21/8. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 1528b — Full Possession Before Foodgrain Sale
It is invalid to sell goods before taking possession of them
Hadith on Full Possession Before Selling Foodgrain
Sahih Muslim : 1528b
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 1528b
حَدَّثَنَا إِسْحَاقُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، أَخْبَرَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ الْحَارِثِ الْمَخْزُومِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا الضَّحَّاكُ، بْنُ عُثْمَانَ عَنْ بُكَيْرِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ الأَشَجِّ، عَنْ سُلَيْمَانَ بْنِ يَسَارٍ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، أَنَّهُ قَالَ لِمَرْوَانَ أَحْلَلْتَ بَيْعَ الرِّبَا . فَقَالَ مَرْوَانُ مَا فَعَلْتُ . فَقَالَ أَبُو هُرَيْرَةَ أَحْلَلْتَ بَيْعَ الصِّكَاكِ وَقَدْ نَهَى رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم عَنْ بَيْعِ الطَّعَامِ حَتَّى يُسْتَوْفَى . قَالَ فَخَطَبَ مَرْوَانُ النَّاسَ فَنَهَى عَنْ بَيْعِهَا . قَالَ سُلَيْمَانُ فَنَظَرْتُ إِلَى حَرَسٍ يَأْخُذُونَهَا مِنْ أَيْدِي النَّاسِ .
Abu Hurairah Narrated from:
Abu Huraira (Allah be please with him) is reported to have said to Marwan: Have you made lawful the transactions involving interest? Thereupon Marwan said: I have not done that. Thereupon Abu Huraira (ﷺ) said: You have made lawful the transactions with the help of documents only, whereas Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) forbade the transaction of foodgrains until full possession is taken of them. Marwan then addressed the people and forbade them to enter into such transactions (as are done with the help of documents). Sulaiman said: I saw the sentinels snatching (these documents) from the people.
[1] Sakk : A letter from the ruler ordering that food and other items be given to the holder of the letter.Reference : Sahih Muslim 1528bIn-book reference : Book 21, Hadith 48USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 10, Hadith 3652
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 1528b
This Hadith focuses on foodgrain sales before full possession is taken. Abu Huraira spoke to Marwan about transactions done with documents only and connected them to a forbidden form of sale involving foodgrains before they were fully received. The report says Marwan then addressed the people and forbade such transactions, and sentinels were seen taking the documents from people. The main point is clear from the wording: foodgrain should not be sold merely through papers while possession has not been completed. This is a strong Hadith for searches like hadith about possession before selling food, documents in trade hadith, and Islamic rules on foodgrain transactions. The explanation should stay close to the text: it speaks about foodgrains, documents, and full possession.
What we learn from this hadith
- Foodgrain should not be sold before full possession is taken.
- A document alone should not replace the actual completion mentioned in the Hadith.
- Leaders in the report acted to stop the transaction when the issue was raised.
