22/3. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 1555b — Fruit Sale and Ripeness
Waiving Payment in the case of Blight
Fruit Sale and Ripeness in Islam
Sahih Muslim : 1555b
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 1555b
حَدَّثَنِي أَبُو الطَّاهِرِ، أَخْبَرَنَا ابْنُ وَهْبٍ، أَخْبَرَنِي مَالِكٌ، عَنْ حُمَيْدٍ الطَّوِيلِ، عَنْ أَنَسِ، بْنِ مَالِكٍ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم نَهَى عَنْ بَيْعِ الثَّمَرَةِ حَتَّى تُزْهِيَ قَالُوا وَمَا تُزْهِيَ قَالَ تَحْمَرُّ . فَقَالَ إِذَا مَنَعَ اللَّهُ الثَّمَرَةَ فَبِمَ تَسْتَحِلُّ مَالَ أَخِيكَ .
Anas bin Malik Narrated from:
Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) forbade the sale of fruits until these are mellow. They (the companions of Anas) said: What is meant by" mellow"? He said: It implies that these became red. He said: When Allah hinders the growth of fruits, (then) what for the wealth of your brother would become permissible for you?
Reference : Sahih Muslim 1555bIn-book reference : Book 22, Hadith 17USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 10, Hadith 3774
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 1555b
This hadith about fruit sale and ripeness is narrated by Anas b. Malik. Allah's Messenger (صلى الله عليه وسلم) forbade the sale of fruits until they became mellow. When asked what that meant, Anas explained that it means the fruit becomes red. The report then asks: if Allah prevents the fruit from growing, why would the wealth of your brother become lawful for you? The teaching is direct and tied to fair dealing. Selling fruit too early could lead to taking payment for something that may not mature. The hadith uses the visible sign of redness as the point mentioned in this narration.
What we learn from this hadith
- Fruit sale is linked here to the fruit becoming visibly ripe.
- This narration explains mellow as becoming red.
- The hadith warns against taking another person's wealth unfairly.
- The risk of failed growth is considered in the wording.
