22/18. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 1593a — Dates and Fair Exchange
Selling Food Like for Like
Hadith About Dates and Fair Exchange
Sahih Muslim : 1593a
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 1593a
حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ مَسْلَمَةَ بْنِ قَعْنَبٍ، حَدَّثَنَا سُلَيْمَانُ، - يَعْنِي ابْنَ بِلاَلٍ - عَنْ عَبْدِ الْمَجِيدِ بْنِ سُهَيْلِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ، أَنَّهُ سَمِعَ سَعِيدَ بْنَ الْمُسَيَّبِ، يُحَدِّثُ أَنَّ أَبَا هُرَيْرَةَ، وَأَبَا سَعِيدٍ حَدَّثَاهُ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم بَعَثَ أَخَا بَنِي عَدِيٍّ الأَنْصَارِيَّ فَاسْتَعْمَلَهُ عَلَى خَيْبَرَ فَقَدِمَ بِتَمْرٍ جَنِيبٍ فَقَالَ لَهُ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " أَكُلُّ تَمْرِ خَيْبَرَ هَكَذَا " . قَالَ لاَ وَاللَّهِ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنَّا لَنَشْتَرِي الصَّاعَ بِالصَّاعَيْنِ مِنَ الْجَمْعِ . فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " لاَ تَفْعَلُوا وَلَكِنْ مِثْلاً بِمِثْلٍ أَوْ بِيعُوا هَذَا وَاشْتَرُوا بِثَمَنِهِ مِنْ هَذَا وَكَذَلِكَ الْمِيزَانُ " .
Abu Huraira and Abu Sa'id al-Khudri Narrated from:
Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) deputed a person from Banu 'Adi al-Ansari to collect revenue from Khaibar. He came with a fine quality of dates, whereupon Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said to him: Are all the dates of Khaibar like this? He said: Allah's Messenger, it is not so. We buy one sa' of (fine quality of dates) for two sa's out of total output (including even the inferior quality of dates), whereupon Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said: Don't do that, but like for like, or sell this (the inferior quality and receive the price) and then buy with the price of that, and that would make up the measure.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 1593aIn-book reference : Book 22, Hadith 120USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 10, Hadith 3869
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 1593a
This Hadith describes a man sent to collect revenue from Khaibar. He brought fine dates, and Allah's Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم asked if all Khaibar dates were like that. The man explained that they would buy one sa' of fine dates for two sa's of mixed or lower quality dates. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم told them not to do that. Instead, he directed them to exchange like for like, or sell the inferior dates first and then buy the fine dates with the price. This Hadith is a strong source for searches about dates for dates Hadith, riba in date exchange, and selling before buying.
What we learn from this hadith
- Fine dates were not to be taken for a larger amount of inferior dates in this case.
- The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم gave an alternative: sell first, then buy.
- Like-for-like exchange is mentioned as the proper form here.
- The same care is connected to measure in the wording.
