Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah

The Noble Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said: If gold is exchanged for gold and it is not equal, then it is usury; and if silver is exchanged for silver and it is not equal, then it is usury; and if barley is exchanged for barley and it is not equal, then it is usury; and if dates are exchanged for dates and it is not equal, then it is usury.

Hazrat Abu Al-Ash'ath narrates that we were in a jihad in which Hazrat Muawiyah was also with us. We received gold and silver as spoils of war. Hazrat Muawiyah ordered a man to trade with the people in the gold and silver that they had received. The people rushed into it. Hazrat Ubadah (may Allah be pleased with him) stood up and forbade the people from this, and he returned it. That man went to Hazrat Muawiyah with a complaint. Hazrat Muawiyah (may Allah be pleased with him) stood up to deliver a sermon and said: "What is wrong with the people that they narrate such ahadith from the Prophet (peace be upon him) which are false and which we have not heard?" Hazrat Ubadah (may Allah be pleased with him) stood up and said: "By Allah, we will certainly narrate ahadith from the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) even if Muawiyah dislikes them." The Noble Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "Do not sell gold for gold, silver for silver, barley for barley, dates for dates, or salt for salt except equal for equal, hand to hand, and in cash."

Hazrat Abu Saeed narrates that the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) distributed different types of dates among us, some of which were superior to others. We began to give each other more or less, so the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) forbade us from this and instructed us to sell in equal measure.

Hazrat Abu Saeed narrates that I heard the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) say: When exchanging dinar for dinar and dirham for dirham, there should be no increase or decrease, and do not sell cash for credit among them.

It is narrated in the same manner from Hazrat Abu Saeed.

It is narrated from Hazrat Abu Saeed that the Noble Prophet (peace be upon him) said: The sale of one dirham for two and the sale of one sa’ for two sa’ is not permissible; sell dinar for dinar and dirham for dirham (in equal amounts).

It is narrated from Hazrat Abu Huraira (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Sell silver for silver, equal for equal, and gold for gold, equal for equal, and any excess is usury; and do not sell fruits before their ripeness.

Hazrat Abu Dhiqanah narrates that I was sitting with Hazrat Abdullah bin Umar (may Allah be pleased with them). He (may Allah be pleased with him) said that a guest came to the service of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). The Prophet (peace be upon him) said to Hazrat Bilal (may Allah be pleased with him): Bring food for us. Hazrat Bilal (may Allah be pleased with him) took two sa’ of dates and, in exchange, brought one sa’ of superior dates, while his dates were of lesser quality. The Prophet (peace be upon him) liked the dates and asked: Where did these dates come from? He replied: I gave two sa’ and brought one sa’. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: Return our dates to us.

It is similarly narrated from Hazrat Ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both).

It is narrated from Hazrat Ubadah bin Samit (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Sell gold for gold, silver for silver, barley for barley, and salt for salt, equal for equal and hand to hand. And if these things (types) are different, then sell as you wish, provided it is hand to hand.

Hazrat Ubadah bin Samit (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that I heard the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) say: When exchanging gold for gold and silver for silver, give equal weight for equal weight (i.e., they should be of equal weight). Hazrat Ubadah says: I do not care whether I am in the land where Muawiyah is or not.

It is narrated from Hazrat Abu Saeed Khudri (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Sell gold for gold, silver for silver, wheat for wheat, barley for barley, dates for dates, and salt for salt in cash and equal for equal. So whoever gives more or demands more has engaged in usury, and in this both the giver and the taker are equal.

Hazrat Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) said: O people! Do not sell one dinar for two, and do not sell one dirham for two. Indeed, I fear ar-rimaa’ for you. It was asked: What is ar-rimaa’? Ar-rimaa’ is that which you people call usury.

Hazrat Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) was asked about selling one dirham for two dirhams. He said: This is riba al-‘ajlan. (Riba of loan)

A person asked Hazrat Ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both) about selling gold in exchange for silver. Hazrat Ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both) said: Sell gold for gold and silver for silver, in equal amounts.

Hazrat Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) said: Do not sell one dirham for two; this is riba al-‘ajlaan. (This is riba of a loan.)

Hazrat Abu Bakrah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) forbade us from selling gold for gold and silver for silver except in equal amounts, and he commanded us that gold may be sold for silver and silver for gold in whatever manner you wish.

Hazrat Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) said: Sell gold for gold, equal for equal, and silver for silver, equal for equal. Both the one who gives more and the one who asks for more are destined for Hell.

Hazrat Bara bin Azib and Hazrat Zaid bin Arqam (may Allah be pleased with them) were asked about exchange. Both said that the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) forbade selling gold for gold on credit.

Hazrat Malika says that I came to Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) and I was wearing two silver bangles. I asked, O Mother of the Believers! Can I sell them in exchange for dirhams? She replied: No, sell silver for silver in equal amounts.

Hazrat Abdul Aziz bin Hakeem says that I was present in the company of Hazrat Ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with them) when a man from Basra came to him. He said, "I have come from people who give small dirhams and take large dirhams in exchange!" He (may Allah be pleased with him) asked, "Do they take more?" The man replied, "Yes!" He said, "They cannot do so except equally."