"Abu Al-Mutawakkil passed by them in the market and some people, including me, stood up to greet him. We said: 'We have come to you to ask you about transactions.' He said: 'I heard a man say to Abu Saeed Al-Khudri': 'Is there anyone between you and the Messenger of Allah (in the chain of narrators) apart from Abu Saeed Al-Khudri? He said: 'There is no one else between him and I. He said: Gold for gold, silver for silver, wheat for wheat, barley for barley, dates for dates, salt for salt, equal amounts. Whoever gives more than that or takes more has engaged in Riba, and the taker and the giver are the same."'
The Book of Financial Transactions - Sunan an-Nasa'i 4565
This narration establishes the fundamental principles of Riba al-Fadl (the riba of excess) in Islamic commercial law, as transmitted through the esteemed companion Abu Saeed Al-Khudri directly from the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).
The Six Ribawi Items
The Prophet specified six commodities that fall under the rules of riba: gold, silver, wheat, barley, dates, and salt. These were the primary mediums of exchange and staple foods in the Arabian Peninsula.
Scholars have determined these items share the legal cause (illah) of being either monetary commodities (thaman) or measurable/staple foods (mithli), extending the ruling to similar modern equivalents.
Equal Measure Requirement
When exchanging the same kind of ribawi item, the quantities must be exactly equal and hand-to-hand (spot transaction). Any excess, whether given or taken, constitutes riba.
This prohibition prevents exploitation and ensures fairness in basic commodity exchanges, maintaining economic justice within the Muslim community.
Equal Sin for Both Parties
The hadith clearly states "the taker and the giver are the same" - meaning both parties to a riba transaction bear equal responsibility and sin before Allah.
This emphasizes that Islamic financial ethics require mutual responsibility, not merely avoiding being the exploiter but also refusing to participate as the exploited.
Chain of Narration Significance
The narrator's emphasis on the direct chain between Abu Saeed Al-Khudri and the Prophet highlights the authenticity and reliability of this fundamental economic ruling.
Such meticulous attention to transmission ensures the preservation of divine guidance in commercial matters for generations of Muslims.