Ibn ‘Abbas was asked about payment for writing a copy of the Qur’an and replied, “There is no harm. They are just people who draw figures and get a living simply by their handiwork.” Razin transmitted it.

Rafi' b. Khadij said God's Messenger was asked what type of earning was best and replied, “A man’s work with his hand and every business transaction which is approved.” Ahmad transmitted it.

Abu Bakr b. Aba Maryam said that Miqdam b. Ma'dikarib had a slave girl who sold milk the price of which was taken by Miqdam. Some people said, “Glory be to God! Do you sell milk and accept what is paid for it?” He replied that he did, and asked what harm there was in that, for he had heard God’s Messenger say, “A time is certainly coming to mankind when only the dinar and the dirham will be of use.” Ahmad transmitted it.

Nafi' said he used to fit out business expeditions to Syria and to Egypt. Having fitted out one to ‘Iraq he went to ‘A’isha, the mother of the faithful, and told her that he had been accustomed to fit out expeditions to Syria, and now he had done so to ‘Iraq. She told him not to do so, asking him what was the matter with the place with which he had traded, for she had heard God's Messenger say, “When God has appointed provision for any of you in a particular direction he should not give it up till it changes for the worse.”* Ahmad and Ibn Majah transmitted it. * Alternatives are given for this last phrase. They amount to the same thing, and so it may be understood that there was doubt as to which word was used. It reads hatta yataghayyara lahu au yatanahhara lahu. But it has been suggested that the first verb refers to lack of profit and the second to loss of capital. Cf. Mirqat, iii, 299.

Abu Bakr had a slave who brought him his earnings and Abu Bakr would eat* some of his earnings. One day he brought him something and when Abu Bakr had eaten some of it the slave asked him whether he knew what it was. Abu Bakr asked what it was, and he replied, "I acted as a soothsayer for a man in the pre-Islamic period, and not being good at it, I deceived him; but he met me and gave me that, so this is the thing of which you have eaten.” She said that Abu Bakr then put his hand in his mouth and vomited everything which was in his stomach. Bukhari transmitted it. * Here the word is used in its literal sense. Elsewhere the word is often translated by "enjoy when it is not clear that something is actually eaten.”

Abu Bakr reported God’s Messenger as saying, “Nobody which has been nourished with what is unlawful will enter paradise.” Baihaqi transmitted it in Shu'ab al-iman.

Zaid b. Aslam said that 'Umar b. al-Khattab drank some milk which pleased him and asked the one who had given him the drink where he had got that milk from. He informed him that he had gone down to a watering-place which he named where there were some of the camels of the sadaqa. The people who were watering the camels had drawn some milk for him which he had put in his milk-skin, and that was what he had given him. ‘Umar then put his hand in his mouth and vomited it. Baihaqi transmitted it in Shu'ab al-iman.

Ibn 'Umar said that if anyone buys a garment for ten dirhams among which is one unlawfully acquired, God most high will not accept prayer from him as long as he wears it. He then put a finger in each ear and said, “May they become deaf if the Prophet was not the one I heard say it!” Baihaqi transmitted it in Shu'ab al-iman, saying that its isnad is weak.

Jabir reported God's Messenger as saying, “God show mercy to a man who is kindly when he sells, when he buys, and when he makes a claim!” Bukhari transmitted it.

Hudhaifa reported God’s Messenger as saying, “Before your time there was a man to whom the angel came to take his spirit, and he was asked whether he had done anything good. On his replying that he did not know, he was told to consider, and then said that the only thing he knew was that he used to have business dealings with people in the world and would demand his rights from them, giving the rich time to pay and letting the poor off. So God brought him into paradise.” In a version by Muslim there is something similar on the authority of ‘Uqba b. ‘Amir and Abu Mas'ud al-Ansari. God said, “I have more right to do this than you. Forgive my servant.” (Bukhari and Muslim).

Abu Qatada reported God’s Messenger as saying, “Avoid much swearing while transacting business, for it produces a ready sale then blots out the blessing.” Muslim transmitted it.

Abu Huraira said he heard God's Messenger say, “Swearing produces a ready sale for a commodity, but blots out the blessing.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Abu Dharr reported the Prophet as saying, “There are three to whom God will not speak on the day of resurrection, at whom He will not look, and whom He will not declare pure, and they will have a painful punishment.” Abu Dharr said, “They are losers and disappointed. Who are they, Messenger of God?” He replied, “The one who wears a trailing robe, the one who takes account of what he gives*, and the one who produces a ready sale of a commodity by false swearing.” Muslim transmitted it. * This is the type of person who keeps reminding people of his generosity to them.

Aba Sa‘id reported God's Messenger as saying, "The truthful and trusty merchant is associated with the prophets, the upright, and the martyrs." Tirmidhi, Darimi and Daraqutni transmitted it, and Ibn Majah transmitted it on the authority of Ibn ‘Umar. Tirmidhi said this is a gharib tradition.

In the time of God's Messenger we used to be called brokers, but God’s Messenger came upon us one day and called us by a better name than that, saying, "Company of merchants, unprofitable speech and swearing have a place in business dealing, so mix it with sadaqa. Abu Dawud, Tirmidhi, Nasa’i and Ibn Majah transmitted it.

‘Ubaid b. Rifa'a on his father’s authority reported the Prophet as saying, "The merchants will be raised up on the day of resurrection as evildoers, except those who fear God, are honest and speak the truth.” Tirmidhi, Ibn Majah and Darimi transmitted it, and Baihaqi transmitted it in Shu'ab al-iman on the authority of al-Bara’. Tirmidhi said this is a hasan sahih tradition.

Hakim b. Hizam reported God’s Messenger as saying, "Both parties in a business transaction have a right to annul it so long as they have not separated ; and if they tell the truth and make everything clear they will be blessed in their transaction, but if they conceal anything and lie the blessing on their transaction will be blotted out.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Ibn ‘Umar said that a man told the Prophet that he was being deceived in business transactions, and he replied, "When you make a bargain say, 'There is no attempt to deceive'*.” Then the man made a habit of saying that. (Bukhari and Muslim.) * He was to say this to protect himself because he was not expert enough to detect defects in what he was buying. Some hold that one who says this has the right to cancel the transaction if any defect is discovered within three days. Some say this applied only to the man who spoke to the Prophet; others say it applies to anyone.

'Amr b. Shu'aib, on his father's authority, said that his grandfather reported God’s Messenger as saying, “Both parties in a business transaction have a right to annul it so long as they have not separated unless it is a bargain with the right to annul it attached to it; and one has not the right to separate from the other for fear that he may demand that the bargain be rescinded.” Tirmidhi, Abu Dawud and Nasa’i transmitted it.

Abu Huraira reported the Prophet as saying, “Two people must separate only by mutual consent.” Abu Dawud transmitted it.

Jabir told that God’s Messenger gave a desert Arab the right to rescind a bargain after having made it. Tirmidhi transmitted it, saying this is a hasan sahih gharib tradition.

Jabir said that God's Messenger cursed the one who accepted usury, the one who paid it, the one who recorded it, and the two witnesses to it, saying they were all alike. Muslim transmitted it.

‘Ubada b. as-Samit reported God's Messenger as saying, "Gold is to be paid for by gold, silver by silver, wheat by wheat, barley by barley, dates by dates, and salt by salt, like for like and equal for equal, payment being made on the spot. If these classes differ, sell as you wish if payment is made on the spot.” Muslim transmitted it.

Abu Sa'id al-Khudri reported God’s Messenger as saying, "Gold is to be paid for by gold, silver by silver, wheat by wheat, barley by barley, dates by dates, and salt by salt, like for like, payment being made on the spot. If anyone gives more or asks more he has dealt in usury. The receiver and the giver are equally guilty.” Muslim transmitted it.

He reported God’s Messenger as saying, "Do not sell gold for gold unless it is like for like, and do not make one amount greater than the other; do not sell silver for silver unless it is like for like, and do not make one amount greater than the other; and do not sell for ready money something to be given later*.” A version has, "Do not sell gold for gold or silver for silver unless both are of equal weight.” (Bukhari and Muslim.) * Payment is not to be made till the goods are received.

Ma'mar b. Abdallah told that he used to hear God’s Messenger say, "Food for food, like for like.” Muslim transmitted it.

‘Umar reported God's Messenger as saying, "Gold for gold is usury unless both hand over on the spot*; silver for silver is usury unless both hand over on the spot; wheat for wheat is usury unless both hand over on the spot; barley for barley is usury unless both hand over on the spot; dates for dates is usury unless both hand over on the spot." (Bukhari and Muslim.) *"the Arabic is ha’ waha’ meaning literally "take and take”.

Abu Sa'id and Abu Huraira told that God’s Messenger appointed a man over Khaibar and he brought him dates of a very fine quality. He asked him whether all the dates of Khaibar were like that, and he replied, “I swear by God that they are certainly not, Messenger of God. We take a sa‘ of this kind for two, and two for three." So he said, "Do not do so. Sell the lot for dirhams, then buy the very fine dates for dirhams." He said that it was the same when things were sold by weight. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Abu Sa'id said that Bilal brought the Prophet some barni* dates, and when he asked him where he had got them he replied, "I had some inferior dates, so I sold two sa's of them for a sa." He said, "Ah, the very essence of usury, the very essence of usury. Do not do so, but when you wish to buy, sell the dates in a separate transaction, then buy with what you get." (Bukhari and Muslim.) * A type of dates of the best quality, sweet and luscious, red tinged with yellow.

Jabir told that a slave came and swore allegiance to the Prophet promising to emigrate, but he did not know that he was a slave. When his master came in search of him the Prophet said to him, ‘Sell him to me," and he bought him for two black slaves. Afterwards he never took an oath of allegiance from anyone without asking him whether he was a slave or free. Muslim transmitted it.

He said that God’s Messenger forbade selling a quantity of dates whose measure was unknown for a specific quantity of dates. Muslim transmitted it.

Fadala b. 'Ubaid* said that at the battle for Khaibar he had bought a necklace in which there were gold and gems for twelve dinars, and after considering them separately he found that it was worth more than twelve dinars, so he mentioned that to the Prophet who said, "It must not be sold till the contents are considered separately." Muslim transmitted it. * The Damascus edition, iii, 308 and Mirqat, iii, 311 wrongly give Abu 'Ubaid, but in the commentary Mirqat gives the name correctly as Fadala b. 'Ubaid.

Abu Huraira reported God's Messenger as saying, “A time is certainly coming to mankind when only the receiver of usury will remain, and if he does not receive it some of its vapour (or alternatively, its dust) will reach him.” Ahmad, Abu Dawud, Nasa'i and Ibn Majah transmitted it.

‘Ubada b. as-Samit reported God’s Messenger as saying, “Do not sell gold for gold, or silver for silver, or wheat for wheat, or barley for barley, or dates for dates, or salt for salt except equal for equal, kind for kind, payment being made on the spot; but sell gold for silver, silver for gold, wheat for barely, barley for wheat, dates for salt and salt for dates, payment being made on the spot, as you wish.” Shafi'i transmitted it.

Sa'd b. Abu Waqqas said he heard God's Messenger being asked about buying dry dates for fresh and asking whether the fresh dates were diminished when they became dry. On being told that they were, he forbade that. Malik, Tirmidhi, Abu Dawud, Nasa’i and Ibn Majah transmitted it.

Sa'id b. al-Musayyib told in mursal form that God’s Messenger forbade the sale of meat for animals¹. Sa'id said it was connected with the maisir² of the people of pre-Islamic times. It is transmitted in Sharh as-sunna. 1. i.e. meat sold in exchange for living animals. 2. A game of chance played with arrows for parts of a camel. The type of transaction mentioned in the tradition is evidently considered to contain something in the nature of a gamble.

Samura b. Jundub told that the Prophet, forbade selling animal for animals when payment was to be made at a later date. Tirmidhi, Abu Da.wud, Nasa’i, Ibn Majah and Darimi transmitted it.

‘Abdallah b. ‘Amr b. al-‘As told that the Prophet commanded him to equip an army, but when the camels were insufficient he commanded him to keep back the young camels of the sadaqa, and he was taking a camel to be replaced by two when the camels of the sadaqa came. Abu Dawud transmitted it.

Usama b. Zaid reported the Prophet as saying, "Credit involves usury.” In a version he said, "There is no usury when payment is made on the spot.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Abu Huraira reported God’s Messenger as saying, "Usury has seventy parts, the least important being that a man should marry his mother.” Ibn Majah and Baihaqi, in Shu'ab al-iman

Ibn Mas'ud reported God’s Messenger as saying, "Even though usury be much it leads in the end to penury.” Ibn Majah and Baihaqi, in Shu'ab al-iman, transmitted it, and Ahmad also transmitted it.

Abu Huraira reported God's Messenger as saying, "On the night when I was taken up to heaven I came upon people whose bellies were like houses and contained snakes which could be seen from outside their bellies. I asked Gabriel who they were and he told me that they were people who had practised usury.” Ahmad and Ibn Majah transmitted it.

‘Ali said he heard God’s Messenger curse those who took usury, those who paid it, those who recorded it, and those who refused to give sadaqa; and he used to prohibit wailing. Nasa’i transmitted it.

The last verse to be sent down was that on usury (Al-Qur’an 2:275) but God's Messenger was taken without having expounded it to us; so leave aside usury and whatever is doubtful. Ibn Majah and Darimi transmitted it.

Anas reported God’s Messenger as saying, "When one of you makes a loan and the borrower sends him a present or provides an animal for him to ride, he must not ride the one or accept the other unless it is a practice they followed previously." Ibn Majah and Baihaqi, in Shu'ab al-iman, transmitted it.

He reported the Prophet as saying, "When a man makes a loan to another he must not accept a present." Bukhari transmitted it in his Ta’rikh, as is said in al-Muntaqa.

I came to Medina and met 'Abdallah b. Salam who said, "You are in a land in which usury is common, so when anyone owes you anything and presents you with a load of straw, or a load of barley, or a rope of lucerne grass, do not accept it for it is usury." Bukhari transmitted it.

Ibn ‘Umar said that God’s Messenger forbade muzabana, which means that a man sells the fruit of his garden, if it consists of palm trees*, for dried dates by measure; or if it consists of grapes, for raisins by measure; or (Muslim has “and if”) it is corn, he sells it for a measure of corn. He forbade all that. A version by both of them tells that he forbade muzabana, which means that the fruit on the palm-trees is sold for a specified measure of dates, the seller profiting if it is greater and losing if it is less. (Bukhari and Muslim.) * Explained as meaning fresh dates

Jabir said that God’s Messenger forbade mukhabara, muhaqala and muzabana. Muhaqala means that a man sells a sown field for a hundred faraqs ( 3 sa’s) of wheat; muzabana that he sells the dates on the palm-trees for a hundred faraqs and mukharaba is renting land for a third and a quarter of the produce. Muslim transmitted it.

He said that God’s Messenger forbade muhaqala, muzabana, mukhabara, mu'awama (Selling a year’s harvest before the crop has grown, or selling the fruit on one’s palm-trees two or three years ahead.) and thunya (An exception the amount of which is not accurately known.), but gave licence for ‘araya (Plural of ‘ariya. A palm-tree assigned by its owner to another who is in need, for him to eat its fruit for a year. It is said that a poor man who had no money to buy fresh dates might buy the fruit on a palm-tree for dry dates.) Muslim transmitted it.