Wathila b. al-Asqa' told that he heard God's Messenger say, "If anyone sells a defective article without drawing attention to it, he will remain under God’s anger," or, “the angels will continue to curse him.” Ibn Majah transmitted it.

Ibn ‘Umar reported God’s Messenger as saying, “If anyone buys palm-trees after they have been fecundated the fruit belongs to the seller unless the buyer makes a proviso; and if anyone buys a slave who possesses property his property belongs to the seller unless the buyer makes a proviso." Muslim transmitted it and Bukhari transmitted something to the same effect as the first part alone.

I was travelling on a camel of mine which had grown jaded when the Prophet passed by and struck it, with the result that it went as it had never done before. He then said, “Sell it to me for a wuqiya*”. I agreed, but made the stipulation that I should be allowed to ride it home. Then when I came to Medina I took the camel to him and he paid me its price in ready money. In a version he said, “He gave me its price and returned it to me." In a version by Bukhari he said to Bilal, “Pay him and give something extra," so he gave the money adding a qirat (A small coin, probably meaning here a sixteenth of a dirham). (Bukhari and Muslim.) *This and the more common form uqiya used below in the tradition from 'A'isha is an amount equivalent to forty dirhams.

What is the matter with people who make conditions which are not in God’s Book? Any condition which is not in God’s Book is worthless. Even if there are a hundred conditions, God’s decision is more valid and God's condition is more binding. The right of inheritance belongs only to the one who has set a person free.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Ibn ‘Umar said that God’s Messenger forbade selling or giving away the right to inheritance from a manumitted slave. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

I bought a slave and made him earn something for me, but afterwards I found a defect in him and so brought a case regarding him before ‘Umar b. ‘Abd al-‘Aziz, who decided in my favour that I should return him, but against me that I should return what he had earned. I therefore went to ‘Urwa and informed him, and he replied that he would go that evening to him and tell him he had been informed by ‘A'isha that God’s Messenger had given judgment in a similar case that any profit goes to the one who bears responsibility*. ‘Urwa went to him, and he gave judgment in my favour that I should receive the profit from the one for whom he had given the decision against me. * al-Kharaj bid daman. After a sale any profit which accrues belongs to the buyer. It is transmitted in Sharh as-sunna.

Abu Huraira reported God’s Messenger as saying, “If anyone rescinds a sale with a Muslim, God will cancel his slip* on the day of resurrection.” * God will forgive his fault. Abu Dawud and Ibn Majah transmitted it; and it occurs in Sharh as-sunna with the wording in al-Masabih on the authority of Shuraih ash-Shami in mursal form.

Abu Huraira reported God’s Messenger as saying, “A man of those who were before your time bought some real estate from another, and the buyer found in what he had bought a jar containing gold. The buyer told the other to take his gold from him as he had bought from him only the property and had not bought the gold from him, but the man who had sold the land said he had sold him the land and its contents. They brought the matter before another for decision and he asked whether they had any children. When one said he had a boy and the other said he had a girl, he told them to marry the boy to the girl and spend* some of the gold on them and give sadaqa.” *While the dual has been used with reference to the two men, the plural is used for “marry" and “spend’’. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Ibn 'Abbas said that when God’s Messenger came to Medina they were paying one, two and three years in advance for fruits, so he said, “Those who pay in advance for anything must do so for a specified measure and weight with a specified time fixed.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

'A’isha said that God’s Messenger bought some grain from a Jew to be paid at a specified time, and gave him a coat of mail of his as a pledge. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

She said that when God’s Messenger died his coat of mail was in pledge with a Jew for thirty sa's of barley. Bukhari transmitted it.

Abu Huraira reported God’s Messenger as saying, “An animal may be ridden for payment when it is in pledge and the milk of milch-camels may be drunk of payment when in pledge, payment being made by the one who rides and the one who drinks.” Bukhari transmitted it.

Sa'id b. al-Musayyib reported God’s Messenger as saying, “A pledge does not become lost to its owner when he does not redeem it in time. Any increase in its value goes to him and any loss must be borne by him.” Shafi'i transmitted it in mursal form, and something similar or something with a similar meaning with no discrepancy is transmitted on the authority of Abu Huraira with a fully connected isnad.

Abu Sa'id al-Khudri reported God’s Messenger as saying, “If anyone pays in advance for an article he may not transfer, it to someone else before he receives it.” Abu Dawud and Ibn Majah transmitted it.

Ma'mar reported God's Messenger as saying, “If anyone keeps goods till the price rises he is a sinner.” Muslim transmitted it.

‘Umar reported the Prophet as saying, “He who brings goods for sale is blessed with good fortune, but he who keeps them till the price rises is accursed.” Ibn Majah and Darimi transmitted it.

Anas said that when prices were high in the Prophet’s time the people asked him to fix prices for them, but he replied, “God is the One who fixes prices, who withholds, gives lavishly and provides, and I hope that when I meet my Lord none of you will have any claim on me for an injustice regarding blood or property.” Tirmidhi, Abu Dawud, Ibn Majah and Darimi transmitted it.

‘Umar b. al-Khattab told of hearing God’s Messenger say, “If anyone keeps grain from the Muslims waiting for the price to rise, God will smite him with tubercular leprosy* and insolvency.” Ibn Majah, Baihaqi, in Shu'ab al-iman, and Razin in his book transmitted it. * Judham.

Ibn ‘Umar reported God’s Messenger as saying, “If anyone with-holds grain for forty days thereby desiring a high price, he has renounced God and God has renounced him.” Razin transmitted it.

Mu‘adh told of hearing God’s Messenger say, “The man who withholds goods is evil. If God lowers prices he is grieved, and if He raises them he is happy.” Baihaqi transmitted it in Shu'ab al-lman and Razin in his book.

Abu Umama reported God’s Messenger as saying, “If anyone hoards grain for forty days and then gives it in sadaqa, that will not act as an atonement for him.” Razin transmitted it.

Abu Huraira reported God’s Messenger as saying, “If anyone becomes insolvent and a creditor finds his very property with him, he is more entitled to it than anyone else.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Abu Sa'id said that in the time of the Prophet a man suffered loss affecting fruits he had bought and owed a large debt, so God’s messenger told the people to give him sadaqa and they did so, but as that was not enough to pay the debt in full God’s Messenger said to his creditors, “Take what you can find, but that is all you may have.” Muslim transmitted it.

Abu Huraira said that the Prophet told of a man who used to make loans and say to his servant, “When you come to one who is in straitened circumstances forgive him, for perhaps God may forgive us.” He said that when he met God He forgave him. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Abu Qatada reported God's Messenger as saying, “If anyone would like God to save him from the anxieties of the day of resurrection, he should grant a respite to one who is in straitened circumstances, or remit his debt.” Muslim transmitted it.

He told of hearing God’s Messenger say, “He who grants a respite to one who is in straitened circumstances or who remits his debt will be saved by God from the anxieties of the day of resurrection.” Muslim transmitted it.

Abul Yasar told of hearing God’s Messenger say, “He who grants a respite to one who is in straitened circumstances or remits his debt will be taken by God under His protection.” Muslim transmitted it.

God’s Messenger borrowed a young camel, and when the camels of the sadaqa came to him he ordered me to pay the man his young camel. When I told him that I could find only an excellent camel in its seventh year he said, “Give it to him, for the best person is he who discharges his debt in the best manner." Muslim transmitted it.

Abu Huraira told that a man demanded payment of a debt from God's Messenger in a most uncivil manner and his companions were vexed, but he said, “Leave him alone, for one who has a right is entitled to speak, and buy him a camel and give it to him." When they told him that all they could find was one of a more excellent age than the man was entitled to, he said, “Buy it and give him it, for the best person among you is he who discharges his debt in the best manner." (Bukhari and Muslim.)

He reported God's Messenger as saying, “Delay in payment by a rich man is injustice, but when one of you is referred for payment to a wealthy* man he should accept the reference." (Bukhari and Muslim.) *Mali'. This word is used of a wealthy man, and also of one who cannot be called wealthy but who is careful to pay his debts.

Ka'b b. Malik said that in the time of God’s Messenger he made demand in the mosque for payment of a debt due to him from Ibn Abu Hadrad and their voices rose till God’s Messenger, who was in his house, heard them. He went out to them and removing the curtain of his chamber called to Ka'b b. Malik addressing him by name. He replied, “At your service, Messenger of God", whereupon he made a gesture with his hand indicating that he should remit half the debt due to him, and when Ka'b expressed his willingness he told the other to get up and discharge his debt. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

While we were sitting with the Prophet a bier was brought along and the Prophet was asked to pray over it. He asked whether the dead man owed anything and when he was told that he did not he prayed over it. Another bier was brought along later, and when he asked whether the dead man owed anything and was told that he did, he asked whether he had left anything. On being told that he had left three dinars he prayed over the bier. A third was brought along later, and when he asked whether the dead man owed anything and was told that he owed three dinars, he asked whether he had left anything. On being told that he had not, he ordered them to pray over their friend; but when Abu Qatada said, “Pray over him, Messenger of God, and I shall be responsible for his debt,” he prayed over him. Bukhari transmitted it.

Abu Huraira reported the Prophet as saying, “If anyone accepts other people’s belongings meaning to pay back, God will pay back for him; but if anyone accepts them meaning to squander them, God will on that account destroy his property.” Bukhari transmitted it.

Abu Qatada told of a man saying, “Tell me, Messenger of God, if I am killed in God’s path showing endurance, seeking my reward from God, advancing and not retreating, will God efface my sins?” He replied, “Yes,” but when the man turned away he called him and said, “Yes, with the exception of a debt. Thus Gabriel said.” Muslim transmitted it.

‘Abdallah b. ‘Amr reported God’s Messenger as saying, “Every fault but a debt will be forgiven to a martyr.” Muslim transmitted it.

A man who had died in debt would be brought to God’s Messenger and he would ask whether he had left any-thing to discharge his debt. If he was told ^that he had left enough he would pray, otherwise he would tell the Muslims to pray over their friend. But when God wrought the conquests at his hands he stood up and said, “I am closer to the believers than their own selves (Al-Qur’an 33:6), so if any of the believers dies leaving a debt I shall be responsible for paying it, and if anyone leaves property it goes to his heirs.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

We went to Abu Huraira regarding a friend of ours who was insolvent and he said, “This is what God’s Messenger decided about him. If any one dies or is insolvent, the owner of the goods has most right to them if he finds his actual goods.” Shafi'i and Ibn Majah transmitted it.

Abu Huraira reported God’s Messenger as saying, “A believer’s soul is attached to his debt till it is paid.” Shafi‘i, Ahmad, Tirmidhi, Ibn Majah and Darimi transmitted it.

Al-Bara’ b. ‘Azib reported God's Messenger as saying, "A debtor is bound to his debt and will complain to his Lord of loneliness on the day of resurrection.” It is transmitted in Sharh as-sunna. A mursal tradition is transmitted to the effect that Mu'adh was in debt and his creditors went to the Prophet who sold all his property to pay his debt, with the result that Mu'adh had nothing left. This is the wording in al-Masabih, but the only source in which I have found it is al-Muntaqa.

‘Abd ar-Rahman b. Ka’b b. Malik said that Mu'adh b. Jabal was a generous young man who could save nothing and was always borrowing, so that he expended all his property on his debts. He went to the Prophet and asked him to speak to his creditors, and if they would have remitted debts to anyone they would have done it to Mu'adh for God’s Messenger’s sake, but God’s Messenger sold them his property with the result that Mu'adh had nothing left. Sa'id transmitted it in his Sunan in mursal form.

Ash-Sharid reported God’s Messenger as saying, ‘‘Delay in payment on the part of one who possesses the means makes it lawful to dishonour and punish him.” Ibn al-Mubarak said that “dishonour” means he may be spoken to roughly and “punish” means he may be imprisoned for it. Abu Dawud and Nasa’i transmitted it.

Abu Sa'id al-Khudrl said that a corpse was brought to the Prophet on a bier for him to pray over it and he asked the people whether their friend owed anything. On being told that he did, he asked whether he had left anything to discharge it, and when they replied that he had not, he told them to pray over him. But ‘Ali b. Abu Talib said, “I shall be responsible for his debt, Messenger of God,” so he went forward and prayed over him. A version has something to the same effect, adding that he said, “May God redeem your pledges from hell as you have redeemed the pledges of your brother Muslim! No Muslim will discharge his brother’s debt without God redeeming his pledges on the day of resurrection.” It is transmitted in Sharh as- sunna.

Thauban reported God’s Messenger as saying, “If anyone dies free from pride, unfaithfulness regarding spoil, and debt, he will enter paradise.” Tirmidhi, Ibn Majah and Darimi transmitted it.

Abu Musa reported the Prophet as saying, “The greatest sin in God's sight, after the serious sins which God has prohibited, which a man can bring into His presence is that he should die in debt without leaving enough to discharge it.” Ahmad and Abu Dawud transmitted it.

‘Amr b. ‘Auf al-Muzani reported the Prophet as saying, “Reconciliation is allowable between Muslims except such as makes unlawful something which is lawful, or makes lawful something which is unlawful ; and Muslims must keep to the conditions they have made, except for a condition which makes unlawful something which is lawful, or makes lawful something which is unlawful.” Tirmidhi, Ibn Majah and Abu Dawud transmitted it, but Abu Dawud's transmission ended at “the conditions they have made.”

Makhrafa al-‘Abdi and I imported some garments from Hajar* and brought them to Mecca. God’s Messenger came to us walking and after he had bargained with us for some trousers we sold them to him. God’s Messenger then said to a man there who was weighing out for pay, “Weigh out and give overweight.” *A name applied to the whole district of al-Bahrain. Ahmad, Abu Dawud, Tirmidhi, Ibn Majah and Darimi transmitted it, Tirmidhi saying this is a hasan sahih tradition.

Jabir said the Prophet owed him a debt and gave him something extra when he paid it. Abu Dawud transmitted it.

‘Abdallah b. Abu Rabi'a said the Prophet borrowed forty thousand* from him, and when revenue came in he paid it to him saying, “God most high bless your family and your property! The only reward for a loan is commendation and repayment.” *The text mentions the number. It probably means dirhams. Nasa’i transmitted it.

'Imran b. Husain reported God’s Messenger as saying, “When anyone has something due to him from another he will be credited with sadaqa for every day he allows the other to postpone payment.” Ahmad transmitted it.

My brother died leaving three hundred dinars and some young children, and I wanted to use them for their maintenance, but God’s Messenger said to me, “Your brother is im-prisoned by his debt, so pay it on his behalf.” I went and did so, and returned to tell God’s Messenger that I had done it and that there remained only a woman who claimed two dinars but had no proof she could show. He replied, “Give them to her, for she is speaking the truth.” Ahmad transmitted it.