64/39. Chapter:
Sahih Bukhari 4244 — Fair Trade in Dates
Appointment of a ruler for Khaibar by the Prophet (saws)
Riba in Dates Hadith: Sell First, Then Buy Better Quality
Sahih Bukhari : 4244
Sahih BukhariHadith Number 4244
حَدَّثَنَا إِسْمَاعِيلُ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي مَالِكٌ، عَنْ عَبْدِ الْمَجِيدِ بْنِ سُهَيْلٍ، عَنْ سَعِيدِ بْنِ الْمُسَيَّبِ، عَنْ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ الْخُدْرِيِّ، وَأَبِي، هُرَيْرَةَ ـ رضى الله عنهما ـ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم اسْتَعْمَلَ رَجُلاً عَلَى خَيْبَرَ، فَجَاءَهُ بِتَمْرٍ جَنِيبٍ، فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " كُلُّ تَمْرِ خَيْبَرَ هَكَذَا ". فَقَالَ لاَ وَاللَّهِ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ، إِنَّا لَنَأْخُذُ الصَّاعَ مِنْ هَذَا بِالصَّاعَيْنِ {وَالصَّاعَيْنِ} بِالثَّلاَثَةِ. فَقَالَ " لاَ تَفْعَلْ، بِعِ الْجَمْعَ بِالدَّرَاهِمِ، ثُمَّ ابْتَعْ بِالدَّرَاهِمِ جَنِيبًا ".
Abu Sa`id Al-Khudri and Abu Huraira Narrated from:
Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) appointed a man as the ruler of Khaibar who later brought some Janib (i.e. dates of good quality) to the Prophet. On that, Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said (to him). "Are all the dates of Khaibar like this?" He said, "No, by Allah, O Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)! But we take one Sa of these (dates of good quality) for two or three Sa's of other dates (of inferior quality)." On that, Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "Do not do so, but first sell the inferior quality dates for money and then with that money, buy Janib."
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 4244, 4245In-book reference : Book 64, Hadith 281USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 5, Book 59, Hadith 549
Summary of Sahih Bukhari Hadith 4244
This riba in dates hadith shows a practical rule in trade. A man appointed over Khaibar brought Janib, a good quality date, to the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم. When asked whether all Khaibar dates were like that, he said no. He explained that they exchanged one Sa of good dates for two or three Sa of lower quality dates. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم told him, 'Do not do so.' He then gave a simple way: sell the lower quality dates for money, then use the money to buy Janib. The hadith is useful for searches about Islamic trade ethics, fair exchange, and dates barter. It teaches that a better result must still be reached through a clean method.
What we learn from this hadith
- A good goal does not allow a prohibited style of exchange.
- The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم corrected the trade method with a clear alternative.
- Quality differences should be handled through selling and buying, not unfair barter.
