Al-Adab Al-Mufrad, Book 45, Hadith 8 (In-Book) ⓘ
Nafi' said, "Ibn 'Umar needed something from Mu'awiya and he wanted to write to him. People said, 'Begin with his name.' They kept on at him until he wrote, 'In the Name of Allah, the All-Merciful, Most Merciful, to Mu'awiya.'"
حَدَّثَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ، قَالَ: حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ زَكَرِيَّا، عَنِ ابْنِ عَوْنٍ، عَنْ نَافِعٍ قَالَ: كَانَتْ لِابْنِ عُمَرَ حَاجَةٌ إِلَى مُعَاوِيَةَ، فَأَرَادَ أَنْ يَكْتُبَ إِلَيْهِ، فَقَالُوا: ابْدَأْ بِهِ، فَلَمْ يَزَالُوا بِهِ حَتَّى كَتَبَ: بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيمِ، إِلَى مُعَاوِيَةَ.
also referenced under: Hadith 1124 (Reference) & Book 45, Hadith 1124 (English)