44/40. Chapter:
Sunan an-Nasai 4552 — Better Dates and Silver
Selling Ears Of Corn Befor The Grains Become Visible
Hadith About Exchanging Better Dates: Sell First, Then Buy
Sunan an-Nasai : 4552
Sunan an-NasaiHadith Number 4552
حَدَّثَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو الأَحْوَصِ، عَنِ الأَعْمَشِ، عَنْ حَبِيبِ بْنِ أَبِي ثَابِتٍ، عَنْ أَبِي صَالِحٍ، أَنَّ رَجُلاً، مِنْ أَصْحَابِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَخْبَرَهُ قَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنَّا لاَ نَجِدُ الصَّيْحَانِيَّ وَلاَ الْعِذْقَ بِجَمْعِ التَّمْرِ حَتَّى نَزِيدَهُمْ . فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " بِعْهُ بِالْوَرِقِ ثُمَّ اشْتَرِ بِهِ " .
Abu Salih Narrated from:
A man from among the companions of the Prophet told him, he said: "O Messenger of Allah we cannot buy Saihani dates or 'idhq dates for the same amount of mixed dates (which are of inferior quality). Should we increase (the amount we give in payment for the better quality dates)?" The messenger of Allah said: "Sell them for silver them buy with it"
Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 4552In-book reference : Book 44, Hadith 104English translation : Vol. 5, Book 44, Hadith 4556
Summary of Sunan an-Nasai Hadith 4552
This hadith gives a practical answer to a trade question. A Companion said they could not buy better dates like Saihani or Idhq for the same amount of mixed dates unless they added more. The Messenger of Allah told them to sell the mixed dates for silver, then buy with it. The point is not that better dates cannot be bought. The text shows a safer way: use money between the two trades instead of adding more dates in a direct exchange. For searches like hadith about better dates, riba in date exchange, and sell dates for silver then buy, this narration gives a simple business path.
What we learn from this hadith
- Better quality dates should not be obtained by simply adding more mixed dates in that exchange.
- The Prophet directed them to sell for silver first.
- After selling, they could buy what they needed with the silver.
