Business Transactions

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.

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 <i>Sahihs</i>.

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.)

Ibn ‘Abbas said what the Prophet (ﷺ) 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.)

Abu Huraira reported God's Messenger.as saying, “Do not go out to meet riders to conduct business with them; none of you must buy in opposition to one another[1], nor must you bid against one another; a townsman must not sell for a man from the desert; and do not tie up the udders of camels and sheep, for he who buys them after that has been done has two courses open to him after milking them :

he may keep them if he is pleased with them, and may return them along with a <i>sa‘</i> 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 <i>sa’</i> 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. <i>Samra’</i>. The full pharse is <i>hinta samra’</i>, meaning "tawny wheat" ; then the adjective is used by itself as a word for wheat.

He reported God’s Messenger as saying, “Do not go out to meet what is being brought [to market for sale]. If anyone does so and buys some of it, when its owner comes to the market he has the choice [of cancelling the deal].* * 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.

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

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.

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.

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.

Abu Sa'id al-Khudri said that God’s Messenger forbade two ways of dressing and two types of business transaction. He forbade <i>mulamasa</i> and <i>munabadha</i> in a business transaction. <i>Mulamasa</i> 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. <i>Munabadha</i> 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 <i>samma</i>, 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.)

Abu Huraira said that God’s Messenger forbade a transaction determined by throwing stones[1], and the type which involves some uncertainty[2]. 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. <i>Bai' al-gharar</i>. 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.

Ibn ‘Umar said that God's Messenger forbade the transaction called <i>habal al-habala</i> 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.)

He said that God’s Messenger forbade [taking hire for] a stallion's covering. Bukhari transmitted it.

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 <i>mukhabara</i>). Muslim transmitted it.

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

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.)

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.

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

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 <i>al-Masabih</i>, 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 <i>hasan gharib</i> tradition.