44/82. Chapter:
Sunan an-Nasai 4649 — Buyer Choice
When The Two Parties To a Transaction disagree About The Price
Hadith About Buyer Choice in a Disputed Transaction
Sunan an-Nasai : 4649
Sunan an-NasaiHadith Number 4649
أَخْبَرَنِي إِبْرَاهِيمُ بْنُ الْحَسَنِ، وَيُوسُفُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، وَعَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنُ خَالِدٍ، - وَاللَّفْظُ لإِبْرَاهِيمَ - قَالُوا حَدَّثَنَا حَجَّاجٌ، قَالَ قَالَ ابْنُ جُرَيْجٍ أَخْبَرَنِي إِسْمَاعِيلُ بْنُ أُمَيَّةَ، عَنْ عَبْدِ الْمَلِكِ بْنِ عُبَيْدٍ، قَالَ حَضَرْنَا أَبَا عُبَيْدَةَ بْنَ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ مَسْعُودٍ أَتَاهُ رَجُلاَنِ تَبَايَعَا سِلْعَةً فَقَالَ أَحَدُهُمَا أَخَذْتُهَا بِكَذَا وَبِكَذَا . وَقَالَ هَذَا بِعْتُهَا بِكَذَا وَكَذَا . فَقَالَ أَبُو عُبَيْدَةَ أُتِيَ ابْنُ مَسْعُودٍ فِي مِثْلِ هَذَا فَقَالَ حَضَرْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم أُتِيَ بِمِثْلِ هَذَا فَأَمَرَ الْبَائِعَ أَنْ يَسْتَحْلِفَ ثُمَّ يَخْتَارَ الْمُبْتَاعُ فَإِنْ شَاءَ أَخَذَ وَإِنْ شَاءَ تَرَكَ .
'Abdul-Malik bin'Ubaid Narrated from:
We were with Abu 'Ubaidah bin 'Abdullah bin Mas'ud when two men who were involved in a transaction came to him. One of them said: 'I bought it for such and such', and the other said; 'I sold it to him for such and such,' Abu 'Ubaidah said" 'something like this was brought to Ibn Masud, and he said; I was with something like this was brought to him. He told the seller to swear an oath, them he gave the purchaser the choice; If he wished, he could buy it, and if he wished he could cancel (the transaction)''
Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 4649In-book reference : Book 44, Hadith 201English translation : Vol. 5, Book 44, Hadith 4653
Summary of Sunan an-Nasai Hadith 4649
This hadith about buyer and seller disagreement gives a practical example of a disputed transaction. Two men came with different claims about the price. One said he bought it for one amount, while the other said he sold it for another. Abu Ubaidah reported that a similar case was brought to Ibn Masud, who said he had been present when a similar case came to the Messenger of Allah. The Prophet instructed that the seller swear an oath. Then the purchaser was given a choice: he could take it or leave it. The teaching is direct: when proof is missing and the sale is disputed, the matter is handled with an oath and an option for the buyer.
What we learn from this hadith
- A price dispute should be settled with a clear process.
- The seller was instructed to swear an oath in this case.
- The buyer was then given a choice to proceed or cancel.
- The hadith shows care for fairness when no clear proof is present.
