Selling Goods Before Possession
Total Hadiths 67
Authentic Hadiths on Selling Goods Before Taking Possession
These prophetic traditions outline the essential regulations for business transactions in Islam, focusing strictly on the trade of foodstuff. The texts make it clear that a person who purchases goods must not resell them until they have taken physical possession, measured them correctly, or moved them to the designated market or their own home. According to the statements of Ibn Umar, Salim, and Ibn Abbas, the Prophet Muhammad forbade selling food immediately at the spot of purchase from traveling caravans without proper transfer. Ibn Abbas explains that selling goods before they are handed over turns the transaction into an improper exchange of money for money, highlighting the importance of clear ownership in Islamic trading.
حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ أَبِي عُمَرَ، وَأَحْمَدُ بْنُ عَبْدَةَ، قَالاَ حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ، ح وَحَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ، أَبِي شَيْبَةَ وَأَبُو كُرَيْبٍ قَالاَ حَدَّثَنَا وَكِيعٌ، عَنْ سُفْيَانَ، - وَهُوَ الثَّوْرِيُّ - كِلاَهُمَا عَنْ عَمْرِو، بْنِ دِينَارٍ بِهَذَا الإِسْنَادِ نَحْوَهُ .
A hadith like this has been narrated through the same chain of transmitters.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 1525bIn-book reference : Book 21, Hadith 37USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 10, Hadith 3641
حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا عَلِيُّ بْنُ مُسْهِرٍ، عَنْ عُبَيْدِ اللَّهِ، ح وَحَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ نُمَيْرٍ، - وَاللَّفْظُ لَهُ - حَدَّثَنَا أَبِي، حَدَّثَنَا عُبَيْدُ اللَّهِ، عَنْ نَافِعٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ، عُمَرَ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " مَنِ اشْتَرَى طَعَامًا فَلاَ يَبِعْهُ حَتَّى يَسْتَوْفِيَهُ" . قَالَ وَكُنَّا نَشْتَرِي الطَّعَامَ مِنَ الرُّكْبَانِ جِزَافًا فَنَهَانَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَنْ نَبِيعَهُ حَتَّى نَنْقُلَهُ مِنْ مَكَانِهِ .
Ibn Umar (Allah be pleased with them) reported Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying: He who buys foodgrain should not sell that before taking possession of it. He (the narrator) said: We used to buy foodgrain from the caravans in bulk, but Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) forbade us to re-sell that until we had shifted it to some other place.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 1526b, 1527bIn-book reference : Book 21, Hadith 42USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 10, Hadith 3646
حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا عَلِيُّ بْنُ مُسْهِرٍ، عَنْ عُبَيْدِ اللَّهِ، ح وَحَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ نُمَيْرٍ، - وَاللَّفْظُ لَهُ - حَدَّثَنَا أَبِي، حَدَّثَنَا عُبَيْدُ اللَّهِ، عَنْ نَافِعٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ، عُمَرَ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " مَنِ اشْتَرَى طَعَامًا فَلاَ يَبِعْهُ حَتَّى يَسْتَوْفِيَهُ" . قَالَ وَكُنَّا نَشْتَرِي الطَّعَامَ مِنَ الرُّكْبَانِ جِزَافًا فَنَهَانَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَنْ نَبِيعَهُ حَتَّى نَنْقُلَهُ مِنْ مَكَانِهِ .
Ibn Umar (Allah be pleased with them) reported Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying: He who buys foodgrain should not sell that before taking possession of it. He (the narrator) said: We used to buy foodgrain from the caravans in bulk, but Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) forbade us to re-sell that until we had shifted it to some other place.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 1526b, 1527bIn-book reference : Book 21, Hadith 42USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 10, Hadith 3646
حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، وَابْنُ، نُمَيْرٍ وَأَبُو كُرَيْبٍ قَالُوا حَدَّثَنَا زَيْدُ بْنُ حُبَابٍ، عَنِ الضَّحَّاكِ بْنِ عُثْمَانَ، عَنْ بُكَيْرِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ الأَشَجِّ، عَنْ سُلَيْمَانَ بْنِ يَسَارٍ، عَنْ أَبِي، هُرَيْرَةَ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " مَنِ اشْتَرَى طَعَامًا فَلاَ يَبِعْهُ حَتَّى يَكْتَالَهُ " . وَفِي رِوَايَةِ أَبِي بَكْرٍ " مَنِ ابْتَاعَ " .
Abu Hurairah Narrated from:
Abu Huraira (Allah be pleased with him) reported Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying: He who bought foodgrain should not sell it until he had measured it. In the narration of Abu Bakr there the word is Ibta' instead of Ishtara.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 1528aIn-book reference : Book 21, Hadith 47USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 10, Hadith 3651
حَدَّثَنَا إِسْحَاقُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، أَخْبَرَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ الْحَارِثِ الْمَخْزُومِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا الضَّحَّاكُ، بْنُ عُثْمَانَ عَنْ بُكَيْرِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ الأَشَجِّ، عَنْ سُلَيْمَانَ بْنِ يَسَارٍ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، أَنَّهُ قَالَ لِمَرْوَانَ أَحْلَلْتَ بَيْعَ الرِّبَا . فَقَالَ مَرْوَانُ مَا فَعَلْتُ . فَقَالَ أَبُو هُرَيْرَةَ أَحْلَلْتَ بَيْعَ الصِّكَاكِ وَقَدْ نَهَى رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم عَنْ بَيْعِ الطَّعَامِ حَتَّى يُسْتَوْفَى . قَالَ فَخَطَبَ مَرْوَانُ النَّاسَ فَنَهَى عَنْ بَيْعِهَا . قَالَ سُلَيْمَانُ فَنَظَرْتُ إِلَى حَرَسٍ يَأْخُذُونَهَا مِنْ أَيْدِي النَّاسِ .
Abu Hurairah Narrated from:
Abu Huraira (Allah be please with him) is reported to have said to Marwan: Have you made lawful the transactions involving interest? Thereupon Marwan said: I have not done that. Thereupon Abu Huraira (ﷺ) said: You have made lawful the transactions with the help of documents only, whereas Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) forbade the transaction of foodgrains until full possession is taken of them. Marwan then addressed the people and forbade them to enter into such transactions (as are done with the help of documents). Sulaiman said: I saw the sentinels snatching (these documents) from the people.
[1] Sakk : A letter from the ruler ordering that food and other items be given to the holder of the letter.Reference : Sahih Muslim 1528bIn-book reference : Book 21, Hadith 48USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 10, Hadith 3652
حَدَّثَنَا عَلِيُّ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ، قَالَ الَّذِي حَفِظْنَاهُ مِنْ عَمْرِو بْنِ دِينَارٍ سَمِعَ طَاوُسًا، يَقُولُ سَمِعْتُ ابْنَ عَبَّاسٍ ـ رضى الله عنهما ـ يَقُولُ أَمَّا الَّذِي نَهَى عَنْهُ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَهْوَ الطَّعَامُ أَنْ يُبَاعَ حَتَّى يُقْبَضَ. قَالَ ابْنُ عَبَّاسٍ وَلاَ أَحْسِبُ كُلَّ شَىْءٍ إِلاَّ مِثْلَهُ.
Ibn 'Abbas Narrated from:
The Prophet (ﷺ) forbade the selling of foodstuff before receiving it. I consider that all types of sellings should be done similarly.
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 2135In-book reference : Book 34, Hadith 87USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 3, Book 34, Hadith 345
حَدَّثَنَا عَمْرُو بْنُ زُرَارَةَ، أَخْبَرَنَا إِسْمَاعِيلُ ابْنُ عُلَيَّةَ، أَخْبَرَنَا ابْنُ أَبِي نَجِيحٍ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ كَثِيرٍ، عَنْ أَبِي الْمِنْهَالِ، عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ ـ رضى الله عنهما ـ قَالَ قَدِمَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم الْمَدِينَةَ، وَالنَّاسُ يُسْلِفُونَ فِي الثَّمَرِ الْعَامَ وَالْعَامَيْنِ ـ أَوْ قَالَ عَامَيْنِ أَوْ ثَلاَثَةً. شَكَّ إِسْمَاعِيلُ ـ فَقَالَ " مَنْ سَلَّفَ فِي تَمْرٍ فَلْيُسْلِفْ فِي كَيْلٍ مَعْلُومٍ، وَوَزْنٍ مَعْلُومٍ ".---------------------------حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدٌ، أَخْبَرَنَا إِسْمَاعِيلُ، عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي نَجِيحٍ، بِهَذَا " فِي كَيْلٍ مَعْلُومٍ وَوَزْنٍ مَعْلُومٍ ".
Ibn 'Abbas Narrated from:
Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) came to Medina and the people used to pay in advance the price of fruits to be delivered within one or two years. (The sub-narrator is in doubt whether it was one to two years or two to three years.) The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Whoever pays money in advance for dates (to be delivered later) should pay it for known specified weight and measure (of the dates).---------------------------Narrated Ibn Abi Najih: as above, mentioning only specific measure.
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 2239In-book reference : Book 35, Hadith 1USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 3, Book 35, Hadith 441
حَدَّثَنَا صَدَقَةُ، أَخْبَرَنَا ابْنُ عُيَيْنَةَ، أَخْبَرَنَا ابْنُ أَبِي نَجِيحٍ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ كَثِيرٍ، عَنْ أَبِي الْمِنْهَالِ، عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ ـ رضى الله عنهما ـ قَالَ قَدِمَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم الْمَدِينَةَ، وَهُمْ يُسْلِفُونَ بِالتَّمْرِ السَّنَتَيْنِ وَالثَّلاَثَ، فَقَالَ " مَنْ أَسْلَفَ فِي شَىْءٍ فَفِي كَيْلٍ مَعْلُومٍ وَوَزْنٍ مَعْلُومٍ، إِلَى أَجَلٍ مَعْلُومٍ ".---------------------------حَدَّثَنَا عَلِيٌّ، حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي ابْنُ أَبِي نَجِيحٍ، وَقَالَ، " فَلْيُسْلِفْ فِي كَيْلٍ مَعْلُومٍ إِلَى أَجَلٍ مَعْلُومٍ ".
Ibn 'Abbas Narrated from:
The Prophet (ﷺ) came to Medina and the people used to pay in advance the price of dates to be delivered within two or three years. He said (to them), "Whoever pays in advance the price of a thing to be delivered later should pay it for a specified measure at specified weight for a specified period."---------------------------Narrated Ibn Abi Najih: as above, saying, "He should pay the price in advance for a specified measure and for a specified period."
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 2240In-book reference : Book 35, Hadith 3USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 3, Book 35, Hadith 443
حَدَّثَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ، حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ، عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي نَجِيحٍ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ كَثِيرٍ، عَنْ أَبِي الْمِنْهَالِ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ ابْنَ عَبَّاسٍ ـ رضى الله عنهما ـ يَقُولُ قَدِمَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَقَالَ " فِي كَيْلٍ مَعْلُومٍ وَوَزْنٍ مَعْلُومٍ إِلَى أَجَلٍ مَعْلُومٍ ".
Ibn 'Abbas Narrated from:
The Prophet (ﷺ) came (to Medina) and he told the people (regarding the payment of money in advance that they should pay it) for a known specified measure and a known specified weight and a known specified period.
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 2241In-book reference : Book 35, Hadith 5USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 3, Book 35, Hadith 445
حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو نُعَيْمٍ، حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ، عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي نَجِيحٍ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ كَثِيرٍ، عَنْ أَبِي الْمِنْهَالِ، عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ ـ رضى الله عنهما ـ قَالَ قَدِمَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم الْمَدِينَةَ وَهُمْ يُسْلِفُونَ فِي الثِّمَارِ السَّنَتَيْنِ وَالثَّلاَثَ، فَقَالَ " أَسْلِفُوا فِي الثِّمَارِ فِي كَيْلٍ مَعْلُومٍ إِلَى أَجَلٍ مَعْلُومٍ ". وَقَالَ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ الْوَلِيدِ حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ، حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ أَبِي نَجِيحٍ، وَقَالَ، " فِي كَيْلٍ مَعْلُومٍ وَوَزْنٍ مَعْلُومٍ ".
Ibn 'Abbas Narrated from:
The Prophet (ﷺ) came to Medina and the people used to pay in advance the prices of fruits to be delivered within two to three years. The Prophet (ﷺ) said (to them), "Buy fruits by paying their prices in advance on condition that the fruits are to be delivered to you according to a fixed specified measure within a fixed specified period." Ibn Najih said, " ... by specified measure and specified weight."
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 2253In-book reference : Book 35, Hadith 14USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 3, Book 35, Hadith 455
