Abu Dawud

Hadith Commentary: Benefits and Issues:
This hadith establishes that if something is mixed with gold and one wishes to sell it in exchange for gold, it is necessary to separate the gold. This is because the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) forbade selling it without separating the gold. In this way, the gold will be separated and an equal weight of gold will be taken in exchange, and the price of the remaining item will be determined separately. In this manner, there will be no risk of deficiency or excess. If it is not separated and only estimation and conjecture are relied upon, then the possibility of deficiency or excess remains.

Imam Shafi‘i, Imam Ahmad, Imam Ishaq, and other hadith scholars hold this view. However, according to Imam Abu Hanifah, if the separate gold is certainly more than the gold mixed with the item, then it is permissible, because the excess value will be considered the price of the other item. If the separate gold is equal to or less than the mixed gold, then it is not permissible. But the question arises: without separating, how will it be determined whether it is less, equal, or more?

According to Imam Malik, if the gold is present only incidentally and as a subsidiary, and the main thing is the other item, then it will be considered as merchandise, and it is permissible to sell it for an equal weight of gold. However, it is clear that in the presence of this hadith, there is no room for this position. Similarly, the position of Hammad ibn Abi Sulayman is entirely baseless, that it is permissible to sell it in every case, whether the amount of gold is less or more, because this view is completely contrary to the hadith.