The Book of Musaqah - Sahih Muslim 1596 c

This narration addresses the prohibition of usury (riba) in Islamic commercial transactions, specifically emphasizing that when exchange occurs hand-to-hand (simultaneously), there is no element of unlawful interest.

Scholarly Commentary

The classical scholars explain that this hadith establishes the fundamental condition for permissible sales: immediate exchange (taqābud) when dealing with specific commodities subject to riba rules. This prevents the delay that leads to usurious practices.

Imam Nawawi comments in his Sharh Sahih Muslim that "hand to hand" (yadan bi yadin) requires both possession and exchange to occur simultaneously in the same session, without separation or delay between offer and acceptance.

Ibn Qudamah in al-Mughni states this principle ensures fairness by eliminating the uncertainty (gharar) and potential exploitation that occurs when payment and delivery are separated.

Legal Implications

This ruling applies particularly to the six ribawi items mentioned in other narrations: gold, silver, wheat, barley, dates, and salt. When exchanging these commodities for their same kind, they must be equal in quantity and exchanged hand-to-hand.

For different kinds of ribawi items, the scholars permit difference in quantity but maintain the requirement of immediate exchange to prevent usury through delay (riba al-nasi'ah).