11. Business Transactions

وَعَنْهُ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «لَوْ بِعْتَ مِنْ أَخِيكَ ثَمَرًا فَأَصَابَتْهُ جَائِحَةٌ فَلَا يَحِلُّ لَكَ أَنْ تَأْخُذَ مِنْهُ شَيْئًا بِمَ تَأْخُذُ مَالَ أَخِيكَ بِغَيْرِ حقٍ؟» . رَوَاهُ مُسلم

He reported God's Messenger as saying, “If you were to sell something to your brother and it was smitten by blight it would not be allowable for you to take anything from him. Why should you take your brother's property unjustly?” Muslim transmitted it.

وَعَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ قَالَ: كَانُوا يَبْتَاعُونَ الطَّعَامَ فِي أَعلَى السُّوقِ فيبيعُونَه فِي مكانهِ فَنَهَاهُمْ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ عَنْ بَيْعِهِ فِي مَكَانِهِ حَتَّى يَنْقِلُوهُ. رَوَاهُ أَبُو دَاوُد وَلم أَجِدهُ فِي الصَّحِيحَيْنِ

Ibn ‘Umar said they used to buy grain in the upper part of the market and sell it in the same spot, but God’s Messenger forbade them to sell it there before removing it. Abu Dawud transmitted it. I have not found it in the two Sahihs.

وَعَنْهُ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «مَنِ ابْتَاعَ طَعَامًا فَلَا يَبِيعهُ حَتَّى يَسْتَوْفِيه» وَفَى رِوَايَةِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ: «حَتَّى يكْتالَه»

He reported God's Messenger as saying, “If anyone buys grain he must not sell it till he has received it in full.” A version by Ibn ‘Abbas has, ‘‘till he measures it out.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

وَعَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ قَالَ: أَمَّا الَّذِي نَهَى عَنْهُ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فَهُوَ الطَّعَامُ أَنْ يُبَاعَ حَتَّى يُقْبَضَ. قَالَ ابْنُ عَبَّاسٍ: وَلَا أَحْسِبُ كُلَّ شَيْءٍ إِلاَّ مثلَه

Ibn ‘Abbas said what the Prophet forbade was that grain should be sold before it had been received. Ibn ‘Abbas said, “I do not think this applies to every commodity, but only to things of that type.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

وَعَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ: أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ: " لَا تَلَقُّوُا الرُّكْبَانَ لِبَيْعٍ وَلَا يَبِعْ بَعْضُكُمْ عَلَى بَيْعِ بَعْضٍ وَلَا تَنَاجَشُوا وَلَا يَبِعْ حَاضِرٌ لِبَادٍ وَلَا تُصَرُّوا الْإِبِلَ وَالْغَنَمَ فَمِنِ ابْتَاعَهَا بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ فَهُوَ بِخَيْرِ النَّظِرَيْنِ بَعْدَ أَنْ يحلبَها: إِنْ رَضِيَهَا أَمْسَكَهَا وَإِنْ سَخِطَهَا رَدَّهَا وَصَاعًا مِنْ تمر " وَفِي رِوَايَةٍ لِمُسْلِمٍ: " مَنِ اشْتَرَى شَاةً مُصَرَّاةً فَهُوَ بِالْخِيَارِ ثَلَاثَةَ أَيَّامٍ: فَإِنْ رَدَّهَا رَدَّ مَعهَا صَاعا من طَعَام لَا سمراء "

he may keep them if he is pleased with them, and may return them along with a sa‘ of dates if he is displeased with them.” A version by Muslim has, “If anyone buys a sheep whose udder has been tied up he has three days in which to decide whether to keep it or not; but if he returns it he must return with it a sa’ of any grain but wheat.”2 (Bukhari and Muslim.) 1. When agreement has obviously been reached, although the contract has not been confirmed, no one must step in and offer a higher price. 2. Samra’. The full pharse is hinta samra’, meaning "tawny wheat" ; then the adjective is used by itself as a word for wheat.

وَعَنْهُ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «لَا تَلَقَّوُا الْجَلَبَ فَمَنْ تَلَقَّاهُ فَاشْتَرَى مِنْهُ فَإِذَا أَتَى سَيِّدُهُ السُّوقَ فَهُوَ بالخَيارِ» . رَوَاهُ مُسلم

He reported God’s Messenger as saying, “Do not go out to meet what is being brought .* * He may find he could have a higher price in the market, and so he has the right to cancel the deal. Muslim transmitted it.

وَعَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُمَا قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «لَا تَلَقَّوُا السِّلَعَ حَتَّى يُهْبَطَ بهَا إِلى السُّوق»

Ibn ‘Umar reported God’s Messenger as saying, “Do not go out to meet merchandise, till it is brought down to the market.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

وَعَنْهُ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «لَا يَبِعِ الرَّجُلُ عَلَى بَيْعِ أَخِيهِ وَلَا يَخْطِبْ عَلَى خِطْبَةِ أَخِيهِ إِلَّا أنْ يأذَنَ لَهُ» . رَوَاهُ مُسلم

He reported God’s Messenger as saying, “One must not offer more than the amount agreed by his brother*, or ask a woman in marriage when his brother has done so, unless he permits him.” *i.e. when the parties have already agreed on a price. Muslim transmitted it.

وَعَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ: «لَا يَسُمِ الرَّجُلُ على سَوْمِ أخيهِ الْمُسلم» . رَوَاهُ مُسلم

Abu Huraira reported God’s Messenger as saying, “A man must not offer a price above that offered by his brother Muslim.” Muslim transmitted it.

وَعَنْ جَابِرٍ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «لَا يبِعْ حَاضِرٌ لِبَادٍ دَعُوا النَّاسَ يَرْزُقُ اللَّهُ بَعْضَهُمْ من بعض» . رَوَاهُ مُسلم

Jabir reported God’s Messenger as saying, “A townsman must not sell for a man from the desert; if you leave people alone, God will give them provision from one another.” Muslim transmitted it.

وَعَنْ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ الْخُدْرِيِّ قَالَ: نَهَى رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ عَنْ لِبْسَتَيْنِ وَعَنْ بَيْعَتَيْنِ: نَهَى عَنِ الْمُلَامَسَةِ والمُنابذَةِ فِي البيعِ وَالْمُلَامَسَةُ: لَمْسُ الرَّجُلِ ثَوْبَ الْآخَرِ بِيَدِهِ بِاللَّيْلِ أَو بالنَّهارِ وَلَا يقْلِبُه إِلَّا بِذَلِكَ وَالْمُنَابَذَةُ: أَنْ يَنْبِذَ الرَّجُلُ إِلَى الرَّجُلِ بِثَوْبِهِ وَيَنْبِذَ الْآخَرُ ثَوْبَهُ وَيَكُونُ ذَلِكَ بَيْعَهُمَا عَنْ غَيْرِ نَظَرٍ وَلَا تَرَاضٍ وَاللِّبْسَتَيْنِ: اشْتِمَالُ الصَّمَّاءِ وَالصَّمَّاءُ: أَنْ يَجْعَلَ ثَوْبَهُ عَلَى أَحَدِ عَاتِقَيْهِ فَيَبْدُوَ أَحَدُ شِقَّيْهِ لَيْسَ عَلَيْهِ ثَوْبٌ وَاللِّبْسَةُ الْأُخْرَى: احْتِبَاؤُهُ بِثَوْبِهِ وَهُوَ جَالِسٌ ليسَ على فرجه مِنْهُ شَيْء

Abu Sa'id al-Khudri said that God’s Messenger forbade two ways of dressing and two types of business transaction. He forbade mulamasa and munabadha in a business transaction. Mulamasa means that a man touches another’s garment with his hand, whether at night or by day, without turning it over any more than that involves. Munabadha means that a man throws his garment to another and the other throws his garment, that confirming their contract without inspection or mutual agreement. One of the ways of dressing is the wrapping of the samma, which means that a man puts his garment over one of his shoulders so that one of his sides appears uncovered; the other is when a man wraps himself up in his garment while sitting in such a way that none of it covers his private parts. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

وَعَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ قَالَ: نَهَى رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ عنْ بيعِ الحصاةِ وعنْ بيعِ الغَرَرِ. رَوَاهُ مُسلم

Abu Huraira said that God’s Messenger forbade a transaction determined by throwing stones1, and the type which involves some uncertainty2. Muslim transmitted it. 1. A type of transaction in which it is made binding when the buyer or the seller throws a stone; or in which a man agrees to sell to another all the commodities on which stones which he throws alight; or in which one agrees to sell another some land up to the distance to which he can throw a stone. 2. Bai' al-gharar. One might translate this ‘aleatory contracts of sale’, but this is not the only term to which that applies. The type of transaction intended is one in which there is no guarantee that the seller can deliver the goods for which he receives payment. It could include such items as selling a runaway slave, or fish which one has not caught, etc.

وَعَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ قَالَ: نَهَى رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ عَن بَيْعِ حَبَلِ الْحَبَلَةِ وَكَانَ بَيْعًا يَتَبَايَعُهُ أَهْلُ الْجَاهِلِيَّةِ كَانَ الرَّجُلُ يَبْتَاعُ الْجَزُورَ إِلَى أَنْ تُنتَجَ النَّاقةُ ثمَّ تُنتَجُ الَّتِي فِي بطنِها

Ibn ‘Umar said that God's Messenger forbade the transaction called habal al-habala which was one entered into in pre-Islamic times, whereby a man bought a she-camel which was to be the offspring of a she-camel which was still in its mother’s womb. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

وَعَنْهُ قَالَ: نَهَى رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ عَنْ عَسْبِ الْفَحْلِ. رَوَاهُ الْبُخَارِيُّ

He said that God’s Messenger forbade a stallion's covering. Bukhari transmitted it.

وَعَنْ جَابِرٍ: قَالَ: نَهَى رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ عَنْ بَيْعِ ضِرَابِ الْجَمَلِ وَعَنْ بَيْعِ الْمَاءِ وَالْأَرْضِ لِتُحْرَثَ. رَوَاهُ مُسْلِمٌ

Jabir said that God’s Messenger forbade hiring a camel to cover a she-camel and selling water and land to be tilled (This is really mukhabara). Muslim transmitted it.

وَعنهُ قَالَ: نهى رَسُول الله عَن بيع فضل المَاء. رَوَاهُ مُسلم

He said that God’s Messenger forbade the sale of excess water. Muslim transmitted it.

وَعَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «لَا يُبَاع فضل المَاء ليباع بِهِ الْكلأ»

Abu Huraira reported God’s Messenger as saying, “Excess water must not be sold for the purpose of having the herbage which grows from it sold." (Bukhari and Muslim.)

وَعَنْهُ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ مَرَّ عَلَى صُبْرَةِ طَعَامٍ فَأَدْخَلَ يَدَهُ فِيهَا فَنَالَتْ أَصَابِعُهُ بَلَلًا فَقَالَ: «مَا هَذَا يَا صَاحِبَ الطَّعَامِ؟» قَالَ: أَصَابَتْهُ السَّمَاءُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ قَالَ: «أَفَلَا جَعَلْتَهُ فَوْقَ الطَّعَامِ حَتَّى يَرَاهُ النَّاسُ؟ مَنْ غَشَّ فَلَيْسَ مني» . رَوَاهُ مُسلم

He said that God's Messenger once came upon a heap of grain, and when he put his hand into it his fingers felt some dampness, so he asked the owner of the grain how that came about. On being told that rain had fallen on it he said, "Why did you not put the damp part on the top of the grain so that people might see it? He who deceives has nothing to do with me." Muslim transmitted it.

عَنْ جَابِرٍ قَالَ: إِنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ نَهَى عَنِ الثُّنْيَا إِلَّا أنْ يُعلمَ. رَوَاهُ التِّرْمِذِيّ

Jabir said that God’s Messenger forbade making an exception unless it was explicit. Tirmidhi transmitted it.

وَعَنْ أَنَسٍ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ: نَهَى رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ عَنْ بَيْعِ الْعِنَبِ حَتَّى يَسْوَدَّ وَعَنْ بَيْعِ الْحَبِّ حَتَّى يَشْتَدَّ هَكَذَا. رَوَاهُ التِّرْمِذِيُّ وَأَبُو دَاوُدَ عَنْ أَنَسٍ. وَالزِّيَادَة الَّتِي فِي المصابيح وَهُوَ قولُه: نهى عَن بيْعِ التَمْرِ حَتَّى تزهوَ إِنَّما ثبتَ فِي رِوَايَتِهِمَا: عَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ قَالَ: نَهَى عَنْ بَيْعِ النَّخْلِ حَتَّى تَزْهُوَ وَقَالَ التِّرْمِذِيُّ: هَذَا حَدِيث حسن غَرِيب

Anas said that God's Messenger forbade the sale of grapes till they became black and the sale of grain till it had become hard. Thus Tirmidhi and Abu Dawud transmitted it from Anas. The addition which is in al-Masabih, viz., his saying that he forbade the sale of dates till they became ripe, occurs only in their version from Ibn ‘Umar who said that he forbade the sale of palm-trees till the fruit was ripe. Tirmidhi said this is a hasan gharib tradition.