22/18. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 1594a — Bilal and Date Exchange
Selling Food Like for Like
Hadith About Bilal and Date Exchange
Sahih Muslim : 1594a
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 1594a
حَدَّثَنَا إِسْحَاقُ بْنُ مَنْصُورٍ، أَخْبَرَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ صَالِحٍ الْوُحَاظِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا مُعَاوِيَةُ، ح وَحَدَّثَنِي مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ سَهْلٍ التَّمِيمِيُّ، وَعَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ الدَّارِمِيُّ، - وَاللَّفْظُ لَهُمَا - جَمِيعًا عَنْ يَحْيَى بْنِ حَسَّانَ، حَدَّثَنَا مُعَاوِيَةُ، - وَهُوَ ابْنُ سَلاَّمٍ - أَخْبَرَنِي يَحْيَى، - وَهُوَ ابْنُ أَبِي كَثِيرٍ - قَالَ سَمِعْتُ عُقْبَةَ بْنَ عَبْدِ الْغَافِرِ، يَقُولُ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا سَعِيدٍ، يَقُولُ جَاءَ بِلاَلٌ بِتَمْرٍ بَرْنِيٍّ فَقَالَ لَهُ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " مِنْ أَيْنَ هَذَا " . فَقَالَ بِلاَلٌ تَمْرٌ كَانَ عِنْدَنَا رَدِيءٌ فَبِعْتُ مِنْهُ صَاعَيْنِ بِصَاعٍ لِمَطْعَمِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم . فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ عِنْدَ ذَلِكَ " أَوَّهْ عَيْنُ الرِّبَا لاَ تَفْعَلْ وَلَكِنْ إِذَا أَرَدْتَ أَنْ تَشْتَرِيَ التَّمْرَ فَبِعْهُ بِبَيْعٍ آخَرَ ثُمَّ اشْتَرِ بِهِ " . لَمْ يَذْكُرِ ابْنُ سَهْلٍ فِي حَدِيثِهِ عِنْدَ ذَلِكَ .
Abd Sa'id Narrated from:
Bilal (Allah be pleased with him) came with fine quality of dates. Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said to him: From where (you have brought them)? Bilal said: We had inferior quality of dates and I exchanged two sa's (of inferior quality) with one sa (of fine quality) as food for Allah's Apostle (ﷺ), whereupon Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said: Woe! it is in fact usury; therefore, don't do that. But when you intend to buy dates (of superior quality), sell (the inferior quality) in a separate bargain and then buy (the superior quality). And in the hadith transmitted by Ibn Sahl there is no mention of" whereupon".
Reference : Sahih Muslim 1594aIn-book reference : Book 22, Hadith 122USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 10, Hadith 3871
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 1594a
This Hadith tells how Bilal brought fine dates to Allah's Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم. When asked where they came from, Bilal explained that they had inferior dates, so he exchanged two sa's of them for one sa' of fine dates as food for the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم. Allah's Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم called this riba and told him not to do it. He then gave a clear alternative: when wanting to buy better dates, sell the inferior dates in a separate bargain and then buy the better dates. This Hadith is often searched as the Bilal dates Hadith, riba in dates, and two sa for one sa Hadith.
What we learn from this hadith
- The exchange of two sa's for one sa' of dates was called riba in the text.
- Good intention did not change the ruling described in the Hadith.
- The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم taught a separate-sale method instead.
- The Hadith gives a clear practical correction for buying better dates.
