14/14. Chapter:
Jami at-Tirmidhi 1225 — Fresh Dates for Dried Dates
What Has Been Related About The Prohibition Of Muhaqalah and Muzabanah
Selling Fresh Dates for Dried Dates Hadith
Jami at-Tirmidhi : 1225
Jami at-TirmidhiHadith Number 1225
حَدَّثَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ، حَدَّثَنَا مَالِكُ بْنُ أَنَسٍ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ يَزِيدَ، أَنَّ زَيْدًا أَبَا عَيَّاشٍ، سَأَلَ سَعْدًا عَنِ الْبَيْضَاءِ، بِالسُّلْتِ فَقَالَ أَيُّهُمَا أَفْضَلُ قَالَ الْبَيْضَاءُ . فَنَهَى عَنْ ذَلِكَ . وَقَالَ سَعْدٌ سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يُسْأَلُ عَنِ اشْتِرَاءِ التَّمْرِ بِالرُّطَبِ فَقَالَ لِمَنْ حَوْلَهُ " أَيَنْقُصُ الرُّطَبُ إِذَا يَبِسَ " . قَالُوا نَعَمْ . فَنَهَى عَنْ ذَلِكَ .حَدَّثَنَا هَنَّادٌ، حَدَّثَنَا وَكِيعٌ، عَنْ مَالِكٍ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ يَزِيدَ، عَنْ زَيْدٍ أَبِي عَيَّاشٍ، قَالَ سَأَلْنَا سَعْدًا فَذَكَرَ نَحْوَهُ . قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى هَذَا حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ صَحِيحٌ . وَالْعَمَلُ عَلَى هَذَا عِنْدَ أَهْلِ الْعِلْمِ وَهُوَ قَوْلُ الشَّافِعِيِّ وَأَصْحَابِنَا .
'Abdullah bin Yazid Narrated from:
Zaid, Abu Ayyash Asked Sa'D Regarding White Wheat In Exchange For Barley: Which Of Them Was Better ? He Said The White, Then He Forbade That. Sa'D Said: 'I Heard The Messenger Of Allah (ﷺ) Being Asked About Selling Dried Dates For Ripe Dates And He Said To Those Present: Will The Fresh Dates Shrink When They Are Dry ?" They Said Yes, So He Forbade That.'"Another Chain Of Narrators With Similar Meaning. [Abu 'Eisa Said:] This Hadith Is Hasan Sahih, And This Is Acted Upon According To The People Of Knowledge. It Is The View Of Ash-Shafi'I And Our Companions.
Reference : Jami` at-Tirmidhi 1225In-book reference : Book 14, Hadith 24,25English translation : Vol. 3, Book 12, Hadith 1225
Summary of Jami at-Tirmidhi Hadith 1225
This hadith shows how the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم taught fair trade through a simple question. He was asked about buying dried dates with ripe fresh dates. He asked those present whether fresh dates shrink when they dry. They said yes, so he forbade that sale. The teaching is directly tied to fairness in exchange. If one item changes in size or amount after drying, then the exchange may not stay equal or clear. The hadith also mentions Sa’d forbidding a similar concern when asked about white wheat in exchange for barley after the better item was identified. The main lesson is that food exchange should avoid hidden imbalance.
What we learn from this hadith
- Fresh produce may change after drying, so the exchange can become unclear.
- The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم used a question to show the reason for the ruling in the text.
- Food sales should avoid hidden imbalance between the two sides.
- A seller and buyer should pay attention to quality and quantity before agreeing.
