44/18. Chapter:
Sunan an-Nasai 4501 — Trader Rights in the Marketplace
Meeting Traders On The Way
Hadith About Meeting Traders and Market Fairness
Sunan an-Nasai : 4501
Sunan an-NasaiHadith Number 4501
أَخْبَرَنَا إِبْرَاهِيمُ بْنُ الْحَسَنِ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا حَجَّاجُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ، قَالَ أَنْبَأَنَا ابْنُ جُرَيْجٍ، قَالَ أَنْبَأَنَا هِشَامُ بْنُ حَسَّانَ الْقُرْدُوسِيُّ، أَنَّهُ سَمِعَ ابْنَ سِيرِينَ، يَقُولُ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا هُرَيْرَةَ، يَقُولُ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " لاَ تَلَقُّوا الْجَلَبَ فَمَنْ تَلَقَّاهُ فَاشْتَرَى مِنْهُ فَإِذَا أَتَى سَيِّدُهُ السُّوقَ فَهُوَ بِالْخِيَارِ " .
Abu Hurairah Narrated from:
The Messenger of Allah said: 'Do and whoever meets any of them and buys from him the vendor has the choice of annulling the transaction when he comes to the marketplace.'
Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 4501In-book reference : Book 44, Hadith 53English translation : Vol. 5, Book 44, Hadith 4505
Summary of Sunan an-Nasai Hadith 4501
This hadith about meeting traders gives a clear rule for Islamic business ethics. The Messenger of Allah said not to meet incoming goods before they arrive. If someone does meet the vendor and buys from him, the vendor has a choice when he reaches the marketplace. This shows that the seller should not be trapped by a deal made before he sees the normal market. The wording points to fairness for the person bringing goods and warns buyers not to use early access in a way that may hurt the seller. Buying and selling in Islam should allow people to understand where they stand before a deal becomes final in such a case.
What we learn from this hadith
- Do not meet incoming traders to buy from them before the market.
- If that happens, the vendor has a choice after reaching the marketplace.
- The seller’s right is protected when the market price becomes clearer.
- Trade should not depend on taking advantage of early access.
