44/55. Chapter:
Sunan an-Nasai 4601 — Buy, Possess, Then Sell
Selling food before taking possession of it
Do Not Sell Food Until You Have Bought and Possessed It
Sunan an-Nasai : 4601
Sunan an-NasaiHadith Number 4601
أَخْبَرَنِي إِبْرَاهِيمُ بْنُ الْحَسَنِ، عَنْ حَجَّاجِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ، قَالَ قَالَ ابْنُ جُرَيْجٍ أَخْبَرَنِي عَطَاءٌ، عَنْ صَفْوَانَ بْنِ مَوْهَبٍ، أَنَّهُ أَخْبَرَهُ عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ صَيْفِيٍّ، عَنْ حَكِيمِ بْنِ حِزَامٍ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " لاَ تَبِعْ طَعَامًا حَتَّى تَشْتَرِيَهُ وَتَسْتَوْفِيَهُ " .
Hakim bin Hizam Narrated from:
The Messenger of Allah said: "Do not sell food until you have bought it and taken possession of it."'
Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 4601In-book reference : Book 44, Hadith 153English translation : Vol. 5, Book 44, Hadith 4605
Summary of Sunan an-Nasai Hadith 4601
This narration from Hakim bin Hizam is a direct hadith about buying and selling food in Islam. The Prophet said not to sell food until a person has bought it and taken possession of it. The message is easy to understand: do not sell what is still not settled in your hand. This protects both buyer and seller from confusion. It also reminds a trader that profit should come after a real purchase and real possession. For people searching for Islamic business rules, this hadith answers a common question about food resale. The wording focuses on food, so the explanation should stay with that point and not add extra rulings beyond the text.
What we learn from this hadith
- A trader should first buy food before selling it onward.
- Taking possession comes before resale in this narration.
- Business should avoid unclear or unfinished ownership.
- The hadith keeps the sale tied to something actually received.
