Commercial Transactions (Kitab Al-Buyu)
كتاب البيوع
Chapter 23: Regarding Selling Crops Before They Are Ripe
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) forbade the sale of fruits till they were clearly in good condition, forbidding it both to the seller and to the buyer.
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) forbade selling palm-trees till the dates began to ripen, and ears of corn till they were white and were safe from blight, forbidding it both to the buyer and to the seller.
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) forbade to sell spoils of war till they are appointed, and to sell palm trees till they are safe from every blight, and a man praying without tying belt.
The Prophet (ﷺ) forbade the sale of grapes till they became black and the sale of grain till it had become hard.
Chapter 25: Regarding Transactions Involving Ambiguity
The Prophet (ﷺ) forbade the type of sale which involves risk (or uncertainty) and a transaction determined by throwing stones.
"Wearing the samma' means that a man puts his garment over his left shoulder and keeps his right side uncovered. Munabadhah means that a man says (to another): If I throw this garment to you, the sale will be certain. Mulamasah means that a man touches it (another's garment) with his hand and neither he unfolds it nor turns it over. When he touched it, the sale becomes binding.
Chapter 31: Muzara'ah (Sharecropping)
I heard Ibn Umar say: We did not see any harm in sharecropping till I heard Rafi' ibn Khadij say: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) has forbidden it. So I mentioned it to Tawus. He said: Ibn Abbas told me that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) had not forbidden it, but said: It is better for one of you to lend to his brother than to take a prescribed sum from him.
I asked Rafi' b. Khadij about the lease of land for gold and silver (i.e. for dinars and dirhams). There is no harm in it, for the people used to let out land in the time of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) for what grew by the current of water and at the banks of streamlets and at the places of cultivation. So sometimes this (portion) perished and that (portion) was saved, and sometimes this remained intact and that perished. There was no (form of) lease among the people except this. Therefore, he forbade it. But if there is something which is secure and known, then there is no harm in it. The tradition of Ibrahim is more perfect. Qutaibah said: "from Hanzalah on the authority of Rafi' ".
Abu Dawud said: A similar tradition has been transmitted by Yahya b. Sa'id from Hanzalah.
Chapter 32: Regarding The Stern Warning Concerning That
We used to employ people to till land for a share of it produce. He then maintained that, one of his uncles came to him and said: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) forbade us from a work which beneficial to us. But obedience to Allah and His Apostle (ﷺ) is more beneficial to us. We asked : What is that ? He said: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: If anyone has land, he should cultivate it, or lend it to his brother for cultivation. He should not rent it for a third or a quarter (of the produce) or for specified among of produce.
Rafi' b. Khadij came to us and said: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) forbids you from a work which is beneficial to you ; and obedience to Allah and His Prophet (ﷺ) is more beneficial to you. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) forbids you from renting land for share of its produce and he said: If anyone if not in need of his land he should lend it to his brother or leave it.
Abu Dawud said: Shu'bah and Mufaddal b. Muhalhal have narrated it from Mansur in similar way. Shu'bah said (in his version): Usaid, nephew of Rafi' b, Khadij.
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) forbade muhaqalah and muzabanah. Those who cultivate land are three: a man who has (his own) land and he tills it: a man who has been lent land and he tills the one lent to him; a man who employs another man to till land against gold (dinars) or silver (dirhams).
Chapter 34: Regarding Mukhabarah
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) forbade mukhabarah. I asked: What is mukhabarah ? He replied: That you have the land (for cultivation) for half, a third, or a quarter (of the produce).
Chapter 35: Regarding Musaqah
The Prophet (ﷺ) handed over the Jews of Khaibar the palm trees and the land of Khaibar on condition that they should employ what belonged to them in working on them, and that he should have half of the fruits.
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) conquered Khaibar, and stipulated that all the land, gold and silver would belong to him. The people of Khaibar said: we know the land more than you ; so give it to us on condition that you should have half of the produce and we would have the half. He then gave it to them on that condition. When the time of picking the fruits of the palm-trees came, he sent 'Abd Allah b. Rawahah to them, and he assessed the among of the fruits of the palm-trees. This is what the people of Medina call khars (assessment). He used to say: In these palm-trees there is such-and-such amount (of produce). They would say: You assessed more to us, Ibn Rawahah (than the real amount). He would say: I first take the responsibility of assessing the fruits of the palm-trees and give you half of (the amount) I said. They would say: This is true, and on this (equity) stand the heavens and the earth. We agreed that we should take (the amount which) you said.
When the Prophet (ﷺ) conquered Khaibar. He then narrated it like the tradition of Zaid (b. Abu al-Zarqa'). This version has: He then assessed the produce of the palm-trees and said: I take the job of picking the fruit myself, and I shall give you half of (the amount) I said.
Chapter 12: Regarding Exchange
"He said: If these classes differ, sell as you wish if payment is made on the spot."
Chapter 19: Regarding Al-Muzabanah
The Prophet (ﷺ) forbade the sale of fruits on the tree for fruits by measure, and sale of grapes for raisins by measure, and sale of harvest for wheat by measure.
Chapter 20: Regarding 'Araya Transactions
The Prophet (ﷺ) gave license for the sale of 'araya for dried dates and fresh dates.
Chapter 23: Regarding Selling Crops Before They Are Ripe
The Prophet (ﷺ) forbade the sale of fruits till they were clearly in good condition , and (ordered that) they should not be sold but for dinar or dirham except Araya.
Chapter 24: Regarding Selling Crops Years In Advance
The Prophet (ﷺ) forbade selling fruits years ahead, and commanded that unforeseen loss be remitted in respect of what is affected by blight.
Abu Dawud said: The attribution of the tradition regarding the effect of blight is one-third of the produce to the Prophet (ﷺ) is not correct. This is the opinion of the people of Medina.