Business Transactions

The Prophet (ﷺ) said: "The two parties (seller and buyer) in a business transaction have a choice (to annul it) until they separated (from one another), unless it is a transaction with the right to annul it attached to it; and it is not allowed for one to separated from the other for fear that he may cancel the deal."[Reported by al-Khamsah except Ibn Majah. ad-Daraqutni, Ibn Khuzaimah and Ibn al-Jarud also reported it].

"till they separated from their place (of transaction)."

A man told Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) that he was being deceived (cheated) in business transactions, and he replied, "When you make a purchase say, 'Deceiving (cheating) is not allowed (i.e. he has the choice to return the goods if he wills).'"[Agreed upon].

Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) cursed the one who accepts usury, the one who gives it, the one who records it and the two witnesses to it, saying, "They are all the same."[Reported by Muslim].

al-Bukhari reported something similar from the Hadith of Abu Juhaifah.

The Prophet (ﷺ) said: "Usury has seventy-three categories, the least one in sin is as that of a man who marries (has sexual relations with) his mother, and the very essence of usury is the (violation of the) honor of a Muslim man."[Ibn Majah reported it in a short form and al-Hakim in a complete one. The latter also graded it Sahih (authentic)].

The Prophet (ﷺ) said: "Do not sell gold for gold unless it is the same amount for the same amount, and do not make one amount greater than the other. Do not sell silver for silver unless it is the same amount for the same amount, and do not make one amount greater than the other. And do not sell that (cash money) which is not present (at the time of the transaction) for that (cash money) which is present."[Agreed upon].

Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said: "Gold is to be paid for with gold, silver with silver, wheat with wheat, barley with barley, dates with dates, and salt with salt, same quantity for same quantity and equal for equal, hand to hand (i.e. payment being made on the spot). If these classes differ, sell as you wish as long as payment is made on the spot."[Reported by Muslim].

Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said: "Gold is to be paid for with gold, both being of equal weight and of same quantities; silver is to be paid for with silver, both being of equal weight and of same quantities. If anyone gives more or asks for more of it, it is then usury."[Reported by Muslim].

Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) appointed a man over Khaibar and he brought him dates of a very fine quality. Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) asked, "Are all the dates of Khaibar like this?" He replied, "I swear by Allah that they are certainly not, O Allah's Messenger. We take one Sa' of this kind for two, and even for three (of lesser quality). So Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said: "Do not do so. Sell the mixed dates for Dirhams, then buy the very fine dates with the Dirhams." And he said that the same applies when things are sold by weight.[Agreed upon].

"and so is (that which is sold by) weight."

Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) forbade selling a quantity of dates whose measure was unknown for a specified (known) quantity of dates.[Reported by Muslim].

I used to hear Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) say, "Food (may be sold) for food, of same quantities." Our food at that time consisted of barley.[Reported by Muslim].

I bought a necklace for twelve Dinars at the battle of Khaibar and it contained gold and gems. I considered them separately and found that it was worth more than twelve Dinars. I told the Prophet (ﷺ) about that and he said, "It must not be sold till the contents are considered separately."[Reported by Muslim].

The Prophet (ﷺ) forbade selling animals for animals when payment was to be made at a later date.[Reported by al-Khamsah. Ibn al-Jarud and at-Tirmidhi graded it Sahih (authentic)].

The Prophet (ﷺ) commanded him to equip an army. Then, when the camels were insufficient, he commanded him to keep back the young camels of Sadaqah. He said, "I was taking a camel to be replaced by two when the camels of Sadaqah came."[Reported by al-Hakim and al-Baihaqi; its narrators are reliable].

I heard Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) say, "If you sell anything on credit to anyone, on the condition that you will buy it back for a lower price (al-'Einah), take hold of the tails of cattle, become pleased with agriculture and give up Jihad - Allah will make disgrace prevail over you and will not remove it from you till you return to your religion."[Reported by Abu Dawud from the narration of Nafi' on the authority of Ibn 'Umar (RA), but there is a defect in its chain].

Ahmad reported something similar from the narration of 'Ata. Its narrators are reliable and Ibn al-Qattan graded it Sahih (authentic).

The Prophet (ﷺ) said: "Whoever intercedes for his brother and that one gives him a gift for that (intercession) which he accepts, he has engaged in one of the most terrible types of Riba (undeserving increase in something)."[Reported by Ahmad and Abu Dawud, but one of its narrators' reliability has been doubted].

Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) cursed the one who bribes and the one who takes bribes.[Reported by Abu Dawud and at-Tirmidhi, who graded it Sahih (authentic)].