Business Transactions

كتاب البيوع

Chapter 11: Usury - Section 3

‘Abdallah, son of Hanzala who was washed by the angels*, reported God's Messenger as saying, "A dirham which a man knowingly receives in usury is more serious than thirty-six acts of fornication”. Ahmad and Daraqutni transmitted it.* Hanzala was killed at the battle of Uhud. The dead were buried without being washed, and as Hanzala is reputed to have been in a state of ceremonial impurity at the time, his family were anxious; so the Prophet told them he had been washed by the angels. He is commonly called al-ghasil. In the text above the phrase used is ghasil al-mala’ika.Baihaqi transmitted in Shu'ab al-iman on the authority of Ibn ‘Abbas with the addition that he said, "Hell is more fitting for him whose flesh is nourished by what is unlawful.”

Anas reported God’s Messenger as saying, "When one of you makes a loan and the borrower sends him a present or provides an animal for him to ride, he must not ride the one or accept the other unless it is a practice they followed previously." Ibn Majah and Baihaqi, in Shu'ab al-iman, transmitted it.

He reported the Prophet as saying, "When a man makes a loan to another he must not accept a present." Bukhari transmitted it in his Ta’rikh, as is said in al-Muntaqa.

Chapter 1: Earning, and Seeking what is Lawful - Section 1

Aba Juhaifa said that the Prophet forbade the price paid for blood1, the price paid for a dog, and the earnings of a prostitute, and cursed him who accepted and him who paid usury, him who tattooed and him who had himself tattooed, and the sculptor2.Bukhari transmitted it.1. This refers to the blood of an animal.2. Musawwir. The meaning is more comprehensive than any English word. It also means “painter”, or anyone who produces representations of living beings.

Jabir said he heard God’s Messenger say in the year of the Conquest when he was in Mecca, "God and His Messenger have declared forbidden the sale of wine, animals which have died a natural death, swine and idols.” He was asked what he thought of the fat of animals which had died a natural death, for it was used for caulking ships, greasing skins, and making oil for lamps, and after saying that it was unlawful he added, "God curse the Jews! When He declared the fat of such animals unlawful they melted it, then sold it and enjoyed the price they received. “ (Bukhari and Muslim.)

‘Umar reported God’s Messenger as saying, "God curse the Jews! Fats were declared unlawful for them, but they melted them and sold them.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Chapter 2: Earning, and Seeking what is Lawful - Section 2

We shall mention the tradition of Jabir, “He forbade eating cats”, in the chapter 'Lawful and unlawful food’ in Book 21.

Al-Hasan b. ‘Ali said

I have retained in my memory these words of God's Messenger, “Leave what causes you doubt and turn to what does not cause you doubt. Truth is tranquility, but falsehood is doubt.” Ahmad, Tirmidhi and Nasa’i transmitted it, and Darimi transmitted the first part.

Wabisa b. Ma'bad reported God’s Messenger as saying, “Have you come to ask about righteousness and sin, Wabisa?” When he replied that he had, he joined his fingers and striking his breast with them said, “Ask yourself for a decision, ask your heart for a decision (saying it three times). Righteousness is that with which the soul is tranquil and the heart is tranquil, but sin is that which rouses suspicion in the soul and is perplexing in the breast, even if people give you a decision in its favour.” Ahmad and Darimi transmitted it.

'Atiya as-Sa'di reported God's Messenger as saying, "No one will attain to being one of the pious till he abandons things which are harmless through being on his guard against what is harmful." Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah transmitted it.

Abu Huraira said God's Messenger prohibited payment for a dog and the earnings of the prostitute*. * Zammara. This word is said by a number of authorities to mean a prostitute, but it can also mean a woman who plays the oboe (mizmar).It is transmitted in Sharh as-sunna.

Abu Umama reported God’s Messenger as saying

"Do not sell, buy or teach singing-girls, and the price paid for them is unlawful. To similar effect has been sent down, 'Among men are those who purchase frivolous talk' (Al-Qur'an 31:6).Ahmad, Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah transmitted it, Tirmidhi saying that this is a gharib tradition and that ‘Ali b. Yazid the transmitter is declared to be a weak traditionist.

Chapter 4: Gentleness in Business Dealings - Section 1

Abu Qatada reported God’s Messenger as saying, “Avoid much swearing while transacting business, for it produces a ready sale then blots out the blessing.” Muslim transmitted it.

Chapter 9: Usury - Section 1

Abu Sa'id al-Khudri reported God’s Messenger as saying, "Gold is to be paid for by gold, silver by silver, wheat by wheat, barley by barley, dates by dates, and salt by salt, like for like, payment being made on the spot. If anyone gives more or asks more he has dealt in usury. The receiver and the giver are equally guilty.” Muslim transmitted it.

Chapter 10: Usury - Section 2

Abu Huraira reported God's Messenger as saying, “A time is certainly coming to mankind when only the receiver of usury will remain, and if he does not receive it some of its vapour (or alternatively, its dust) will reach him.” Ahmad, Abu Dawud, Nasa'i and Ibn Majah transmitted it.

‘Ubada b. as-Samit reported God’s Messenger as saying, “Do not sell gold for gold, or silver for silver, or wheat for wheat, or barley for barley, or dates for dates, or salt for salt except equal for equal, kind for kind, payment being made on the spot; but sell gold for silver, silver for gold, wheat for barely, barley for wheat, dates for salt and salt for dates, payment being made on the spot, as you wish.” Shafi'i transmitted it.

Chapter 11: Usury - Section 3

Ibn Mas'ud reported God’s Messenger as saying, "Even though usury be much it leads in the end to penury.” Ibn Majah and Baihaqi, in Shu'ab al-iman, transmitted it, and Ahmad also transmitted it.

Abu Huraira reported God's Messenger as saying, "On the night when I was taken up to heaven I came upon people whose bellies were like houses and contained snakes which could be seen from outside their bellies. I asked Gabriel who they were and he told me that they were people who had practised usury.” Ahmad and Ibn Majah transmitted it.

Chapter 12: Business Transactions which are Forbidden - Section 1

Ibn ‘Umar said that God’s Messenger forbade muzabana, which means that a man sells the fruit of his garden, if it consists of palm trees*, for dried dates by measure; or if it consists of grapes, for raisins by measure; or (Muslim has “and if”) it is corn, he sells it for a measure of corn. He forbade all that. A version by both of them tells that he forbade muzabana, which means that the fruit on the palm-trees is sold for a specified measure of dates, the seller profiting if it is greater and losing if it is less.(Bukhari and Muslim.)* Explained as meaning fresh dates

Chapter 1: Earning, and Seeking what is Lawful - Section 1

Abu Huraira reported God’s Messenger as saying that

God is good and accepts only what is good, and He has given the same command to the believers as He has given to the Messengers, saying, “0 Messengers, eat of what is good and act righteously” (Al-Qur’an 23:51) and also, “You who believe, eat of the good things which We have provided for you” (Al-Qur’an 2:172). Then he mentioned a man who makes a long journey in a dishevelled and dusty state, who stretches out his hands to heaven saying, “My Lord, my Lord,” when his food, drink and clothing are of an unlawful nature, and he is nourished by what is unlawful, and asked how such a one could be given an answer. Muslim transmitted it.

Abu Mas'ud al-Ansari said that God’s Messenger forbade the price paid for a dog, the hire paid to a prostitute, and the gift given to a soothsayer. (Bukhari and Muslim.)