The Book on Business

كتاب البيوع عن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم

Chapter 23: What Has Been Related About That Wheat Is To Be Exchanged For Wheat, Kind For Kind, And That An Increase In It Is Disliked

Narrated 'Ubadah bin As-Samit

That the Prophet (ﷺ) said: "Gold for gold, kind for kind; silver for silver, kind for kind; dried-dates for dried-dates, kind for kind; wheat for wheat, kind for kind; salt for salt, kind for kind; and barley for barley, kind for kind. Whoever increases or seeks an increase, then he dealt with Riba. Sell gold for silver as you wish, hand to hand; and sell wheat for dried-dates as you wish, hand to hand; and sell barley for dried-dates as you wish, hand to hand."

[He said:] There are narrations on this topic from Abu Sa'eed, Abu Hurairah, Bilal, And Anas.

[Abu 'Eisa said:] The Hadith of 'Ubadah bin As-Samit is Hasan Sahih. Some of them reported this Hadith from Khalid, with this chain, and he said: "Sell wheat for barley as you wish, hand to hand."

Some of them reported this Hadith from Khalid, from Abu Qilabah, from Ash'ath, from 'Ubadah from the Prophet (ﷺ). In that Hadith, they added that Khalid said: "Abu Qilabah said: "Sell wheat for barley as you wish, hand to hand."

This Hadith is acted upon according to the people of knowledge, they do not think that one may sell wheat for wheat except when it is the same kind for the same kind, and (the same for) barely in exchange for barley, kind for kind. When the items are themselves different, then there is no harm in one being more than the other if it is hand to hand. This is saying of most of the people of knowledge among the Companions of the Prophet (ﷺ) and others. It is the view of Sufyan Ath-Thawri, Ash-Shafi'i, Ahmad, and Ishaq. Ash-Shafi'i said: "And the proof for that is the saying of the Prophet (ﷺ): 'Sell barley for wheat as you wish, hand to hand.'"

[Abu 'Eisa said:] Some of the people of knowledge considered it disliked that wheat be sold for barely unless it was kind for kind. This is the view of Malik bin Anas, but the first view is more correct.

Chapter 24: What Has Been Related About Exchange

Narrated Nafi'

"Ibn 'Umar and I went to Abu Sa'eed and he narrated to us: 'the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said - and I heard him with these [two] ears: "Do not sell gold for gold except kind for kind, nor sliver for silver except kind for kind, do not exchange more of one than the other, and do not sell what is not present from them for what is present."

[Abu 'Eisa said:] There are narrations on this topic from Abu Bakr, 'Umar, 'Uthman, Abu Hurairah, Hisham bin 'Amir, Al-Bara', Zaid bin Arqam, Fadalah bin 'Ubaid, Abu Bakrah, Ibn 'Umar, Abu Ad-Darda', and Bilal.

[He said:] The Hadith of Abu Sa'eed, from the Prophet (ﷺ) [about Riba] is a Hasan Sahih Hadith.

This is acted upon according to the people of knowledge among the Companions of the Prophet (ﷺ) and others, except for what has been related from Ibn 'Abbas; he did not see any harm in exchanging gold for gold or silver for silver, more for less, when it is done hand in hand, and he said: "Riba' is only in credit." Similar it has been related from some of his companions. It has been related that Ibn 'Abbas changed his opinion when Abu Sa'eed narrated it to him from the Prophet (ﷺ). The first view is more correct.

And this is acted upon according to the people of knowledge [among the Companions of the Prophet (ﷺ) and others]. It is the view of Sufyan Ath-Thawri, Ibn Al-Mubarak, Ash-Shafi'i, Ahmad, and Ishaq. It has been reported that Ibn Al-Mubarak said: "There is no difference over exchange."

Narrated Ibn 'Umar

"I would sell camels at Al-Baqi', so I would sell them for Dinar but take in place of them Dirham, and, I would sell for silver and take Dinar in its place. So I went to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) and found him leaving the house of Hafsah. I asked him about that and he said: 'There is no harm in that when it (equals) the price.'"

[Abu 'Eisa said:] We do not know of this Hadith being Marfu' except from the narration of Simak bin Harb from Sa'eed bin Jubair, from Ibn 'Umar.

Dawud bin Abi Hind narrated this Hadith from Abu Sa'eed bin Jubair, from Ibn 'Umar in Mawquf form.

This is acted upon according to some of the people of knowledge. There is no harm in paying for gold with silver and silver with gold. This is the view of Ahmad and Ishaq. Some of the people of knowledge, among the Companions and others, disliked that.

Narrated Ibn Shihab

From Malik bin Aws bin Hadathan that he said: "I once said: 'Who can change some Dirham?' So Talhah bin 'Ubaidullah - and he was with 'Umar bin Al-Khattab - said: "Leave your gold with us, then return to us when our servant comes and we will give you your silver." 'Umar bin Al-Khattab said: "No! By Allah! Either give him his silver or return his gold to him. Indeed the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: 'Silver for gold is Riba, except for hand to hand; and wheat for wheat is Riba except for hand to hand; and barley for barley is Riba except hand to hand; and dried-dates for dried-dates is Riba except for hand to hand.'"

[Abu 'Eisa said:] This Hadith is Hasan Sahih. This is acted upon according to the people of knowledge. And the meaning of Ha' Wa Ha' is hand to hand.

Chapter 25: What Has Been Related About Purchasing Date-Palms After Pollination And A Slave That Has Property

Narrated Salim

From his father that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: 'Whoever purchases a date-palm after it has been pollinated then its fruits are for the one who sold it, unless the buyer made it a condition. And whoever purchases slave who has property, then his property is for the one who sold him, unless the buyer made it a condition."

[He said:] There is something on this topic from Jabir. The Hadith of Ibn 'Umar is a Hasan Sahih Hadith. Similarly, it has been reported by more than one route from Az-Zuhri, from Salim, from Ibn 'Umar, that the Prophet (ﷺ) "Whoever purchases a date-palm after it has been pollinated, then its fruits are for seller, unless the buyer made it a condition. And whoever purchases a slave who has property, then his property is for the seller, unless the buyer made it a condition." And it has been reported from Nafi', from Ibn 'Umar, that the Prophet (ﷺ) said: "Whoever purchases a date-palm that has been pollinated, then its fruits are for the seller, unless the buyer made it a condition."

It has been reported from Nafi', from Ibn 'Umar, from 'Umar, that he (ﷺ) said: "Whoever sold a slave who has property, his property is for the seller, unless the buyer made it a condition." This is how the two Ahadith were reported by 'Ubaidullah bin 'Umar and others from Nafi'.

Some of them have also reported this Hadith from Nafi', from Ibn 'Umar, from the Prophet (ﷺ).

'Ikrimah bin Khalid reported similar to the Hadith of Salim, from Ibn 'Umar, from the Prophet (ﷺ).

This Hadith is acted upon according to some of the people of knowledge. It is the view of Ash-Shafi'i, Ahmad, and Ishaq.

Muhammad bin Isma'il said: "The Hadith of Az-Zuhri from Salim, from his father, from the Prophet (ﷺ) is the most correct [of what has been reported on this topic]."

Chapter 26: What Has Been Related About 'Both The Buyer And The Seller Retain The Option As Long As They Have Not Separated'

Narrated Nafi'

From Ibn 'Umar, that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: "Both the buyer and the seller retain the option as long as they have not separated or they give each other than option."

He (Nafi') said: "So when Ibn 'Umar purchased something while he was sitting, he would stand to complete the sale."

Narrated Hakim b. Hizam

That the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: "Both the buyer and the seller retain the option as long as they have not separated. If they spoke the truth and clarified (any defects or conditions), then they would be blessed in their sale, and if they hid something and lied then their sale would be deprived of blessings."

And this is a Sahih Hadith.

This is how it was reported from Abu Barzah Al-Aslami, that two men came disputing to him after the sale of a horse, and they were on a ship, so he said: "I did not see the two of your separate, and the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: 'The buyer and the seller retain the choice as long as they did not separate.'"

Some of the people of knowledge, among the people of Al-Kufah and others, held the view that the separation refers to speech. This is the saying of [Sufyan] Ath-Thawri. This has been reported from Malik bin Anas, and it has been reported from Ibn al-Mubarak that he said: "How could this be refuted ?" And the Hadith about it from the Prophet (ﷺ) is Sahih, and it strenghtens this view.

And the meaning of the saying of the Prophet (ﷺ): "Except for the optional sale" is, that (while they are still together) the seller gives the buyer the option to cancel after the conclusion of the sale. If he chooses to agree to the sale, then he does not have the choice to cancel the sale after then, even if they did not separate. This is how Ash-Shafi'i and others explained it. And what strenghtens the view of those who said that the separation refers to them parting, (and) it does not refer to speech, is the (following) Hadith of 'Abdullah bin 'Amr from the Prophet (ﷺ).

Narrated 'Amr bin Shu'aib

From his father, from his grandfather, that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: "Both the buyer and the seller retain the option as long as they did not separate, unless they agreed to making it optional. And it is not lawful for him to separate from his companion, fearing that he will change his mind."

[Abu 'Eisa said:] This Hadith is Hasan and this means separating from him after the sale, fearing that he will change his mind. And if the separation referred to speech, and there was no option left for him after the sale, then this Hadith would be meaningless, since he (ﷺ) said: "And it is not lawful for him to separate from his companion, fearing that he will change his mind."

Chapter 27: What Has Been Related About The Option Of The Buyer And The Seller

Narrated Abu Hurairah

That the Prophet (ﷺ) said: "They (the two) are not separate from a sale except in agreement.

[Abu 'Eisa said:] This Hadith is Gharib.

Narrated Jabir

"The Prophet (ﷺ) gave a Bedouin the option after a sale."

This Hadith is Hasan Gharib.

Chapter 28: What Has Been Related About Who Is Cheated In Business

Narrated Anas

That there was a man who was not very sensible and he would make purchases. So his family came to the Prophet (ﷺ) and said: "O Messenger of Allah! Stop him (from making purchases)." So Allah's Prophet (ﷺ) called him to prohibit him, and he said: "O Messenger of Allah! I have no patience for business." So he said: "When you are buying, say: 'Hand to hand, and no cheating.'"

[Abu 'Eisa said:] There is a narration on this topic from Ibn 'Umar.

The Hadith of Anas is a Hasan Sahih Gharib Hadith.

This is acted upon according to the people of knowledge. They say that the free man can be prevented from selling and buying when his intellect is weak. This is the view of Ahmad and Ishaq. Some of the scholars did not think that the free person who had attained the age of responsibility could be prevented from that.

Chapter 29: What Has Been Related About The Animal That Has Not Been Milked

Narrated Abu Hurairah

That the Prophet (ﷺ) said: "Whoever purchased an animal that has not been milked, then he the choice when he milks it, if he wishes he may return it, returning a Sa' of dried dates along with it."

[Abu 'Eisa said:] There are narration on this topic from Anas, and a man from the Companions of the Prophet (ﷺ).

Narrated Abu Hurairah

That the Prophet (ﷺ) said: "Whoever purchases an animal that has not been milked, then he retains the option for three days. If he returns it, then he is to return with it a Sa' of food, not Samra' "

[Abu 'Eisa said:] The meaning of "Not Samra'" is "not wheat."

This Hadith is Hasan Sahih. This Hadith is acted upon according to our companions, among them Ash-Shafi'i, Ahmad, and Ishaq.

Chapter 30: What Has Been Related About The Stipulation For Riding An Animal At The Time Of The Sale

Narrated Jabir bin ‘Abdullah

That he sold a camel to the Prophet (ﷺ) and made a condition that he could ride it to (return to) his family.

[Abu 'Eisa said:] This Hadith is Hasan Sahih. It has been reported through other routes from Jabir.

This is acted upon according to some of the people of knowledge among the Companions of the Prophet (ﷺ) and others. They consider it allowed to make a condition in a sale when it is one condition. This is the view of Ahmad and Ishaq.

Some of the people of knowledge said that it is not allowed to make a condition in a sale, nor to complete a sale when there is a condition for it.

Chapter 31: What Has Been Related About Using What Is Pawned

Narrated Abu Hurairah

That the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ): "A riding animal can be ridden while it is pawned, and a milking animal can be milked while it is pawned, and it is up to the one riding and drinking (the milk) to maintain it."

[Abu 'Eisa said:] This Hadith is Hasan Sahih.

We do now know of it being Marfu' except by the narration of 'Amir Ash-Sha'bi from Abu Hurairah. Others have reported this Hadith from Al-A'mash, from Abu Salih, from Abu Hurairah in Mawquf form.

This is acted upon according to some of the people of knowledge, and it is the view of Ahmad and Ishaq.

Some of the people of knowledge said that one may not benefit in any way from what is pawned.

Chapter 32: What Has Been Related About Selling A Necklace Containing Gold And Jewels

Narrated Fadalah bin 'Ubaidah

"On the Day of Khaibar I purchased a necklace that contained gold and jewels for twelve Dinar. I separated it and found that it was worth more than twelve Dinar. I mentioned that to the Prophet (ﷺ) and he said: 'Do not sell it until it is separated.'"

Another chain of narration with similar meaning.[Abu 'Eisa said

Some of the people of knowledge, among the Companions of the Prophet (ﷺ) and others, permitted that.

Chapter 33: What Has Been Related About Making A Condition To Retain Al-Wala' And The Rebuke For That

Narrated Al-Aswad

From 'Aishah that she wanted to purchase Barirah, but they (he owners) made the condition that they would retain the Wala'. So the Prophet (ﷺ) said: "Buy her, the Wala' is only for the one who gives the price, or for the one who grants the favor."

[He said:] There is something on this topic from Ibn 'Umar.

[Abu 'Eisa said:] The Hadith of 'Aishah is a Hasan Sahih Hadith. This is acted upon according to the people of knowledge. And Mansur bin Al-Mu'tamir's Kunyah is Abu 'Attab.

Abu Bakr Al-'Attar Al-Basri narrated to us from 'Ali bin Al-Madini who said: "I heard Yahya bin Sa'eed saying: 'When you get a narration from Mansur, then your hand has been filled with goodness without needing others.' Then Yahya said: 'I did not find anyone more reliable in (narrating from) Ibrahim An-Nakha'i and Mujahid than Mansur."

[He said:] Muhammad informed me from 'Abdullah bin Abi Al-Aswad who said: " 'Abdur-Rahman bin Mahdi said: 'Mansur is the most reliable of the people of Al-Kufah.'"

Chapter 34: Contingent Purchases And Sales

Narrated Habib bin Abi Thabit

From Hakim bin Hizam, that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) sent Hakim bin Hizam with a Dinar to buy an animal for Udhiyyah (an animal for sacrifice) for him. He purchases an Udhiyyah which he sold and profited a Dinar from, so he purchased another in its place. And he returned to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) with Udhiyyah and the Dinar, so he said: 'The sheep is for sacrifice and Dinar is for charity.'"

[Abu 'Eisa said:] We do not know of the Hadith of Hakim bin Hizam except through this route, and Habib bin Abi Thabit did not hear from Hakim bin Hizam - in my view.

Narrated 'Urwah Al-Bariqi

"The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) gave me on Dinar to purchase a sheep for him. So I purchased two sheeps for him, and I sold one of them for a Dinar. So I returned with the sheep and the Dinar to the Prophet (ﷺ), and I mentioned what had happened and he said: 'May Allah bless you in your business dealings.' After that we went to Kunasah in Al-Kufah, and he made tremendous profits. He was among the wealthiest of the people in Al-Kufah."