The Book of Financial Transactions

ʿAʾishah reported: “The Messenger of Allah bought food from a Jewish man on deferred payment and pawned his armor as security.”

Anas ibn Malik reported that he brought the Messenger of Allah barley bread and rancid fat. He said that the Prophet had pawned his armor with a Jewish man in Medina and obtained barley from him for his family.

ʿAmr ibn Shuʿayb reported from his father, from his grandfather, that the Messenger of Allah said, “A loan combined with a sale is not permissible; nor are two conditions in one sale, or selling what you do not possess.”

ʿAmr ibn Shuʿayb reported from his father, from his grandfather, that the Messenger of Allah said, “A man is not bound by a sale involving something he does not own.”

Hakim ibn Hizam reported that he asked the Prophet about a man who wanted him to sell something he did not have, and whether he could then buy it from the market for him. The Prophet replied, “Do not sell what you do not have.”

ʿAbdullah ibn Abi Awfa was asked about advance payment. He said, “During the time of the Messenger of Allah, Abu Bakr, and ʿUmar, we used to pay in advance for wheat, barley, and dates to people, without knowing whether they already had those goods.” Ibn Abza reported similarly.

Ibn Abi al-Mujalid—identified in one version as ʿAbdullah and in another as Muhammad—reported that Abu Burdah and ʿAbdullah ibn Shaddad disagreed about advance payment. They sent him to Ibn Abi Awfa, whom he asked about it. Ibn Abi Awfa said, “During the time of the Messenger of Allah, Abu Bakr, and ʿUmar, we paid in advance for wheat, barley, raisins, and dates to people whose goods we could not see.” He asked Ibn Abza, who said the same.

Ibn ʿAbbas reported that when the Messenger of Allah came to Medina, people were paying in advance for dates to be delivered in two or three years. He forbade this and said that anyone paying in advance must specify a known measure, a known weight, and a known delivery date.

Abu Rafiʿ reported that the Messenger of Allah borrowed a young camel from a man. When the man came to claim it, the Messenger of Allah told someone to buy a young camel for him. The man returned and said that he could find only a fine, four-year-old camel. The Prophet said to give it to him, for the best Muslims are those who repay their debts in the best manner.

Abu Hurayrah reported that a man was owed a camel of a certain age by the Prophet and came to claim it. The Prophet ordered that it be given to him. They found only a camel older than the one owed, so he said to give it to him. The man said he had been repaid fully. The Messenger of Allah said that the best among them are those who repay in the best manner.

ʿIrbad ibn Sariyah reported that he sold a young camel to the Messenger of Allah and came to claim payment. The Prophet repaid him with a superior camel. Later, a Bedouin came to claim a camel of a particular age, and the Prophet ordered that he be given one of that age. They gave him a mature camel, which the Bedouin said was better than what he was owed. The Prophet said that the best among them are those who repay in the best manner.

Samurah reported that the Messenger of Allah forbade selling one animal for another on deferred payment.

Jabir reported that a slave came and pledged allegiance to the Messenger of Allah in order to emigrate, while the Prophet did not know that he was enslaved. His master came looking for him, and the Prophet said to sell him to the Prophet. He bought the man for two black slaves. After that, he would not accept a pledge until asking whether the person was enslaved.

Ibn ʿAbbas reported that the Prophet said, “Advance payment for the offspring of the offspring of a pregnant animal is usury.”

Ibn ʿUmar reported that the Prophet forbade selling the offspring of the offspring of a pregnant animal.

Ibn ʿUmar reported that the Prophet forbade selling the offspring of the offspring of a pregnant animal.

Ibn ʿUmar reported that the Prophet forbade selling the offspring of the offspring of a pregnant animal. This was a transaction practiced in pre-Islamic times: a man would buy a camel with payment deferred until a she-camel gave birth, and then until the offspring she was carrying gave birth.

Jabir reported that the Messenger of Allah forbade selling produce for several years in advance.

Jabir reported that the Messenger of Allah forbade selling produce for several years in advance.

ʿAʾishah reported that the Messenger of Allah had two Qitri garments that became heavy and uncomfortable when he sat and sweated in them. When a Jewish man brought cloth from Syria, she suggested buying two garments from him on deferred payment. The man accused Muhammad of intending to take both his money and the garments. The Messenger of Allah said the man had lied and knew that he was among those most mindful of Allah and most faithful in fulfilling trusts.