14/12. Chapter:
Jami at-Tirmidhi 1221 — Fair Market Dealings
What Has Been Related About It Being Disliked To Meet The Owners Of The Goods
Hadith About Fair Trade and Meeting Goods Before Market
Jami at-Tirmidhi : 1221
Jami at-TirmidhiHadith Number 1221
حَدَّثَنَا سَلَمَةُ بْنُ شَبِيبٍ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ جَعْفَرٍ الرَّقِّيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا عُبَيْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ عَمْرٍو الرَّقِّيُّ، عَنْ أَيُّوبَ، عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ سِيرِينَ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم نَهَى أَنْ يُتَلَقَّى الْجَلَبُ فَإِنْ تَلَقَّاهُ إِنْسَانٌ فَابْتَاعَهُ فَصَاحِبُ السِّلْعَةِ فِيهَا بِالْخِيَارِ إِذَا وَرَدَ السُّوقَ . قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى هَذَا حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ غَرِيبٌ مِنْ حَدِيثِ أَيُّوبَ وَحَدِيثُ ابْنِ مَسْعُودٍ حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ صَحِيحٌ . وَقَدْ كَرِهَ قَوْمٌ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْعِلْمِ تَلَقِّيَ الْبُيُوعِ وَهُوَ ضَرْبٌ مِنَ الْخَدِيعَةِ . وَهُوَ قَوْلُ الشَّافِعِيِّ وَغَيْرِهِ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا .
Abu Hurairah Narrated from:
The Prophet (ﷺ) Prohibited Meeting The Goods Being Brought (To The Market). If Someone Were To Meet Them And Buy Them, Then The Owner Of The Goods Retains The Option When He Reaches The Market. [Abu 'Eisa Said:] This Hadith Is Hasan Gharib Narration Of Ayyub (A Narrator). The Hadith If Ibn Mas'Ud Is A Hasan Sahih Hadith. There Are Those Among The People Of Knowledge Who Disliked Meeting The Owners Of The Goods, Saying That It Is A Type Of Deception. This Is The View Of Ash-Shafi'I, And Others Among Our Companions.
Reference : Jami` at-Tirmidhi 1221In-book reference : Book 14, Hadith 20English translation : Vol. 3, Book 12, Hadith 1221
Summary of Jami at-Tirmidhi Hadith 1221
This hadith teaches a clear rule about fair trade in Islam. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم prohibited meeting goods before they reach the market, meaning a buyer should not intercept sellers on the road before they know the market situation. If someone does that and buys the goods, the owner keeps the option when he reaches the market. The text also explains why people of knowledge disliked this practice: it can become a type of deception. The main lesson is simple. A sale should not depend on one side taking advantage of the other side’s lack of information. Islamic business ethics call for honesty, openness, and a fair chance for the owner of the goods.
What we learn from this hadith
- A seller should not be pressured before reaching the market.
- A buyer should avoid using hidden market knowledge to gain unfair advantage.
- The owner of goods keeps a choice if the sale was made through this kind of interception.
- Trade should be free from deception and one-sided pressure.
