Selling gold for gold, silver for silver, wheat for wheat, barley for barley, dates for dates, and salt for salt is forbidden unless all are equal and paid in cash.
Linguistic Explanation: The word رِبَا is derived from the root رَبٰى يَرْبُو (Nasr). Its meaning is commonly used as “excess and usury.”
[Al-Qamus Al-Muheet: p. 1158, Al-Munjid: p. 276]
Allah Almighty says:
أَن تَكُونَ أُمَّةٌ هِيَ أَرْبَىٰ مِنْ أُمَّةٍ [An-Nahl: 92]
“Because one group may increase over another.”
And in another verse:
فَإِذَا أَنزَلْنَا عَلَيْهَا الْمَاءَ اهْتَزَّتْ وَرَبَتْ [Al-Hajj: 5]
“When We send down water upon it, it grows and swells.”
Shariah Definition:
1. To obtain a greater quantity at the time of exchanging one type of commodity for another in buying and selling, and this applies to all kinds of forbidden sales.
[Fath al-Bari: 36/5, Sabil as-Salam: 1112/3]
2. Usury is an excess wealth that is devoid of any legitimate consideration according to Shariah standards and is conditional as compensation for one of the two parties involved in the sale.
[Al-Qamus Al-Fiqhi: p. 143]
3. According to Maliki and Hanafi schools, every corrupt sale is also considered usury.
[Also]
Proofs of the Prohibition of Usury:
1. وَأَحَلَّ اللَّهُ الْبَيْعَ وَحَرَّمَ الرِّبَا [Al-Baqarah: 275]
“And Allah has permitted trade and forbidden usury.”
2. لَّذِينَ يَأْكُلُونَ الرِّبَا لَا يَقُومُونَ إِلَّا كَمَا يَقُومُ الَّذِي يَتَخَبَّطُهُ الشَّيْطَانُ مِنَ الْمَسِّ [Al-Baqarah: 275]
“Those who consume usury will not stand except as one stands who is being beaten by Satan into insanity.”
3. وَذَرُوا مَا بَقِيَ مِنَ الرِّبَا إِن كُنتُم مُّؤْمِنِينَ فَإِن لَّمْ تَفْعَلُوا فَأْذَنُوا بِحَرْبٍ مِّنَ اللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِ [Al-Baqarah: 278-279]
“And give up what remains [due to usury], if you are indeed believers. And if you do not, then be prepared for war from Allah and His Messenger.”
4. Hazrat Jabir (RA) said that the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) cursed the one who takes usury, the one who gives it, the one who writes it down, and the witnesses to it, and said: (In committing the sin) all are equal.
[Muslim: 1598, Bukhari: 2086, Ahmad: 304/3, Abu Dawood: 333, Tirmidhi: 1206, Ibn Majah: 2277, Sharh as-Sunnah: 54/8, Bayhaqi: 275/5]
5. Hazrat Ibn Mas’ud (RA) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said:
الربا ثلاثة وسبعون بابا أيسرها مثل أن ينكح الرجل أمه
“There are seventy-three types of usury; the least severe is like marrying one’s own mother.”
[Sahih: Sahih Ibn Majah: 1845, Ibn Majah: 2275, Hakim: 37/2]
6. In one narration, it is said:
درهم ربا ياكله الرجل وهو يعلم أشد من ست وثلاثين زنية
“One dirham of usury knowingly consumed is worse than committing adultery thirty-six times.”
[Ahmad: 225/5]
7. The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said: “Avoid seven destructive things: (one of them is) eating usury.”
[Bukhari: 6857, Kitab al-Hudud: Bab Rami al-Muhsanat]
8. Hazrat Ibn Mas’ud (RA) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said:
ماظهر فى قوم الزنا والربا إلا أحلوا بأنفسهم عقاب الله
“When adultery and usury spread in a nation, they make Allah’s punishment lawful upon themselves.”
[Hasan Lighayrih: Sahih at-Targhib: 1860, Kitab al-Buyu’: Bab at-Tarhib min ar-Riba, Musnad Abi Ya’la: 4981]
9. There is consensus of the Ummah on the prohibition of usury.
[Mawsu’at al-Ijma’: 429/1]
1. Hazrat Abu Sa’id Khudri (RA) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said: “Gold for gold, silver for silver, wheat for wheat, barley for barley, dates for dates, and salt for salt (all these items) must be equal and exchanged hand to hand (cash for cash):
فمن زاد أو ازداد فـقـد أربي ، الآخذ والمعطى فيه سواء
Whoever takes more or gives more has engaged in usurious trade. The one who takes usury and the one who gives it are equal in sin.”
[Muslim: 1584, Kitab al-Musaqah: Bab ar-Riba, Ahmad: 49/3]
2. A similar meaning is narrated from Hazrat Ubada bin Samit (RA).
[Muslim: 1587, Kitab al-Musaqah: Bab as-Sarf wa Bay’ al-Dhahab bil-Waraq Naqdan, Tirmidhi: 1240, Abu Dawood: 3349, Nasa’i: 4560, Ibn Majah: 2254, Ahmad: 314/5]
3. Hazrat Fudala bin Ubaid (RA) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said:
لا تبيعوا الذهب بالذهب إلا وزنا بوزن
“Sell gold for gold only equal in weight.”
[Muslim: 1591, Abu Dawood: 3351, Tirmidhi: 1255, Nasa’i: 279/7, Sharh Ma’ani al-Athar: 73/4, Bayhaqi: 292/5]
According to the majority of jurists, there are two types of usury in trade:
1. Riba al-Fadl: Selling two items of the same kind with disparity in quantity.
2. Riba an-Nasi’ah: Where there is no disparity in quantity but one side is cash and the other is credit.
[Al-Mughni: 1/4, A’lam al-Muwaqqi’in: 135/2, Bidayat al-Mujtahid: 129/2, Bada’i’ as-Sana’i’: 83/5]
The previous hadiths clearly prohibit Riba al-Fadl, but the following hadiths apparently seem to contradict this:
Hazrat Usama (RA) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said:
إنما الربا فى النسيئة
“Usury is only in credit.”
And in a narration from Hazrat Ibn Abbas (RA):
لا ربا فى ما كان يدا بيد
“There is no usury in hand-to-hand sale.”
[Bukhari: 2178, 2179, Muslim: 1569, Nasa’i: 281/7, Ibn Majah: 2257]
The response to this is:
1. It means that there is no usury harsher than that which is in credit:
لا ربا أشد إلا فى النسيئة
Meaning it negates perfection, not the origin.
2. The hadith of Usama is general because it includes the six mentioned commodities and all others. But the hadith of Abu Sa’id is specific because it includes only the six specified commodities.
[Fath al-Bari: 382/4]
3. Imam Hakim (RA) narrated that Hazrat Ibn Abbas (RA) retracted from his statement.
[Hakim: 42/2, Bayhaqi: 286/5, Al-Muhalli: 417/7]
Imam Hazmi (RA) also narrated the retraction of Hazrat Ibn Abbas (RA).
[Al-I’tibar: p. 406]
Hafiz Ibn Hajar (RA) said there is disagreement about his retraction. It is not proven from the previous hadith, but despite Ibn Abbas (RA) permitting it, its dislike is established.
[Fath al-Bari: 382/4]
◈ Imam Nawawi (RA) said that all types of gold and silver are included, whether fine or defective, sound or broken, jewelry or bullion, pure or mixed, and there is consensus on this.
[Sharh Muslim: 14/6]
There is disagreement about including other commodities with them.
Imam Ibn Hazm (RA) said there is consensus on the prohibition of disparity among the six commodities if they are of the same kind.
[Al-Muhalla: 468/8]
But there is disagreement whether other commodities besides these six, such as pulses and rice, must also be sold equal and cash for cash, and if disparity or credit is involved, whether usury applies to them.
(Zahiri, Ibn Hazm) Usury is only in the six commodities mentioned in the hadith.
(Jamhur, Abu Hanifa, Ahmad) Wherever the cause of usury is found beyond these six commodities, it is usury.
(Malik) They restricted the prohibition of usury only to food items.
(Ibn Qayyim) Supports Imam Malik.
[Rawdat at-Talibin: 40/3, Al-Fiqh al-Islami wa Adillatuh: 3706/5, Sabil as-Salam: 1119/3, Bidayat al-Mujtahid: 227/2, Al-Hawi: 82/5, A’lam al-Muwaqqi’in: 136/2]
(Shah Waliullah) According to jurists, usury is established beyond these six commodities.
[Hujjatullah al-Baligha: 107/2]
(Baghawi) Scholars agree that usury is only in the six commodities mentioned in the hadith.
[Sharh as-Sunnah: 57/8]
(Nawab Siddiq Hasan Khan) There is no evidence to include other commodities with these six.
[Al-Rawdah al-Nadiyyah: 235/2]
(Shawkani) Other commodities cannot be included with these six.
[Al-Sail al-Jarrar: 64/3 – 65]
Those who include other commodities with these six have no clear proof to establish their position, for example:
1. Hazrat Ibn Umar (RA) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) forbade Bay’ al-Muzabana, which is selling fruits of one’s garden in such a way that if there are date palms, they are sold by measure for dry dates, and fresh grapes are sold by measure for raisins, and fields are sold by measure for grains. The Prophet (PBUH) forbade these sales.
[Bukhari: 2185, Kitab al-Buyu’: Bab Bay’ al-Muzabana, Muslim: 1542, Ahmad: 5/2, Abu Dawood: 3361, Nasa’i: 4534, Ibn Majah: 2265]
2. In one narration it is said:
نهي عن بيع اللحم بالحيوان
“The Prophet (PBUH) forbade selling meat in exchange for animals.”
[Hasan: Irwa’ al-Ghalil: 1351, Al-Mishkat: 2821, Dar Qutni: 266, Hakim: 35/2, Bayhaqi: 296/5]
Although these types of trade are prohibited, they do not establish the ruling of the six commodities for other commodities.
(Preferred) The Zahiri position is preferred because if other commodities were included, the hadith wording would be general or the Prophet (PBUH) would have informed about it. Also, those who extracted the cause differed in the cause itself.
والله اعلم
[For more details see: Al-Muhalli: 467/8, Al-Sail al-Jarrar: 64/3, Sabil as-Salam: 1119/3, Bidayat al-Mujtahid: 228/2]
If the commodities are different, disparity is permissible provided the sale is cash for cash.
1. Hazrat Ubada bin Samit (RA) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said: “Gold for gold, wheat for wheat, barley for barley, dates for dates, and salt for salt must be equal and exchanged hand to hand (cash for cash):
فإذا اختلف هذه الأصناف فبيعوا كيف شئتم إذا كان يدا بيد
If these commodities are different, then sell as you wish, but payment must be cash.”
[Muslim: 1587, Kitab al-Musaqah: Bab as-Sarf wa Bay’ al-Dhahab bil-Waraq Naqdan, Tirmidhi: 1240, Abu Dawood: 3349, Ibn Majah: 2254, Darmi: 258/2, Ahmad: 314/5]
2. In one narration it is said:
أمرنا أن نبيع البر بالشعير والشعير بالبر يدا بيدا كيف شئنا
“And the Prophet (PBUH) commanded us to sell wheat for barley and barley for wheat as we wish, provided it is cash for cash.”
[Also]
3. In a narration in Sahih Bukhari it is said:
وأمرنا أن نشترى الفضة بالذهب كيف شئنا
“And the Prophet (PBUH) commanded us to buy silver for gold as we wish.”
[Bukhari: 2175, 2182, Muslim: 1590, Nasa’i: 280/7, Ahmad: 38/5, Ibn Hibban: 5014, Bayhaqi: 282/5]
If the quantity to be exchanged is unknown, even sale of one commodity is invalid even if combined with another commodity.
1. Hazrat Jabir (RA) narrated:
نهي رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم عن بيع الـصبـرة مـن التـمـر لا يعلم كيلها بالكيل المسمى من التمر
“The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) forbade selling a heap of dates whose measure is unknown in exchange for dates of known measure.”
[Muslim: 1530, Kitab al-Buyu’: Bab Tahrim Bay’ Subrat at-Tamr, Nasa’i: 4547]
This hadith proves that sale of one commodity is not permissible until equality is known.
2. Hazrat Mu’ammar bin Abdullah (RA) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said:
الطعام بالطعام مثلا بمثل
“Grain must be exchanged for grain equally.”
[Muslim: 1592, Ahmad: 400/6, Dar Qutni: 24/3, Bayhaqi: 283/5]
3. There are many hadiths in Sahihayn with this meaning:
مثلا بمثل سواء بسواء وزنا بوزن
“All these can be applied to this issue.”
Hazrat Fudala bin Ubaid (RA) narrated that he bought a necklace for twelve dinars in Khyber which contained gold and stone beads. When he separated them, he found more than twelve dinars worth of gold. He mentioned this to the Prophet (PBUH), who said:
لا تبائع حتى تفصل
“Do not sell until they are separated.”
[Muslim: 1591, Kitab al-Musaqah: Bab Bay’ al-Qiladah Fiha Khurz wa Dhahab, Abu Dawood: 3352, Tirmidhi: 1255, Nasa’i: 279/7, Ahmad: 21/6, Sharh Ma’ani al-Athar: 73/4, Mushkil al-Athar: 243/4, Dar Qutni: 3/3]
Hazrat Umar ibn Khattab (RA), Imam Shafi’i (RA), Imam Ahmad (RA), Imam Ishaq (RA), and Imam Muhammad bin Hukm al-Maliki (RA) adhere to the apparent meaning of the hadith.
(Hanafis, Thawri) Accept disparity if another commodity is mixed, even if the separate gold or necklace is more in quantity.
[Hilyat al-Ulama’: 170/4, Al-Hawi: 113/5, Al-Mabsut: 118/12, Hashiyat ad-Dusuqi: 29/3, Al-Mughni: 92/6, Bidayat al-Mujtahid: 115/2]
(Preferred) Without doubt, the first position is preferred.
[Talkhis al-Habir: 20/3]
