Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (ﷺ) said, "On the Night Journey, I saw people with bellies like houses, filled with visible snakes. I asked, ‘Who are these, O Jibril?’ He replied, ‘They are the consumers of riba.’" [Ahmad, Ibn Majah]

Ubadah ibn as-Samit (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (ﷺ) said"Gold for gold, silver for silver, wheat for wheat, barley for barley, dates for dates, salt for salt, like for like, equal for equal, hand to hand. If the commodities differ, sell as you wish, provided it is hand to hand." [Muslim]

Ash-Shafi‘i’s version adds: "Do not sell gold for gold, silver for silver, wheat for wheat, barley for barley, dates for dates, or salt for salt unless equal and hand to hand. But sell gold for silver and wheat for barley hand to hand as you wish."

Another narration specifies: "Gold must be weighed, silver weighed, wheat measured, barley measured."

Exact equivalence in weight/volume for the same genus.

Immediate exchange (no deferment).

Ubadah ibn as-Samit (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (ﷺ) said"Gold for gold, silver for silver, wheat for wheat, barley for barley, dates for dates, salt for salt, like for like, equal for equal, hand to hand. If the commodities differ, sell as you wish, provided it is hand to hand." [Muslim]

Ash-Shafi‘i’s version adds: "Do not sell gold for gold, silver for silver, wheat for wheat, barley for barley, dates for dates, or salt for salt unless equal and hand to hand. But sell gold for silver and wheat for barley hand to hand as you wish."

Another narration specifies: "Gold must be weighed, silver weighed, wheat measured, barley measured."

Exact equivalence in weight/volume for the same genus.

Immediate exchange (no deferment).

Ubadah ibn as-Samit (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (ﷺ) said"Gold for gold, silver for silver, wheat for wheat, barley for barley, dates for dates, salt for salt, like for like, equal for equal, hand to hand. If the commodities differ, sell as you wish, provided it is hand to hand." [Muslim]

Ash-Shafi‘i’s version adds: "Do not sell gold for gold, silver for silver, wheat for wheat, barley for barley, dates for dates, or salt for salt unless equal and hand to hand. But sell gold for silver and wheat for barley hand to hand as you wish."

Another narration specifies: "Gold must be weighed, silver weighed, wheat measured, barley measured."

Exact equivalence in weight/volume for the same genus.

Immediate exchange (no deferment).

Ubadah ibn as-Samit (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (ﷺ) said"Gold for gold, silver for silver, wheat for wheat, barley for barley, dates for dates, salt for salt, like for like, equal for equal, hand to hand. If the commodities differ, sell as you wish, provided it is hand to hand." [Muslim]

Ash-Shafi‘i’s version adds: "Do not sell gold for gold, silver for silver, wheat for wheat, barley for barley, dates for dates, or salt for salt unless equal and hand to hand. But sell gold for silver and wheat for barley hand to hand as you wish."

Another narration specifies: "Gold must be weighed, silver weighed, wheat measured, barley measured."

Exact equivalence in weight/volume for the same genus.

Immediate exchange (no deferment).

Ubadah ibn as-Samit (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (ﷺ) said"Gold for gold, silver for silver, wheat for wheat, barley for barley, dates for dates, salt for salt, like for like, equal for equal, hand to hand. If the commodities differ, sell as you wish, provided it is hand to hand." [Muslim]

Ash-Shafi‘i’s version adds: "Do not sell gold for gold, silver for silver, wheat for wheat, barley for barley, dates for dates, or salt for salt unless equal and hand to hand. But sell gold for silver and wheat for barley hand to hand as you wish."

Another narration specifies: "Gold must be weighed, silver weighed, wheat measured, barley measured."

Exact equivalence in weight/volume for the same genus.

Immediate exchange (no deferment).

Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: "The Prophet (ﷺ) said, ‘Gold for gold is riba unless hand to hand; wheat for wheat is riba unless hand to hand…’" [Agreed upon]

Jabir (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (ﷺ) bought a slave for two black slaves after discovering the seller was enslaved. He then ensured future transactions verified freedom status. [Muslim]

Al-Hasan (may Allah have mercy on him) saw no issue in selling a silver-plated sword for dirhams exceeding the value of its silver content, considering the silver as silver and the sword as the excess. [Narrated by At-Tahawi]

(1) The statement "He saw no issue in selling a silver-plated sword...": Muslim narrated in his Sahih from Fadalah who said: "I bought a necklace containing gold and beads for twelve dinars at Khaybar. When I separated them, I found they contained more than twelve dinars. I mentioned this to the Prophet (ﷺ), who said: 'Do not sell it until it is separated.'" Abu Dawud also narrated it, and At-Tabarani recorded it in his Mu'jam Al-Kabir through multiple chains.

Ash-Shafi'i, Ahmad, Ishaq and others acted upon the apparent meaning that the sale is not valid until separation. Abu Hanifah, Ath-Thawri and Al-Hasan permitted selling it for more than its gold content but not for equal or less. The Hanafis carefully analyzed the hadith, understanding that the prohibition was due to the potential for riba and uncertainty, as estimating without proper knowledge is invalid, similar to the prohibition of riba due to ambiguity. This is the correct understanding, as indicated by the context of the hadith.

In Al-Kawkab Ad-Durri it is said: "Do not sell" refers to items with potential riba like this until they are properly distinguished, meaning complete differentiation to eliminate any possibility of riba. Those who permitted it were the Hanafis.

At-Tahawi said: "This hadith has been narrated with variations, so no one can argue based on one interpretation without others countering with alternative interpretations. We have previously explained in this chapter how to approach this issue according to the view that gold sold with other items is considered as gold sold for its weight in gold, with the remainder sold for the remaining price. This is the view of Abu Hanifah, Abu Yusuf and Muhammad."

Al-Hasan (may Allah have mercy on him) saw no issue in selling a silver-plated sword for dirhams exceeding the value of its silver content, considering the silver as silver and the sword as the excess. [Narrated by At-Tahawi]

(1) The statement "He saw no issue in selling a silver-plated sword...": Muslim narrated in his Sahih from Fadalah who said: "I bought a necklace containing gold and beads for twelve dinars at Khaybar. When I separated them, I found they contained more than twelve dinars. I mentioned this to the Prophet (ﷺ), who said: 'Do not sell it until it is separated.'" Abu Dawud also narrated it, and At-Tabarani recorded it in his Mu'jam Al-Kabir through multiple chains.

Ash-Shafi'i, Ahmad, Ishaq and others acted upon the apparent meaning that the sale is not valid until separation. Abu Hanifah, Ath-Thawri and Al-Hasan permitted selling it for more than its gold content but not for equal or less. The Hanafis carefully analyzed the hadith, understanding that the prohibition was due to the potential for riba and uncertainty, as estimating without proper knowledge is invalid, similar to the prohibition of riba due to ambiguity. This is the correct understanding, as indicated by the context of the hadith.

In Al-Kawkab Ad-Durri it is said: "Do not sell" refers to items with potential riba like this until they are properly distinguished, meaning complete differentiation to eliminate any possibility of riba. Those who permitted it were the Hanafis.

At-Tahawi said: "This hadith has been narrated with variations, so no one can argue based on one interpretation without others countering with alternative interpretations. We have previously explained in this chapter how to approach this issue according to the view that gold sold with other items is considered as gold sold for its weight in gold, with the remainder sold for the remaining price. This is the view of Abu Hanifah, Abu Yusuf and Muhammad."

Sa'd ibn Abi Waqqas (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) prohibited selling fresh dates for dried dates on credit. [Narrated by Abu Dawud, Ad-Daraqutni, Al-Hakim and As-Sahawi in Sharh Ma'ani Al-Athar]

(1) The statement "on credit": Ash-Shafi'i said: "It is not permissible to sell dried dates for fresh dates, whether with excess or equally, whether hand-to-hand or on credit. As for dried dates for dried dates or fresh dates for fresh dates, it is permissible if equal and hand-to-hand, not on credit." Abu Yusuf and Muhammad ibn Al-Hasan held this view. There is a difference with Abu Hanifah who permitted selling dried dates for fresh dates equally if hand-to-hand, interpreting the hadith in At-Tirmidhi and others as referring to credit sales only.

Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: "When one of you gives a loan and is offered a gift or is given a ride, he should not accept it unless such was customary between them before." [Narrated by Ibn Majah and Al-Bayhaqi in Shu'ab Al-Iman]

(1) The statement "is offered a gift...": Muhammad (may Allah have mercy on him) said: "There is no harm in accepting an invitation from someone who owes him debt." Shaykh Al-Islam said: "This is the legal ruling, but the preferable course is to abstain if he knows it is because of the debt or if he is uncertain about its permissibility."

Shams Al-A'imma Al-Hulwani said regarding doubtful situations: "One should abstain if the person used to invite him every twenty days before the loan, then after the loan starts inviting every ten days or increases the quality of food. But if he continues inviting every twenty days without increasing the quality, then he need not abstain unless it is explicitly stated that the invitation is due to the debt."

In Al-Mirqat it is mentioned: "Abu Hanifah (may Allah have mercy on him) demonstrated extreme caution in this matter. Once he went to his debtor's house to collect his debt during intense heat. There was shade by the wall of the house, but he stood in the sun until the debtor came out after a long delay, enduring the heat and not availing of the shade so as not to receive any comfort from his debtor."

Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (ﷺ) said: "When a man gives another a loan, he should not accept his gift." [Narrated by Al-Bukhari in his Tarikh, as mentioned in Al-Muntaqa]

Abu Burdah ibn Abi Musa said: "I came to Medina and met Abdullah ibn Salam who told me: 'You are in a land where riba is widespread. If someone owes you a debt and offers you a load of hay, barley or qat, do not accept it, for it is riba.'" [Narrated by Al-Bukhari]