11. Business Transactions

وَعَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ قَالَ: نَهَى رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ عَنْ ثَمَنِ الْكَلْبِ وكسْبِ الزَّمارةِ. رَوَاهُ فِي شرح السّنة

Abu Huraira said God's Messenger prohibited payment for a dog and the earnings of the prostitute*. * Zammara. This word is said by a number of authorities to mean a prostitute, but it can also mean a woman who plays the oboe (mizmar). It is transmitted in Sharh as-sunna.

وَعَنْ أَبِي أُمَامَةَ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: " لَا تَبِيعُوا الْقَيْنَاتِ وَلَا تَشْتَرُوهُنَّ وَلَا تُعَلِّمُوهُنَّ وَثَمَنُهُنَّ حَرَامٌ وَفِي مِثْلِ هَذَا نَزَلَتْ: (وَمِنَ النَّاسِ مَنْ يَشْتَرِي لهْوَ الحَديثِ) رَوَاهُ أَحْمَدُ وَالتِّرْمِذِيُّ وَابْنُ مَاجَهْ وَقَالَ التِّرْمِذِيُّ هَذَا حَدِيثٌ غَرِيبٌ وَعلي بن يزِيد الرواي يُضَعَّفُ فِي الْحَدِيثِ

"Do not sell, buy or teach singing-girls, and the price paid for them is unlawful. To similar effect has been sent down, 'Among men are those who purchase frivolous talk' (Al-Qur'an 31:6). Ahmad, Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah transmitted it, Tirmidhi saying that this is a gharib tradition and that ‘Ali b. Yazid the transmitter is declared to be a weak traditionist.

عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ مَسْعُودٍ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «طَلَبُ كَسْبِ الْحَلَالِ فَرِيضَةٌ بَعْدَ الْفَرِيضَةِ» . رَوَاهُ الْبَيْهَقِيُّ فِي شعب الْإِيمَان

‘Abdallah b. Mas'ud reported God's Messenger as saying, “Trying to earn a lawful livelihood is an obligatory duty in addition to the duties which are obligatory.” Baihaqi transmitted it in Shu’ab al-iman.

وَعَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُمَا أَنَّهُ سُئِلَ عَنْ أُجْرَةِ كِتَابَةِ الْمُصْحَفِ فَقَالَ: لَا بَأْسَ إِنَّمَا هُمْ مُصَوِّرُونَ وَإِنَّهُمْ إِنَّمَا يَأْكُلُونَ من عمل أَيْديهم. رَوَاهُ رزين

Ibn ‘Abbas was asked about payment for writing a copy of the Qur’an and replied, “There is no harm. They are just people who draw figures and get a living simply by their handiwork.” Razin transmitted it.

وَعَنْ رَافِعِ بْنِ خَدِيجٍ قَالَ: قِيلَ: يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَيُّ الْكَسْبِ أَطْيَبُ؟ قَالَ: «عَمَلُ الرَّجُلِ بِيَدِهِ وَكُلُّ بَيْعٍ مَبْرُورٍ» . رَوَاهُ أَحْمَدُ

Rafi' b. Khadij said God's Messenger was asked what type of earning was best and replied, “A man’s work with his hand and every business transaction which is approved.” Ahmad transmitted it.

وَعَن أبي بكرِ بنِ أبي مريمَ قَالَ: كَانَتْ لِمِقْدَامِ بْنِ مَعْدِي كَرِبَ جَارِيَةٌ تَبِيعُ اللَّبَنَ وَيَقْبِضُ الْمِقْدَامُ ثَمَنَهُ فَقِيلَ لَهُ: سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ أَتَبِيعُ اللَّبَنَ؟ وَتَقْبِضُ الثَّمَنَ؟ فَقَالَ نَعَمْ وَمَا بَأْسٌ بِذَلِكَ سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَقُولُ: «لَيَأْتِيَنَّ عَلَى النَّاسِ زَمَانٌ لَا يَنْفَعُ فِيهِ إِلَّا الدِّينَارُ وَالدِّرْهَم» . رَوَاهُ أَحْمد

Abu Bakr b. Aba Maryam said that Miqdam b. Ma'dikarib had a slave girl who sold milk the price of which was taken by Miqdam. Some people said, “Glory be to God! Do you sell milk and accept what is paid for it?” He replied that he did, and asked what harm there was in that, for he had heard God’s Messenger say, “A time is certainly coming to mankind when only the dinar and the dirham will be of use.” Ahmad transmitted it.

وَعَنْ نَافِعٍ قَالَ: كُنْتُ أُجَهِّزُ إِلَى الشَّامِ وَإِلَى مِصْرَ فَجَهَّزْتُ إِلَى الْعِرَاقِ فَأَتَيْتُ إِلَى أُمِّ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ عَائِشَةَ فَقُلْتُ لَهَا: يَا أُمَّ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ كُنْتُ أُجَهِّزُ إِلَى الشَّامِ فَجَهَّزْتُ إِلَى العراقِ فقالتْ: لَا تفعلْ مالكَ وَلِمَتْجَرِكَ؟ فَإِنِّي سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَقُولُ: «إِذَا سَبَّبَ اللَّهُ لِأَحَدِكُمْ رِزْقًا مِنْ وَجْهٍ فَلَا يَدَعْهُ حَتَّى يَتَغَيَّرَ لَهُ أَوْ يَتَنَكَّرَ لَهُ» . رَوَاهُ أَحْمَدُ وَابْنُ مَاجَه

Nafi' said he used to fit out business expeditions to Syria and to Egypt. Having fitted out one to ‘Iraq he went to ‘A’isha, the mother of the faithful, and told her that he had been accustomed to fit out expeditions to Syria, and now he had done so to ‘Iraq. She told him not to do so, asking him what was the matter with the place with which he had traded, for she had heard God's Messenger say, “When God has appointed provision for any of you in a particular direction he should not give it up till it changes for the worse.”* Ahmad and Ibn Majah transmitted it. * Alternatives are given for this last phrase. They amount to the same thing, and so it may be understood that there was doubt as to which word was used. It reads hatta yataghayyara lahu au yatanahhara lahu. But it has been suggested that the first verb refers to lack of profit and the second to loss of capital. Cf. Mirqat, iii, 299.

وَعَنْ عَائِشَةَ قَالَتْ: كَانَ لِأَبِي بَكْرٍ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ غُلَامٌ يُخْرِّجُ لَهُ الْخَرَاجَ فَكَانَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ يَأْكُلُ مِنْ خَرَاجِهِ فَجَاءَ يَوْمًا بشيءٍ فأكلَ مِنْهُ أَبُو بَكْرٍ فَقَالَ لَهُ الْغُلَامُ: تَدْرِي مَا هَذَا؟ فَقَالَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ: وَمَا هُوَ؟ قَالَ: كُنْتُ تَكَهَّنْتُ لِإِنْسَانٍ فِي الْجَاهِلِيَّةِ وَمَا أُحسِنُ الكهَانةَ إِلاَّ أَنِّي خدَعتُه فلَقيَني فَأَعْطَانِي بِذَلِكَ فَهَذَا الَّذِي أَكَلْتَ مِنْهُ قَالَتْ: فَأَدْخَلَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ يَدَهُ فَقَاءَ كُلَّ شَيْءٍ فِي بَطْنه. رَوَاهُ البُخَارِيّ

Abu Bakr had a slave who brought him his earnings and Abu Bakr would eat* some of his earnings. One day he brought him something and when Abu Bakr had eaten some of it the slave asked him whether he knew what it was. Abu Bakr asked what it was, and he replied, "I acted as a soothsayer for a man in the pre-Islamic period, and not being good at it, I deceived him; but he met me and gave me that, so this is the thing of which you have eaten.” She said that Abu Bakr then put his hand in his mouth and vomited everything which was in his stomach. Bukhari transmitted it. * Here the word is used in its literal sense. Elsewhere the word is often translated by "enjoy when it is not clear that something is actually eaten.”

وَعَنْ أَبِي بَكْرٍ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ: «لَا يَدْخُلُ الْجَنَّةَ جَسَدٌ غُذِّيَ بالحرَامِ» . رَوَاهُ الْبَيْهَقِيّ فِي شعب الْإِيمَان

Abu Bakr reported God’s Messenger as saying, “Nobody which has been nourished with what is unlawful will enter paradise.” Baihaqi transmitted it in Shu'ab al-iman.

وَعَنْ زَيْدِ بْنِ أَسْلَمَ أَنَّهُ قَالَ: شَرِبَ عمر بن الْخطاب لَبَنًا وَأَعْجَبَهُ وَقَالَ لِلَّذِي سَقَاهُ: مَنْ أَيْنَ لَكَ هَذَا اللَّبَنُ؟ فَأَخْبَرَهُ أَنَّهُ وَرَدَ عَلَى مَاءٍ قَدْ سَمَّاهُ فَإِذَا نَعَمٌ مِنْ نَعَمِ الصَّدَقَةِ وَهُمْ يَسْقُونَ فَحَلَبُوا لِي مِنْ أَلْبَانِهَا فَجَعَلْتُهُ فِي سِقَائِيَ وَهُو هَذَا فَأَدْخَلَ عُمَرُ يَدَهُ فاسْتقاءَه. رَوَاهُ الْبَيْهَقِيّ فِي شعب الْإِيمَان

Zaid b. Aslam said that 'Umar b. al-Khattab drank some milk which pleased him and asked the one who had given him the drink where he had got that milk from. He informed him that he had gone down to a watering-place which he named where there were some of the camels of the sadaqa. The people who were watering the camels had drawn some milk for him which he had put in his milk-skin, and that was what he had given him. ‘Umar then put his hand in his mouth and vomited it. Baihaqi transmitted it in Shu'ab al-iman.

وَعَن ابنِ عُمَرَ قَالَ: مَنِ اشْتَرَى ثَوْبًا بِعَشَرَةِ دَرَاهِمَ وَفِيهِ دِرْهَمٌ حَرَامٌ لَمْ يَقْبَلِ اللَّهُ لَهَ صَلَاةً مَا دَامَ عَلَيْهِ ثُمَّ أَدْخَلَ أُصْبَعَيْهِ فِي أُذُنَيْهِ وَقَالَ صُمَّتَا إِنْ لَمْ يَكُنِ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ سَمِعْتُهُ يَقُولُهُ. رَوَاهُ أَحْمَدُ وَالْبَيْهَقِيُّ فِي شُعَبِ الْإِيمَانِ. وَقَالَ: إِسْنَادُهُ ضَعِيف

Ibn 'Umar said that if anyone buys a garment for ten dirhams among which is one unlawfully acquired, God most high will not accept prayer from him as long as he wears it. He then put a finger in each ear and said, “May they become deaf if the Prophet was not the one I heard say it!” Baihaqi transmitted it in Shu'ab al-iman, saying that its isnad is weak.

عَنْ جَابِرٍ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: رَحِمَ اللَّهُ رَجُلًا سَمْحًا إِذَا بَاعَ وَإِذَا اشْتَرَى وَإِذَا اقْتَضَى رَوَاهُ البُخَارِيّ

Jabir reported God's Messenger as saying, “God show mercy to a man who is kindly when he sells, when he buys, and when he makes a claim!” Bukhari transmitted it.

وَعَنْ حُذَيْفَةَ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: " إِنَّ رَجُلًا كَانَ فِيمَنْ قَبْلَكُمْ أَتَاهُ الْمَلَكُ لِيَقْبِضَ رُوحَهُ فَقيل لَهُ: هَل علمت مَنْ خَيْرٍ؟ قَالَ: مَا أَعْلَمُ. قِيلَ لَهُ انْظُرْ قَالَ: مَا أَعْلَمُ شَيْئًا غَيْرَ أَنِّي كُنْتُ أُبَايِعُ النَّاسَ فِي الدُّنْيَا وَأُجَازِيهِمْ فَأُنْظِرُ الْمُوسِرَ وَأَتَجَاوَزُ عَنِ الْمُعْسِرِ فَأَدْخَلَهُ اللَّهُ الْجَنَّةَ " وَفِي رِوَايَةٍ لِمُسْلِمٍ نَحْوَهُ عَنْ عُقْبَةَ بْنِ عَامِرٍ وَأَبِي مَسْعُودٍ الْأَنْصَارِيِّ «فَقَالَ اللَّهُ أَنَا أَحَق بذا مِنْك تجاوزوا عَن عَبدِي»

Hudhaifa reported God’s Messenger as saying, “Before your time there was a man to whom the angel came to take his spirit, and he was asked whether he had done anything good. On his replying that he did not know, he was told to consider, and then said that the only thing he knew was that he used to have business dealings with people in the world and would demand his rights from them, giving the rich time to pay and letting the poor off. So God brought him into paradise.” In a version by Muslim there is something similar on the authority of ‘Uqba b. ‘Amir and Abu Mas'ud al-Ansari. God said, “I have more right to do this than you. Forgive my servant.” (Bukhari and Muslim).

وَعَنْ أَبِي قَتَادَةَ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ «إِيَّاكُمْ وَكَثْرَةَ الْحَلِفِ فِي الْبَيْعِ فَإِنَّهُ يُنَفِّقُ ثُمَّ يَمْحَقُ» . رَوَاهُ مُسلم

Abu Qatada reported God’s Messenger as saying, “Avoid much swearing while transacting business, for it produces a ready sale then blots out the blessing.” Muslim transmitted it.

وَعَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ قَالَ: سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَقُولُ: «الْحلف منفقعة للسلعة ممحقة للبركة»

Abu Huraira said he heard God's Messenger say, “Swearing produces a ready sale for a commodity, but blots out the blessing.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

وَعَنْ أَبِي ذَرٍّ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ: «ثَلَاثَةٌ لَا يُكَلِّمُهُمُ اللَّهُ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ وَلَا يَنْظُرُ إِلَيْهِمْ وَلَا يُزَكِّيهِمْ وَلَهُمْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ» . قَالَ أَبُو ذَرٍّ: خَابُوا وَخَسِرُوا مَنْ هُمْ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ؟ قَالَ: «الْمُسْبِلُ وَالْمَنَّانٌ وَالْمُنَفِّقُ سِلْعَتَهُ بِالْحلف الْكَاذِب» . رَوَاهُ مُسلم

Abu Dharr reported the Prophet as saying, “There are three to whom God will not speak on the day of resurrection, at whom He will not look, and whom He will not declare pure, and they will have a painful punishment.” Abu Dharr said, “They are losers and disappointed. Who are they, Messenger of God?” He replied, “The one who wears a trailing robe, the one who takes account of what he gives*, and the one who produces a ready sale of a commodity by false swearing.” Muslim transmitted it. * This is the type of person who keeps reminding people of his generosity to them.

عَنْ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «التَّاجِرُ الصَّدُوقُ الْأَمِينُ معَ النبِّيِينَ والصِّدِّيقينَ والشهداءِ» . رَوَاهُ التِّرْمِذِيّ وَالدَّارَقُطْنِيّ. وَرَوَاهُ ابْنُ مَاجَهْ عَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ. وَقَالَ التِّرْمِذِيّ: هَذَا حَدِيث غَرِيب

Aba Sa‘id reported God's Messenger as saying, "The truthful and trusty merchant is associated with the prophets, the upright, and the martyrs." Tirmidhi, Darimi and Daraqutni transmitted it, and Ibn Majah transmitted it on the authority of Ibn ‘Umar. Tirmidhi said this is a gharib tradition.

وَعَن قيس بن أبي غَرزَة قَالَ: كُنَّا نُسَمَّى فِي عَهْدِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ السَّمَاسِرَةَ فَمَرَّ بِنَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فَسَمَّانَا بِاسْمٍ هُوَ أَحْسَنُ مِنْهُ فَقَالَ: «يَا مَعْشَرَ التُّجَّارِ إِنَّ الْبَيْعَ يَحْضُرُهُ اللَّغْوُ وَالْحَلِفُ فَشُوبُوهُ بِالصَّدَقَةِ» . رَوَاهُ أَبُو دَاوُدَ وَالتِّرْمِذِيُّ وَالنَّسَائِيُّ وَابْنُ مَاجَهْ

In the time of God's Messenger we used to be called brokers, but God’s Messenger came upon us one day and called us by a better name than that, saying, "Company of merchants, unprofitable speech and swearing have a place in business dealing, so mix it with sadaqa. Abu Dawud, Tirmidhi, Nasa’i and Ibn Majah transmitted it.

وَعَن عبيد بنِ رفاعةَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ: «التُّجَّارُ يُحْشَرُونَ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ فُجَّارًا إِلَّا مَنِ اتَّقَى وَبَرَّ وَصَدَقَ» . رَوَاهُ التِّرْمِذِيُّ وَابْن مَاجَه وَرَوَى الْبَيْهَقِيُّ فِي شُعَبِ الْإِيمَانِ. عَنِ الْبَرَاءِ وَقَالَ التِّرْمِذِيُّ: هَذَا حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ صَحِيحٌ

‘Ubaid b. Rifa'a on his father’s authority reported the Prophet as saying, "The merchants will be raised up on the day of resurrection as evildoers, except those who fear God, are honest and speak the truth.” Tirmidhi, Ibn Majah and Darimi transmitted it, and Baihaqi transmitted it in Shu'ab al-iman on the authority of al-Bara’. Tirmidhi said this is a hasan sahih tradition.

عَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «الْمُتَبَايِعَانِ كُلُّ وَاحِدٍ مِنْهُمَا بِالْخِيَارِ عَلَى صَاحِبِهِ مَا لَمْ يَتَّفَرَقَا إِلَّا بيع الْخِيَار» وَفِي رِوَايَةٍ لِمُسْلِمٍ: «إِذَا تَبَايَعَ الْمُتَبَايِعَانِ فَكُلُّ وَاحِدٍ مِنْهُمَا بِالْخِيَارِ مِنْ بَيْعِهِ مَا لَمْ يَتَفَرَّقَا أَوْ يَكُونَ بَيْعُهُمَا عَنْ خِيَارٍ فَإِذَا كانَ بيعُهما عَن خيارٍ فقد وَجَبَ» وَفَى رِوَايَةٍ لِلتِّرْمِذِيِّ: «الْبَيِّعَانِ بِالْخِيَارِ مَا لَمْ يَتَفَرَّقَا أَوْ يَخْتَارَا» . وَفِي الْمُتَّفَقِ عَلَيْهِ: " أَوْ يَقُولَ أَحَدُهُمَا لِصَاحِبِهِ: اخْتَرْ «بَدَلَ» أَوْ يختارا "

Ibn 'Umar reported God's Messenger as saying, "Both parties in a business transaction have a right to annul it so long as they have not separated, except in transactions which have been made subject to the right of the parties to annul them.” The version by Bukhari and Muslim has "or one of them tells the other to exercise his right” instead of "or exercise the right.” (Bukhari and Muslim.) A version by Muslim says, "Both parties in a business transaction have a right to annul the bargain so long as they have not separated, or when their bargain has attached to it the right to annul it, for when such a condition has been made it remains valid.” A version by Tirmidhi says, "The two parties in a business transaction have a right to annul it so long as they have not separated, or exercise the right.”