The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: “The two parties to a transaction have the option (of cancelling it) so long as they have not parted or there is a condition which gives the option to cancel.`
Hadith of Transaction Option
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: "The two parties to a transaction have the option (of cancelling it) so long as they have not parted or there is a condition which gives the option to cancel."
Legal Ruling and Wisdom
This hadith establishes the principle of khiyar al-majlis (option of session) in Islamic commercial law. The option remains valid as long as the buyer and seller remain at the place of transaction without separation.
The wisdom behind this ruling is to protect both parties from haste and potential regret, allowing them to reconsider their decision before finalizing the transaction.
Conditions and Application
Scholars differ on what constitutes "parting" - some consider physical separation while others include verbal separation or change of discussion topic.
The second part refers to khiyar al-shart (stipulated option) where parties may agree on specific conditions for cancellation within a defined period.
Scholarly References
This narration is recorded in Sahih al-Bukhari (2112) and Sahih Muslim (1531) with slight variations in wording but identical meaning.
Major commentators including Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani and Imam Nawawi have elaborated on its legal implications in their respective works.