Source: Urdu Commentary on ‘Umdat al-Aḥkām min Kalām Khayr al-Anām
Translation: Ḥāfiẓ Faizullah Nāṣir
Book of Transactions (Kitāb al-Buyūʿ)
Bayʿ refers to the mutual agreement between two parties to exchange one item for another. Trade has been legislated and permitted in Islam.
Qur'anic Command:
﴿أَحَلَّ اللهُ الْبَيْعَ وَحَرَّمَ الرِّبَا﴾ [البقرة: 275]
“Allah has permitted trade and forbidden interest.”
However, Islam prohibits those forms of trade that result in harm to either party or involve earning wealth through unlawful or prohibited means. The Noble Messenger ﷺ, just as he guided in all areas of life, also provided golden principles for trade. Violating these principles not only leads to loss in business and lack of blessings in wealth, but also invites the wrath of Allah. Hence, one must avoid such practices and adopt the legitimate and legislated methods of trade.
عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عُمَرَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُمَا عَنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ أَنَّهُ قَالَ:
{ إِذَا تَبَايَعَ الرَّجُلَانِ ، فَكُلُّ وَاحِدٍ مِنْهُمَا بِالْخِيَارِ مَا لَمْ يَتَفَرَّقَا وَكَانَا جَمِيعًا ، أَوْ يُخَيِّرُ أَحَدُهُمَا الْآخَرَ . فَتَبَايَعَا عَلَى ذَلِكَ . فَقَدْ وَجَبَ الْبَيْعُ }
Translation:
Sayyidunā ʿAbdullāh ibn ʿUmar رضي الله عنهما narrates from the Messenger of Allah ﷺ who said:
“When two men enter into a transaction, each of them has the right (to revoke the deal) until they separate and remain together, or one grants the other the right (of final decision), and they conduct the sale on this basis. Then the sale becomes binding.”
① As long as the seller and buyer do not separate, they retain the right to annul the transaction.
② Alternatively, they may agree at the time of the deal that a certain period will be granted for revocation. Once that period expires or they separate, the right of revocation lapses.
References:
Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Kitāb al-Buyūʿ, Bāb: 2112
Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, Kitāb al-Buyūʿ, Bāb: 1531
قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ:
{ الْبَيِّعَانِ بِالْخِيَارِ مَا لَمْ يَتَفَرَّقَا – أَوْ قَالَ: حَتَّى يَتَفَرَّقَا – فَإِنْ صَدَقَا وَبَيَّنَا بُورِكَ لَهُمَا فِي بَيْعِهِمَا . وَإِنْ كَتَمَا وَكَذَبَا مُحِقَتْ بَرَكَةُ بَيْعِهِمَا }
Translation:
In this narration, Sayyidunā Ḥakīm ibn Ḥizām رضي الله عنه reports that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
“The two parties in a sale have the right (to revoke) until they separate – or he said: until they part ways. If they speak the truth and clarify (the features and faults of the item), then their sale will be blessed. But if they conceal (defects) and lie, the blessing in their sale will be obliterated.”
However, if they resort to lying and concealment, blessings will be stripped away from their dealings, and despite material possession, they will face financial hardships.
His kunya was Abū Khālid. He was the nephew of Umm al-Mu’minīn Sayyidah Khadījah رضي الله عنها. He accepted Islam at the time of the Conquest of Makkah along with his four sons. He had earlier participated in the Battle of Badr on the side of the polytheists. After accepting Islam, he would thank Allah for not having been killed in Badr. He was born thirteen years before the Year of the Elephant and lived 120 years—sixty in disbelief and sixty in Islam.
References:
Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Kitāb al-Buyūʿ, Ḥadīth: 2110
Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, Kitāb al-Buyūʿ, Ḥadīth: 1532
Translation: Ḥāfiẓ Faizullah Nāṣir
Book of Transactions (Kitāb al-Buyūʿ)
❖ The Concept of Trade in Islam
Definition of Sale (Bayʿ):Bayʿ refers to the mutual agreement between two parties to exchange one item for another. Trade has been legislated and permitted in Islam.
Qur'anic Command:
﴿أَحَلَّ اللهُ الْبَيْعَ وَحَرَّمَ الرِّبَا﴾ [البقرة: 275]
“Allah has permitted trade and forbidden interest.”
However, Islam prohibits those forms of trade that result in harm to either party or involve earning wealth through unlawful or prohibited means. The Noble Messenger ﷺ, just as he guided in all areas of life, also provided golden principles for trade. Violating these principles not only leads to loss in business and lack of blessings in wealth, but also invites the wrath of Allah. Hence, one must avoid such practices and adopt the legitimate and legislated methods of trade.
✿ Ḥadīth 253: Right of Revocation in Trade
Arabic Text:عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عُمَرَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُمَا عَنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ أَنَّهُ قَالَ:
{ إِذَا تَبَايَعَ الرَّجُلَانِ ، فَكُلُّ وَاحِدٍ مِنْهُمَا بِالْخِيَارِ مَا لَمْ يَتَفَرَّقَا وَكَانَا جَمِيعًا ، أَوْ يُخَيِّرُ أَحَدُهُمَا الْآخَرَ . فَتَبَايَعَا عَلَى ذَلِكَ . فَقَدْ وَجَبَ الْبَيْعُ }
Translation:
Sayyidunā ʿAbdullāh ibn ʿUmar رضي الله عنهما narrates from the Messenger of Allah ﷺ who said:
“When two men enter into a transaction, each of them has the right (to revoke the deal) until they separate and remain together, or one grants the other the right (of final decision), and they conduct the sale on this basis. Then the sale becomes binding.”
✦ Explanation of Key Terms:
- Al-Khiyār: The option to either retain or return the item during the course of the transaction.
- Al-Bayʿ: Trade, sale, buying and selling.
✦ Commentary:
This ḥadīth outlines two scenarios of the right of revocation:① As long as the seller and buyer do not separate, they retain the right to annul the transaction.
② Alternatively, they may agree at the time of the deal that a certain period will be granted for revocation. Once that period expires or they separate, the right of revocation lapses.
References:
Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Kitāb al-Buyūʿ, Bāb: 2112
Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, Kitāb al-Buyūʿ, Bāb: 1531
✿ Ḥadīth 254: Truthfulness in Trade Brings Blessing
Arabic Text:قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ:
{ الْبَيِّعَانِ بِالْخِيَارِ مَا لَمْ يَتَفَرَّقَا – أَوْ قَالَ: حَتَّى يَتَفَرَّقَا – فَإِنْ صَدَقَا وَبَيَّنَا بُورِكَ لَهُمَا فِي بَيْعِهِمَا . وَإِنْ كَتَمَا وَكَذَبَا مُحِقَتْ بَرَكَةُ بَيْعِهِمَا }
Translation:
In this narration, Sayyidunā Ḥakīm ibn Ḥizām رضي الله عنه reports that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
“The two parties in a sale have the right (to revoke) until they separate – or he said: until they part ways. If they speak the truth and clarify (the features and faults of the item), then their sale will be blessed. But if they conceal (defects) and lie, the blessing in their sale will be obliterated.”
✦ Explanation of Key Terms:
- Al-Bayʿān: The seller and the buyer.
- Muḥiqat: Will be eradicated, erased, or destroyed.
✦ Commentary:
In the second part of this ḥadīth, the Prophet ﷺ presents a golden principle for economic prosperity. He clarifies that the responsibility of profit and loss lies with the buyer and seller. If they are truthful and disclose all features and flaws of the traded item without concealing anything, they will not only avoid the sin of lying and dishonesty but also gain blessings in their wealth—both worldly and in the Hereafter.However, if they resort to lying and concealment, blessings will be stripped away from their dealings, and despite material possession, they will face financial hardships.
❖ Biography of the Narrator:
Ḥakīm ibn Ḥizām ibn Khuwaylid ibn Asad ibn ʿAbd al-ʿUzzā ibn Quṣayy ibn KilābHis kunya was Abū Khālid. He was the nephew of Umm al-Mu’minīn Sayyidah Khadījah رضي الله عنها. He accepted Islam at the time of the Conquest of Makkah along with his four sons. He had earlier participated in the Battle of Badr on the side of the polytheists. After accepting Islam, he would thank Allah for not having been killed in Badr. He was born thirteen years before the Year of the Elephant and lived 120 years—sixty in disbelief and sixty in Islam.
References:
Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Kitāb al-Buyūʿ, Ḥadīth: 2110
Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, Kitāb al-Buyūʿ, Ḥadīth: 1532
