Right to Cancel a Sale
Total Hadiths 58
Understanding the Right to Cancel a Sale in Islamic Trade
According to Islamic scholars, establishing clear rights in commercial transactions protects both parties from regret. The provided prophetic narratives outline the fundamental rules governing business agreements, specifically focusing on the right to cancel a sale. The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) explained that both the buyer and the seller retain the absolute option to either cancel or formally confirm their deal as long as they remain together. Once they physically separate from each other, the transaction becomes binding, unless it was explicitly agreed beforehand that the sale is optional. Alternatively, the option concludes if one party asks the other to make a final choice on the spot. To secure a transaction they liked, companions like Ibn Umar would separate quickly from the seller after completing the bargain.
حَدَّثَنَا عُثْمَانُ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، وَمُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الصَّبَّاحِ، قَالاَ حَدَّثَنَا هُشَيْمٌ، أَنْبَأَنَا ابْنُ أَبِي لَيْلَى، عَنِ الْقَاسِمِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، أَنَّ عَبْدَ اللَّهِ بْنَ مَسْعُودٍ، بَاعَ مِنَ الأَشْعَثِ بْنِ قَيْسٍ رَقِيقًا مِنْ رَقِيقِ الإِمَارَةِ فَاخْتَلَفَا فِي الثَّمَنِ . فَقَالَ ابْنُ مَسْعُودٍ بِعْتُكَ بِعِشْرِينَ أَلْفًا . وَقَالَ الأَشْعَثُ بْنُ قَيْسٍ إِنَّمَا اشْتَرَيْتُ مِنْكَ بِعَشْرَةِ آلاَفٍ . فَقَالَ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ إِنْ شِئْتَ حَدَّثْتُكَ بِحَدِيثٍ سَمِعْتُهُ مِنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ . فَقَالَ هَاتِهِ . قَالَ فَإِنِّي سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ يَقُولُ " إِذَا اخْتَلَفَ الْبَيِّعَانِ وَلَيْسَ بَيْنَهُمَا بَيِّنَةٌ وَالْبَيْعُ قَائِمٌ بِعَيْنِهِ فَالْقَوْلُ مَا قَالَ الْبَائِعُ أَوْ يَتَرَادَّانِ الْبَيْعَ " . قَالَ فَإِنِّي أَرَى أَنْ أَرُدَّ الْبَيْعَ . فَرَدَّهُ .
It was narrated from Qasim bin 'Abdur Rahman from his father that : Abdullah bin Mas'ud sold one of the slaves from the state[1] to Ash'ath bin Qais, and they differed concerning the price. Ibn Mas'ud said: "I sold him to you for twenty thousand,' but Ash'ath bin Qais said: "I bought him from you for ten thousand." 'Abdullah said: "If you want, I will tell you a Hadith which I heard from the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ)" He said: "Tell me it." He said: "I heard the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) say: 'If two parties to a transaction differ, and they have no proof, and the sale item remains (unredeemed), then what the seller says is valid. Or they may cancel the transaction." He said: "I want to cancel the transaction." And he cancelled it.
[1] Imârah . In the narration recorded by Abu Dâwud (no. 3512) it is 'from the Khums (one-fifth of the spoils of war).'Reference : Sunan Ibn Majah 2186In-book reference : Book 12, Hadith 50English translation : Vol. 3, Book 12, Hadith 2186
حَدَّثَنَا حُمَيْدُ بْنُ مَسْعَدَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا خَالِدُ بْنُ الْحَارِثِ، حَدَّثَنَا سَعِيدٌ، عَنْ قَتَادَةَ، عَنِ الْحَسَنِ، عَنْ عُقْبَةَ بْنِ عَامِرٍ، أَوْ سَمُرَةَ بْنِ جُنْدُبٍ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ قَالَ " أَيُّمَا رَجُلٍ بَاعَ بَيْعًا مِنْ رَجُلَيْنِ فَهُوَ لِلأَوَّلِ مِنْهُمَا " .
It was narrated from 'Uqbah bin 'Amir or Samurah bin Jundab that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: "Any man who sells to two men, it is for the one who was first."[1]
[1] "What was sold, or, for the first of the two purchasers." (Sindi) This is how they explain it, although it has a slightly different meaning than the following Hadith , and the chapter heading.Reference : Sunan Ibn Majah 2190In-book reference : Book 12, Hadith 54English translation : Vol. 3, Book 12, Hadith 2190
حَدَّثَنَا زِيَادُ بْنُ يَحْيَى أَبُو الْخَطَّابِ، حَدَّثَنَا مَالِكُ بْنُ سُعَيْرٍ، حَدَّثَنَا الأَعْمَشُ، عَنْ أَبِي صَالِحٍ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ " مَنْ أَقَالَ مُسْلِمًا أَقَالَهُ اللَّهُ عَثْرَتَهُ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ " .
Abu Hurairah Narrated from:
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: Whoever agrees with a Muslim to cancel a transaction Allah will forgive his sins on the Day of Resurrection. "
Reference : Sunan Ibn Majah 2199In-book reference : Book 12, Hadith 63English translation : Vol. 3, Book 12, Hadith 2199
حَدَّثَنَا نَصْرُ بْنُ عَلِيٍّ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو أَحْمَدَ، حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ أَيُّوبَ، وَهُوَ الْبَجَلِيُّ الْكُوفِيُّ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا زُرْعَةَ بْنَ عَمْرِو بْنِ جَرِيرٍ، يُحَدِّثُ عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " لاَ يَتَفَرَّقَنَّ عَنْ بَيْعٍ إِلاَّ عَنْ تَرَاضٍ " . قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى هَذَا حَدِيثٌ غَرِيبٌ .
Abu Hurairah Narrated from:
The Prophet (ﷺ) Said: "They (The Two) Are Not Separate From A Sale Except In Agreement. [Abu 'Eisa Said:] This Hadith Is Gharib.
Reference : Jami` at-Tirmidhi 1248In-book reference : Book 14, Hadith 48English translation : Vol. 1, Book 12, Hadith 1248
حَدَّثَنَا صَدَقَةُ، أَخْبَرَنَا عَبْدُ الْوَهَّابِ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ يَحْيَى، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ نَافِعًا، عَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ، رضى الله عنهما عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " إِنَّ الْمُتَبَايِعَيْنِ بِالْخِيَارِ فِي بَيْعِهِمَا، مَا لَمْ يَتَفَرَّقَا، أَوْ يَكُونُ الْبَيْعُ خِيَارًا ". قَالَ نَافِعٌ وَكَانَ ابْنُ عُمَرَ إِذَا اشْتَرَى شَيْئًا يُعْجِبُهُ فَارَقَ صَاحِبَهُ.
Ibn 'Umar Narrated from:
The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "The buyer and the seller have the option to cancel or confirm the bargain before they separate from each other or if the sale is optional." Nafi` said, "Ibn `Umar used to separate quickly from the seller if he had bought a thing which he liked."
[1] If the bargain is concluded but the buyer and seller are still at the place where the bargain has taken place, they have the right to cancel or confirm the bargain. If=Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 2107In-book reference : Book 34, Hadith 60USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 3, Book 34, Hadith 320
حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو النُّعْمَانِ، حَدَّثَنَا حَمَّادُ بْنُ زَيْدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا أَيُّوبُ، عَنْ نَافِعٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ ـ رضى الله عنهما ـ قَالَ قَالَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم " الْبَيِّعَانِ بِالْخِيَارِ مَا لَمْ يَتَفَرَّقَا، أَوْ يَقُولُ أَحَدُهُمَا لِصَاحِبِهِ اخْتَرْ ". وَرُبَّمَا قَالَ أَوْ يَكُونُ بَيْعَ خِيَارٍ.
Ibn 'Umar Narrated from:
Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "The seller and the buyer have the option of canceling or confirming the deal unless they separate, or one of them says to the other, 'Choose (i.e. decide to cancel or confirm the bargain now)." Perhaps he said, 'Or if it is an optional sale.' " Ibn `Umar, Shuraih, Ash-Shu`bi, Tawus, Ata, and Ibn Abu Mulaika agree upon this judgment.
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 2109In-book reference : Book 34, Hadith 62USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 3, Book 34, Hadith 322
حَدَّثَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ، حَدَّثَنَا اللَّيْثُ، عَنْ نَافِعٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ ـ رضى الله عنهما ـ عَنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَنَّهُ قَالَ " إِذَا تَبَايَعَ الرَّجُلاَنِ فَكُلُّ وَاحِدٍ مِنْهُمَا بِالْخِيَارِ، مَا لَمْ يَتَفَرَّقَا، وَكَانَا جَمِيعًا، أَوْ يُخَيِّرُ أَحَدُهُمَا الآخَرَ فَتَبَايَعَا عَلَى ذَلِكَ، فَقَدْ وَجَبَ الْبَيْعُ، وَإِنْ تَفَرَّقَا بَعْدَ أَنْ يَتَبَايَعَا، وَلَمْ يَتْرُكْ وَاحِدٌ مِنْهُمَا الْبَيْعَ، فَقَدْ وَجَبَ الْبَيْعُ ".
Ibn 'Umar Narrated from:
Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "Both the buyer and the seller have the option of canceling or confirming the bargain, as long as they are still together; and unless they separate or one of them gives the other the option of keeping or returning the things and a decision is concluded then, in which case the bargain is considered final. If they separate after the bargain and none of them has rejected it, then the bargain is rendered final."
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 2112In-book reference : Book 34, Hadith 65USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 3, Book 34, Hadith 325
حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يُوسُفَ، حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ دِينَارٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ ـ رضى الله عنهما ـ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " كُلُّ بَيِّعَيْنِ لاَ بَيْعَ بَيْنَهُمَا حَتَّى يَتَفَرَّقَا، إِلاَّ بَيْعَ الْخِيَارِ ".
Ibn 'Umar Narrated from:
The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "No deal is settled and finalized unless the buyer and the seller separate, except if the deal is optional (whereby the validity of the bargain depends on the stipulations agreed upon).
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 2113In-book reference : Book 34, Hadith 66USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 3, Book 34, Hadith 326
حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ يَحْيَى، قَالَ قَرَأْتُ عَلَى مَالِكٍ عَنْ نَافِعٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " الْبَيِّعَانِ كُلُّ وَاحِدٍ مِنْهُمَا بِالْخِيَارِ عَلَى صَاحِبِهِ مَا لَمْ يَتَفَرَّقَا إِلاَّ بَيْعَ الْخِيَارِ " .
Ibn 'Umar Narrated from:
Ibn 'Umar (Allah be pleased with them) reported Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying: Both parties in a business transaction have the right to annul it so long as they have not separated; except in transactions which have been made subject to the right of parties to annul them.
[1] A transaction where both parties have chosen to agree upon a deal.Reference : Sahih Muslim 1531aIn-book reference : Book 21, Hadith 52USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 10, Hadith 3656
حَدَّثَنَا زُهَيْرُ بْنُ حَرْبٍ، وَمُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْمُثَنَّى، قَالاَ حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى، وَهُوَ الْقَطَّانُ ح وَحَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ بِشْرٍ، ح وَحَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ نُمَيْرٍ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبِي كُلُّهُمْ، عَنْ عُبَيْدِ، اللَّهِ عَنْ نَافِعٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم ح. وَحَدَّثَنِي زُهَيْرُ بْنُ حَرْبٍ، وَعَلِيُّ بْنُ حُجْرٍ، قَالاَ حَدَّثَنَا إِسْمَاعِيلُ، ح وَحَدَّثَنَا أَبُو الرَّبِيعِ وَأَبُو كَامِلٍ قَالاَ حَدَّثَنَا حَمَّادٌ، - وَهُوَ ابْنُ زَيْدٍ - جَمِيعًا عَنْ أَيُّوبَ، عَنْ نَافِعٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم ح. وَحَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ الْمُثَنَّى، وَابْنُ أَبِي عُمَرَ، قَالاَ حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الْوَهَّابِ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ يَحْيَى، بْنُ سَعِيدٍ ح وَحَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ رَافِعٍ، حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ أَبِي فُدَيْكٍ، أَخْبَرَنَا الضَّحَّاكُ، كِلاَهُمَا عَنْ نَافِعٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم . نَحْوَ حَدِيثِ مَالِكٍ عَنْ نَافِعٍ .
Ibn 'Umar Narrated from:
This hadith has been narrated on the authority of Ibn 'Umar (Allah be pleased with them) through another chain of transmitters.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 1531bIn-book reference : Book 21, Hadith 53USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 10, Hadith 3657
