14/21. Chapter:
Jami at-Tirmidhi 1238 — Hand to Hand Animal Exchange
What Has Been Related About It Being Disliked To Barter Animals For Animals On Credit
Animals Two for One Hand to Hand Hadith
Jami at-Tirmidhi : 1238
Jami at-TirmidhiHadith Number 1238
حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو عَمَّارٍ الْحُسَيْنُ بْنُ حُرَيْثٍ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ نُمَيْرٍ، عَنِ الْحَجَّاجِ، وَهُوَ ابْنُ أَرْطَاةَ عَنْ أَبِي الزُّبَيْرِ، عَنْ جَابِرٍ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " الْحَيَوَانُ اثْنَانِ بِوَاحِدٍ لاَ يَصْلُحُ نَسِيئًا وَلاَ بَأْسَ بِهِ يَدًا بِيَدٍ " . قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى هَذَا حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ صَحِيحٌ .
Jabir Narrated from:
The Messenger Of Allah (ﷺ) Said: "Animals [Two For One] Are Not Proper On Credit, And There Is No Harm In A Hand To Hand (Exchange)." The Hadith Is Hasan Sahih.
Reference : Jami` at-Tirmidhi 1238In-book reference : Book 14, Hadith 38English translation : Vol. 1, Book 12, Hadith 1238
Summary of Jami at-Tirmidhi Hadith 1238
This hadith gives a more specific wording about animal exchange. Jabir narrated that the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم said that animals two for one are not proper on credit, and there is no harm when the exchange is hand to hand. The wording makes the contrast clear. Delay is the problem mentioned here, while immediate exchange is allowed in the report. This helps explain the business lesson in plain words: if animals are exchanged in unequal numbers, the deal should not be left on credit according to this narration. A direct hand-to-hand exchange reduces uncertainty because both sides receive what was agreed upon at the time of the deal.
What we learn from this hadith
- Animals two for one should not be exchanged on credit in this narration.
- Hand-to-hand animal exchange is allowed in the wording of the hadith.
- Immediate delivery helps make the barter clearer.
- The hadith separates delayed exchange from direct exchange.
