44/44. Chapter:
Sunan an-Nasai 4565 — Giver and Taker in Riba
Selling Barley For Barley
Hadith About Riba: The Giver and Taker Are the Same
Sunan an-Nasai : 4565
Sunan an-NasaiHadith Number 4565
أَخْبَرَنَا إِسْمَاعِيلُ بْنُ مَسْعُودٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا خَالِدٌ، عَنْ سُلَيْمَانَ بْنِ عَلِيٍّ، أَنَّ أَبَا الْمُتَوَكِّلِ، مَرَّ بِهِمْ فِي السُّوقِ فَقَامَ إِلَيْهِ قَوْمٌ أَنَا مِنْهُمْ قَالَ قُلْنَا أَتَيْنَاكَ لِنَسْأَلَكَ عَنِ الصَّرْفِ . قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا سَعِيدٍ الْخُدْرِيَّ قَالَ لَهُ رَجُلٌ مَا بَيْنَكَ وَبَيْنَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم غَيْرُ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ الْخُدْرِيِّ قَالَ لَيْسَ بَيْنِي وَبَيْنَهُ غَيْرُهُ . قَالَ فَإِنَّ الذَّهَبَ بِالذَّهَبِ وَالْوَرِقَ بِالْوَرِقِ - قَالَ سُلَيْمَانُ أَوْ قَالَ وَالْفِضَّةَ بِالْفِضَّةِ - وَالْبُرَّ بِالْبُرِّ وَالشَّعِيرَ بِالشَّعِيرِ وَالتَّمْرَ بِالتَّمْرِ وَالْمِلْحَ بِالْمِلْحِ سَوَاءً بِسَوَاءٍ فَمَنْ زَادَ عَلَى ذَلِكَ أَوِ ازْدَادَ فَقَدْ أَرْبَى وَالآخِذُ وَالْمُعْطِي فِيهِ سَوَاءٌ .
Sulaiman bin Ali Narrated from:
Abu Al-Mutawakkil passed by them in the market and some people, including me, stood up to greet him. We said: 'We have come to you to ask you about transactions.' He said: 'I heard a man say to Abu Saeed Al-Khudri': 'Is there anyone between you and the Messenger of Allah (in the chain of narrators) apart from Abu Saeed Al-Khudri? He said: 'There is no one else between him and I. He said: Gold for gold, silver for silver, wheat for wheat, barley for barley, dates for dates, salt for salt, equal amounts. Whoever gives more than that or takes more has engaged in Riba, and the taker and the giver are the same.'
Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 4565In-book reference : Book 44, Hadith 117English translation : Vol. 5, Book 44, Hadith 4569
Summary of Sunan an-Nasai Hadith 4565
This hadith about riba comes through a question about transactions in the market. The answer mentions gold for gold, silver for silver, wheat for wheat, barley for barley, dates for dates, and salt for salt. These are to be equal amounts when exchanged with the same kind. The special wording here adds that whoever gives more than that or takes more has engaged in riba, and that the taker and the giver are the same in it. This gives a simple warning for both sides of a sale. It is not only the person receiving the extra who should be careful. The one who gives the extra in that same-type exchange is also included in the warning.
What we learn from this hadith
- Same-kind exchange should be equal in amount.
- Both giving extra and taking extra are mentioned in the warning.
- The taker and the giver are described as the same in this riba.
- People should ask about unclear transactions before treating them as normal.
