Business Transactions which are Forbidden - Section 1

Ibn ‘Umar said that God’s Messenger forbade <i>muzabana</i>, which means that a man sells the fruit of his garden, if it consists of palm trees*, for dried dates by measure; or if it consists of grapes, for raisins by measure; or (Muslim has “and if”) it is corn, he sells it for a measure of corn. He forbade all that. A version by both of them tells that he forbade <i>muzabana</i>, which means that the fruit on the palm-trees is sold for a specified measure of dates, the seller profiting if it is greater and losing if it is less. (Bukhari and Muslim.) * Explained as meaning fresh dates

عَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ قَالَ: نَهَى رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ عَنِ الْمُزَابَنَةِ: أَنْ يَبِيع تمر حَائِطِهِ إِنْ كَانَ نَخْلًا بِتَمْرٍ كَيْلَا وَإِنْ كَانَ كرْماً أنْ يَبيعَه زبيبِ كَيْلَا أَوْ كَانَ وَعِنْدَ مُسْلِمٍ وَإِنْ كَانَ زَرْعًا أَنْ يَبِيعَهُ بِكَيْلِ طَعَامٍ نَهَى عَنْ ذلكَ كُله. مُتَّفق عَلَيْهِ. وَفِي رِوَايَةٍ لَهُمَا: نَهَى عَنِ الْمُزَابَنَةِ قَالَ: " والمُزابنَة: أنْ يُباعَ مَا فِي رُؤوسِ النَّخلِ بتمْرٍ بكيلٍ مُسمَّىً إِنْ زادَ فعلي وَإِن نقص فعلي)

Jabir said that God’s Messenger forbade <i>mukhabara</i>, <i>muhaqala</i> and <i>muzabana</i>. <i>Muhaqala</i> means that a man sells a sown field for a hundred <i>faraqs</i> ( 3 <i>sa’s</i>) of wheat; <i>muzabana</i> that he sells the dates on the palm-trees for a hundred <i>faraqs</i> and <i>mukharaba</i> is renting land for a third and a quarter of the produce. Muslim transmitted it.

وَعَنْ جَابِرٍ قَالَ: نَهَى رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ عَنِ الْمُخَابَرَةِ وَالْمُحَاقَلَةِ وَالْمُزَابَنَةِ وَالْمُحَاقَلَةُ: أَنْ يَبِيعَ الرَّجُلُ الزَّرْعَ بِمِائَةِ فَرَقٍ حِنطةً والمزابنةُ: أنْ يبيعَ التمْرَ فِي رؤوسِ النَّخْلِ بِمِائَةِ فَرَقٍ وَالْمُخَابَرَةُ: كِرَاءُ الْأَرْضِ بِالثُّلُثِ والرُّبُعِ. رَوَاهُ مُسلم

He said that God’s Messenger forbade <i>muhaqala, muzabana, mukhabara, mu'awama</i> (Selling a year’s harvest before the crop has grown, or selling the fruit on one’s palm-trees two or three years ahead.) and <i>thunya</i> (An exception the amount of which is not accurately known.), but gave licence for ‘araya (Plural of ‘ariya. A palm-tree assigned by its owner to another who is in need, for him to eat its fruit for a year. It is said that a poor man who had no money to buy fresh dates might buy the fruit on a palm-tree for dry dates.) Muslim transmitted it.

وَعَنْهُ قَالَ: نَهَى رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ عَنِ الْمُحَاقَلَةِ وَالْمُزَابَنَةِ وَالْمُخَابَرَةِ وَالْمُعَاوَمَةِ وَعَنِ الثُّنْيَا وَرَخَّصَ فِي الْعَرَايَا. رَوَاهُ مُسْلِمٌ

Sahl b. Abu Hathma said that God’s Messenger forbade the sale of fruit for dried dates but gave licence regarding the <i>ariya</i> for its sale on the basis of a calculation of what the dates would be when dry, yet those who bought them could eat them when fresh. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

وَعَنْ سَهْلِ بْنِ أَبِي حَثْمَةَ قَالَ: نَهَى رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ عَن بيعِ التمْر بالتمْرِ إِلَّا أَنَّهُ رَخَّصَ فِي الْعَرِيَّةِ أَنْ تُبَاعَ بِخَرْصِهَا تَمْرًا يَأْكُلُهَا أَهْلُهَا رُطَبًا

Abu Huraira said God's Messenger gave licence regarding the sale of <i>‘araya</i> for a computation of their amount when dry, provided they were less than five <i>wasqs</i>*, or amounted to five <i>wasqs</i>. Dawud b. al Husain was doubtful [which he said.] (Bukhari and Muslim.) *(<i>wasq</i> is a camel load=60 <i>sa’s</i>)

وَعَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ: أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ أَرْخَصَ فِي بَيْعِ الْعَرَايَا بِخَرْصِهَا مِنَ التَّمْرِ فِيمَا دُونَ خَمْسَة أوسق أَو خَمْسَة أوسق شكّ دَاوُد ابْن الْحصين

‘Abdallah b. ‘Umar said that God's Messenger forbade the sale of fruits till they were clearly in good condition, forbidding it both to the seller and to the buyer. A version by Muslim says he forbade selling palm-trees (i.e. their fruit) till the dates began to ripen, and ears of corn till they were white and were safe from blight. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

وَعَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عُمَرَ: نَهَى رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ عَنْ بَيْعِ الثِّمَارِ حَتَّى يَبْدُوَ صَلَاحُهَا نَهَى الْبَائِعَ وَالْمُشْتَرِي. مُتَّفِقٌ عَلَيْهِ وَفِي رِوَايَةٍ لِمُسْلِمٍ: نَهَى عَنْ بَيْعِ النَّخْلِ حَتَّى تَزْهُوَ وَعَنِ السنبل حَتَّى يبيض ويأمن العاهة

Anas said that God’s Messenger forbade the sale of fruits till <i>tuzhiya</i>. He was asked what that meant and said it meant till they became red, adding, “Tell me:

when God keeps back the fruit, why should any of you take his brother’s property?” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

وَعَنْ أَنَسٍ قَالَ: نَهَى رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ عَن بيع الثِّمَارِ حَتَّى تَزْهَى قِيلَ: وَمَا تَزْهَى؟ قَالَ: حَتَّى تخمر " وَقَالَ: «أَرَأَيْتَ إِذَا مَنَعَ اللَّهُ الثَّمَرَةَ بِمَ يَأْخُذ أحدكُم مَال أَخِيه؟»

Jabir said that God's Messenger forbade selling fruit years ahead, and commanded that unforeseen loss be remitted in respect of what is affected by blight. Muslim transmitted it.

وَعَنْ جَابِرٍ قَالَ: نَهَى رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ عَنْ بَيْعِ السِّنِينَ وَأَمَرَ بوضْعِ الجوائحِ. 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.

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

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>.

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

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.)

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

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.)

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

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.

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 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.

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

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.)

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

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.

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

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

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.)

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 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.

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

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.)

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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.)

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