The Prophet (ﷺ) aid, "The buyer and the seller have the option to cancel or to confirm the deal, as long as they have not parted or till they part, and if they spoke the truth and told each other the defects of the things, then blessings would be in their deal, and if they hid something and told lies, the blessing of the deal would be lost."
The Principle of Khiyar al-Majlis
This hadith establishes the legal principle known as "Khiyar al-Majlis" (Option of Session), wherein both buyer and seller retain the right to rescind the transaction as long as they remain together in the same gathering. The separation mentioned refers to physical departure from the place of transaction or conclusion of discussion.
This ruling provides protection against hasty decisions and ensures mutual consent remains intact until the parties formally conclude their meeting. The wisdom behind this is to prevent regret and disputes that may arise from impulsive commercial decisions.
The Condition of Truthfulness
The Prophet (ﷺ) emphasizes that commercial blessings are contingent upon complete transparency. When both parties disclose all relevant information, particularly defects in merchandise, Allah bestows barakah (blessing) upon the transaction.
Concealment of defects constitutes ghubn (fraudulent deception) and violates the trust essential to Islamic commercial ethics. Such behavior not only removes divine blessing but may also render the transaction Islamically problematic.
Spiritual Dimensions of Trade
This teaching elevates commerce from mere material exchange to an act of worship. Honest trading becomes a means of earning divine pleasure and spiritual reward, while dishonest practices carry both worldly and spiritual consequences.
The loss of blessing manifests through various means: the merchandise may not bring benefit, profits may diminish, or the transaction may lead to disputes and litigation. Thus, material success in trade is directly linked to moral integrity.
Practical Implementation
Scholars derived from this hadith the obligation to disclose all known defects in merchandise. A seller must explicitly mention any shortcomings, while a buyer should not conceal information that might affect the price.
The option period serves as a cooling-off mechanism, allowing reflection and preventing rash decisions. Modern applications include return policies and warranty provisions that embody this prophetic wisdom.