Do not go out to meet riders to enter into transaction with them; none of you must buy in opposition to another, nor must you bid against one another; a townsman must not sell for a man from the desert, and do not tie up udders of carnels and sheep, and he who buys them after that has been done has two courses open to him: after he has milked them he may keep them if he is pleased with them, or he may return them along with a sit of dates if he is displeased with them.
The Book of Transactions - Sahih Muslim 1515 c
This comprehensive hadith from Sahih Muslim establishes several foundational principles governing commercial transactions in Islamic law, prohibiting practices that lead to exploitation, deception, or market manipulation.
Prohibition of Meeting Caravans Outside Town
Scholars explain that meeting riders before they reach the market prevents them from learning current market prices, enabling buyers to purchase goods at unfairly low prices. This practice (known as talaqqī al-rukbān) constitutes exploitation and is forbidden to ensure fair market conditions.
Prohibition of Competitive Bidding (Najash)
The prohibition against bidding against one another refers to the practice of najash, where a person falsely bids on goods without intention to purchase, merely to drive up prices for genuine buyers. This deception harms both sellers and buyers and violates the Islamic principle of transparency in transactions.
Urban-Rural Trading Restrictions
The prohibition against townsmen selling for desert dwellers prevents market intermediaries from exploiting rural producers who lack market knowledge. Scholars interpret this as protecting naive sellers from being manipulated by experienced market players who might take advantage of their ignorance of true market values.
Prohibition of Tying Animal Udders
Tying udders of camels and sheep to prevent milking constitutes gharrar (deception) by misrepresenting the animal's true milk production capacity. This practice deceives buyers about the actual value and productivity of the animal being sold.
Remedial Option for Defective Sales
If someone purchases an animal with tied udders, Islamic law provides the option of khiyār al-ghabn (option for defect). The buyer may keep the animal after milking if satisfied, or return it with compensation equivalent to a sit of dates for the consumed milk, ensuring justice for both parties in cases of transactional deception.