22/3. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 1555a — Selling Fruit After Ripening
Waiving Payment in the case of Blight
Selling Fruit After Ripening in Hadith
Sahih Muslim : 1555a
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 1555a
حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ أَيُّوبَ، وَقُتَيْبَةُ، وَعَلِيُّ بْنُ حُجْرٍ، قَالُوا حَدَّثَنَا إِسْمَاعِيلُ بْنُ جَعْفَرٍ، عَنْ حُمَيْدٍ، عَنْ أَنَسٍ، أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم نَهَى عَنْ بَيْعِ ثَمَرِ النَّخْلِ حَتَّى تَزْهُوَ . فَقُلْنَا لأَنَسٍ مَا زَهْوُهَا قَالَ تَحْمَرُّ وَتَصْفَرُّ . أَرَأَيْتَكَ إِنْ مَنَعَ اللَّهُ الثَّمَرَةَ بِمَ تَسْتَحِلُّ مَالَ أَخِيكَ .
Anas Narrated from:
Allah's Apostle (ﷺ) forbade the sale of the fruit of date-palms until it becomes mellow. We (some of the other narrators in the chain of transmitters) said: What does the word" mellow" mean? He said: (There the fruit) turns red or yellow. Don't you see if Allah had checked (the growth of) fruits; then what for the wealth of your brother would be permissible for you?
Reference : Sahih Muslim 1555aIn-book reference : Book 22, Hadith 16USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 10, Hadith 3773
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 1555a
This hadith about selling fruit after ripening speaks about the fruit of date-palms. Anas reported that Allah's Messenger (صلى الله عليه وسلم) forbade selling date-palm fruit until it becomes mellow. When the narrators asked what mellow means, Anas explained that the fruit turns red or yellow. The hadith then gives a fairness-based question: if Allah checked the growth of the fruit, on what basis would a person take the wealth of his brother? The main lesson is about avoiding unfair fruit sales before the fruit has clearly developed. The report stays focused on date-palm fruit and the signs of ripening mentioned in the text.
What we learn from this hadith
- Date-palm fruit should not be sold before the stated sign of ripeness.
- Mellow fruit is explained here as turning red or yellow.
- The hadith connects early sale with possible unfair loss.
- A brother's wealth should not be taken without a sound basis.
