْكَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ هَذِهِ مِنْ السَّمَاءِ قَالَ وَمَا يُعْجِبُكُمْ مِنْهَا وَالَّذِي نَفْسِي بِيَدِهِ لَمَنْدِيلٌ مِنْ مَنَادِيلِ سَعْدِ بْنِ مُعَاذٍ فِي الْجَنَّةِ خَيْرٌ مِنْ هَذِهِ ثُمَّ بَعَثَ بِهَا إِلَى جَعْفَرٍ قَالَ فَلَبِسَهَا جَعْفَرٌ ثُمَّ جَاءَ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ إِنِّي لَمْ أَبْعَثْ بِهَا إِلَيْكَ لِتَلْبَسَهَا قَالَ فَمَا أَصْنَعُ بِهَا قَالَ ابْعَثْ بِهَا إِلَى أَخِيكَ النَّجَاشِيِّ.
English Translation
'Affan narrated to us, Hammad ibn Salamah narrated to us, 'Ali ibn Zayd narrated to us, from Anas ibn Malik: that the King of Rome sent as a gift to the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, a cloak of fine silk, and it is as if I can see its sleeves swaying from their length. The people began to touch it, saying, "Has this been sent down to you from heaven, O Messenger of Allah?" He said, "Are you amazed at this? By the One in Whose hand is my soul, a handkerchief of Sa'd ibn Mu'adh's handkerchiefs in Paradise is better than this." Then he sent it to Ja'far. Ja'far wore it and came, and the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, "I did not send it to you to wear it." He said, "What shall I do with it, then?" He said, "Send it to your brother the Negus."