14/56. Chapter:
Jami at-Tirmidhi 1291 — Do Not Sell Before Possession
What Has Been Related About It Being Disliked To Sell Food Until It has Been Acquired
Hadith About Selling Food Before Possession
Jami at-Tirmidhi : 1291
Jami at-TirmidhiHadith Number 1291
حَدَّثَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ، حَدَّثَنَا حَمَّادُ بْنُ زَيْدٍ، عَنْ عَمْرِو بْنِ دِينَارٍ، عَنْ طَاوُسٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ، أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " مَنِ ابْتَاعَ طَعَامًا فَلاَ يَبِعْهُ حَتَّى يَسْتَوْفِيَهُ " . قَالَ ابْنُ عَبَّاسٍ وَأَحْسِبُ كُلَّ شَيْءٍ مِثْلَهُ . قَالَ وَفِي الْبَابِ عَنْ جَابِرٍ وَابْنِ عُمَرَ وَأَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ . قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى حَدِيثُ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ صَحِيحٌ . وَالْعَمَلُ عَلَى هَذَا عِنْدَ أَكْثَرِ أَهْلِ الْعِلْمِ كَرِهُوا بَيْعَ الطَّعَامِ حَتَّى يَقْبِضَهُ الْمُشْتَرِي . وَقَدْ رَخَّصَ بَعْضُ أَهْلِ الْعِلْمِ فِيمَنِ ابْتَاعَ شَيْئًا مِمَّا لاَ يُكَالُ وَلاَ يُوزَنُ مِمَّا لاَ يُؤْكَلُ وَلاَ يُشْرَبُ أَنْ يَبِيعَهُ قَبْلَ أَنْ يَسْتَوْفِيَهُ . وَإِنَّمَا التَّشْدِيدُ عِنْدَ أَهْلِ الْعِلْمِ فِي الطَّعَامِ وَهُوَ قَوْلُ أَحْمَدَ وَإِسْحَاقَ .
Ibn 'Abbas Narrated from:
The Prophet (ﷺ) Said: "Whoever Buys Food, Then He Is Not To Sell It Until He Takes Possession Of It." Ibn 'Abbas Said: "All Things Are Considered The Same (In This Regard)." [He Said:] There Are Narrations On This Topic From Jabir, Ibn 'Umar, And Abu Hurairah. [Abu 'Eisa Said:] The Hadith Of Ibn 'Abbas Is A Hasan Sahih Hadith.
Reference : Jami` at-Tirmidhi 1291In-book reference : Book 14, Hadith 93English translation : Vol. 1, Book 12, Hadith 1291
Summary of Jami at-Tirmidhi Hadith 1291
This Hadith gives a direct rule for trade: whoever buys food should not sell it until he takes possession of it. Ibn Abbas then says he considers all things the same in this regard. The text also says many people of knowledge acted on this for food, and some allowed certain items that are not measured, weighed, eaten, or drunk to be sold before full possession. The main point from the Hadith is simple and practical. A sale should not be passed on before the buyer has properly received what he bought, especially in the case of food.
What we learn from this hadith
- Food should not be resold before it is taken into possession.
- Trade should be based on real receiving, not only a claim on paper.
- The report records that many scholars treated food with special care.
