21/14. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 1540a — Muzabana and Ariyya Exception
The prohibition of selling fresh dates in exchange for dry dates except in the case of 'Araya
Muzabana Hadith and the Ariyya Exception
Sahih Muslim : 1540a
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 1540a
وَحَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ مَسْلَمَةَ الْقَعْنَبِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا سُلَيْمَانُ، - يَعْنِي ابْنَ بِلاَلٍ - عَنْ يَحْيَى، - وَهُوَ ابْنُ سَعِيدٍ - عَنْ بُشَيْرِ بْنِ يَسَارٍ، عَنْ بَعْضِ، أَصْحَابِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم مِنْ أَهْلِ دَارِهِمْ مِنْهُمْ سَهْلُ بْنُ أَبِي حَثْمَةَ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم نَهَى عَنْ بَيْعِ الثَّمَرِ بِالتَّمْرِ وَقَالَ " ذَلِكَ الرِّبَا تِلْكَ الْمُزَابَنَةُ " . إِلاَّ أَنَّهُ رَخَّصَ فِي بَيْعِ الْعَرِيَّةِ النَّخْلَةِ وَالنَّخْلَتَيْنِ يَأْخُذُهَا أَهْلُ الْبَيْتِ بِخَرْصِهَا تَمْرًا يَأْكُلُونَهَا رُطَبًا .
Sahl bin Abi Hathmah Narrated from:
Bashair b. Yasir reported on the authority of some of the Companions of Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) among the members of his family among whom one was Sahl b. Abu Hathma that Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) forbade buying of fresh dates against dry dates and that it is Riba and this is Muzabana, but he made an exemption of 'ariyya (donations) of a tree or two in which case the members of a family sell dry dates and buy fresh dates for eating them.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 1540aIn-book reference : Book 21, Hadith 86USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 10, Hadith 3687
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 1540a
This Hadith explains the ruling on Muzabana in simple terms. Allah's Messenger (صلى الله عليه وسلم) forbade buying fresh dates against dry dates and called it Riba, identifying it as Muzabana. The narration then mentions a narrow exception: ariyya involving one tree or two, where a family sells dry dates and buys fresh dates to eat. The core topic is fair trade in Islam, especially avoiding a doubtful exchange between fresh and dry dates. The Hadith does not present the exception as open-ended. It ties it to a small amount and a clear purpose: eating fresh dates. For searches like hadith about Muzabana or fresh dates for dry dates hadith, this text gives both the rule and the limited concession.
What we learn from this hadith
- Selling fresh dates against dry dates is described here as Riba and Muzabana.
- Ariyya is mentioned as a limited exception, not a general permission for all such sales.
- The exception is connected to a family buying fresh dates for eating.
