Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) appointed somebody as a governor of Khaibar. That governor brought to him an excellent kind of dates (from Khaibar). The Prophet (ﷺ) asked, "Are all the dates of Khaibar like this?" He replied, "By Allah, no, O Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)! But we barter one Sa of this (type of dates) for two Sas of dates of ours and two Sas of it for three of ours." Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "Do not do so (as that is a kind of usury) but sell the mixed dates (of inferior quality) for money, and then buy good dates with that money."
Exposition of Hadith on Sales and Trade
This narration from Sahih al-Bukhari (2201, 2202) addresses the fundamental Islamic principle prohibiting ribā (usury/interest) in commercial transactions, particularly in the exchange of homogeneous commodities.
Contextual Analysis
The governor of Khaibar brought superior dates to the Prophet (ﷺ), revealing they were acquired through unequal exchange: one measure of superior dates for two measures of inferior ones, or two measures for three. This constitutes 'ribā al-fadl' - excess usury occurring in barter transactions of similar commodities.
Legal Ruling Explanation
The Prophet (ﷺ) prohibited this transaction because dates fall under the six commodities mentioned in other ahādīth where direct exchange must be equal in measure and simultaneous in transfer. When exchanging the same genus (dates for dates), any inequality constitutes usury.
The scholarly consensus holds that for commodities subject to ribā rules (gold, silver, wheat, barley, dates, salt), like-for-like exchange must be equal in quantity and hand-to-hand in execution.
Prophetic Solution
The Messenger (ﷺ) prescribed the lawful alternative: first sell the inferior dates for currency, then use that currency to purchase the superior dates. This introduces money as an intermediary, transforming the prohibited ribā transaction into two separate lawful sales.
Wisdom Behind the Prohibition
This ruling protects against economic exploitation, ensures fairness in trade, and closes avenues to concealed interest. It teaches that Islam regulates not only monetary interest but also unfair exchanges in barter transactions, emphasizing justice in all commercial dealings.