22/17. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 1591e — Equal for Equal in Gold
Selling a necklace in which there are pearls and gold
Hadith About Equal for Equal in Gold Exchange
Sahih Muslim : 1591e
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 1591e
حَدَّثَنِي أَبُو الطَّاهِرِ، أَخْبَرَنَا ابْنُ وَهْبٍ، عَنْ قُرَّةَ بْنِ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ الْمَعَافِرِيِّ، وَعَمْرِو، بْنِ الْحَارِثِ وَغَيْرِهِمَا أَنَّ عَامِرَ بْنَ يَحْيَى الْمَعَافِرِيَّ، أَخْبَرَهُمْ عَنْ حَنَشٍ، أَنَّهُ قَالَ كُنَّا مَعَ فَضَالَةَ بْنِ عُبَيْدٍ فِي غَزْوَةٍ فَطَارَتْ لِي وَلأَصْحَابِي قِلاَدَةٌ فِيهَا ذَهَبٌ وَوَرِقٌ وَجَوْهَرٌ فَأَرَدْتُ أَنْ أَشْتَرِيَهَا فَسَأَلْتُ فَضَالَةَ بْنَ عُبَيْدٍ فَقَالَ انْزِعْ ذَهَبَهَا فَاجْعَلْهُ فِي كِفَّةٍ وَاجْعَلْ ذَهَبَكَ فِي كِفَّةٍ ثُمَّ لاَ تَأْخُذَنَّ إِلاَّ مِثْلاً بِمِثْلٍ فَإِنِّي سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَقُولُ " مَنْ كَانَ يُؤْمِنُ بِاللَّهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الآخِرِ فَلاَ يَأْخُذَنَّ إِلاَّ مِثْلاً بِمِثْلٍ " .
Hanash Narrated from:
We were along with Fadala b. Ubaid (Allah be pleased with him) in an expedition. There fell to my and my friend's lot a necklace made of gold, silver and jewels. I decided to buy that. I asked Fadala b. 'Ubaid, whereupon he said: Separate its gold and place it in one pan (of the balance) and place your gold in the other pan, and do not receive but equal for equal, for I heard Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying: He who believes in Allah and the Hereafter should not take but equal for equal.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 1591eIn-book reference : Book 22, Hadith 118USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 10, Hadith 3867
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 1591e
This Hadith tells of a necklace containing gold, silver, and jewels during an expedition. When Hanash wanted to buy it, he asked Fadala b. 'Ubaid. Fadala told him to separate the gold, place it on one side of the balance, place his gold on the other side, and take only equal for equal. He then quoted Allah's Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم: whoever believes in Allah and the Hereafter should take only equal for equal. This Hadith strongly fits searches for equal for equal Hadith, riba in gold jewelry, and gold exchange in Islam. The teaching is direct: when gold is exchanged for gold here, equality is required.
What we learn from this hadith
- Gold in a mixed necklace was to be separated before exchange.
- The gold was to be weighed against gold equally.
- The companion linked this rule to belief in Allah and the Hereafter.
- The Hadith teaches careful handling of mixed valuables.
