Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah

Hazrat Hakim bin Hizam narrates that I asked, "O Messenger of Allah ﷺ! A man comes to me and asks me to sell him something which I do not possess. Can I make a deal with him and then buy that item from the market to sell it to him?" The Prophet ﷺ replied, "No, do not sell that which you do not possess."

Hazrat Abu Razin says that a man comes to me and says that he needs ghee and oil. I do not have these things. Can I make a deal with him and then have them brought? He replied: No, buy these things and keep them with you, then when he comes, sell them to him.

Hazrat Abdul Malik bin Iyas narrates that Hazrat Amir and Ibrahim were gathered at one place. They were asked: If a person demands goods from another, and the goods are not with him, can he make a deal with him and then procure those goods? Ibrahim considered this matter to be disliked, while Hazrat Amir said that there is no harm in it; if he wishes to abandon the deal later, he may do so.

Hazrat Ata says that if a person wants to buy something from someone which is not known to be in his possession, and both agree upon the price, can he sell it to him? He said: He should buy it before completing the agreement with the other.

Hazrat Saeed bin Musayyib considered the sale of "Muraawadah" as disliked, which is when a person deals in something that he does not possess. He also considered it disliked that a person sees cloth with someone else and asks him if he needs it, then buys it from him only to sell it.

Hazrat Hakam bin Abi Fazl says that I asked Hasan, "A man comes to me and makes a deal with me for such silk which I do not possess, then I buy it from the market and sell it to him. Is this correct?" He replied, "This is 'Muwasafah' and he considered it disliked."

Hazrat Ibn Abi Mulaika narrates that a man bought grain from another man; some of it was in the seller’s possession and some was not. He asked Hazrat Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) and Hazrat Ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both) about this matter. They replied that the sale is permissible for what is in his possession, and the sale is not permissible for what is not in his possession.