21/8. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 1527b — Resale After Shifting Goods
It is invalid to sell goods before taking possession of them
Hadith on Resale After Shifting Goods
Sahih Muslim : 1527b
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 1527b
حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا عَلِيُّ بْنُ مُسْهِرٍ، عَنْ عُبَيْدِ اللَّهِ، ح وَحَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ نُمَيْرٍ، - وَاللَّفْظُ لَهُ - حَدَّثَنَا أَبِي، حَدَّثَنَا عُبَيْدُ اللَّهِ، عَنْ نَافِعٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ، عُمَرَ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " مَنِ اشْتَرَى طَعَامًا فَلاَ يَبِعْهُ حَتَّى يَسْتَوْفِيَهُ" . قَالَ وَكُنَّا نَشْتَرِي الطَّعَامَ مِنَ الرُّكْبَانِ جِزَافًا فَنَهَانَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَنْ نَبِيعَهُ حَتَّى نَنْقُلَهُ مِنْ مَكَانِهِ .
Ibn Umar (Allah be pleased with them) reported Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying: He who buys foodgrain should not sell that before taking possession of it. He (the narrator) said: We used to buy foodgrain from the caravans in bulk, but Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) forbade us to re-sell that until we had shifted it to some other place.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 1526b, 1527bIn-book reference : Book 21, Hadith 42USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 10, Hadith 3646
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 1527b
This narration repeats the rule that foodgrain should not be sold before taking possession of it. Ibn Umar also mentions that they used to buy foodgrain from caravans in bulk, but Allah’s Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم forbade them to resell it until they shifted it from its place. The Hadith is about possession before resale and moving goods before selling them onward. It gives a very practical picture of market behavior: buying from caravans, receiving foodgrain in bulk, and not selling it again until it has been moved. The message is simple. Trade should be real and clear. A person should not pass goods to another buyer while the goods remain unreceived or unshifted.
What we learn from this hadith
- Foodgrain should be possessed before resale.
- Bulk goods bought from caravans should be shifted first.
- The narration links resale with real handling of goods.
- Islamic trade guidance supports clear market dealings.
