Source: Urdu Commentary of ‘Umdat al-Ahkam from the Sayings of the Best of Mankind
Translator: Hafiz Faizullah Nasir
Book of Transactions (Kitab al-Buyu‘)
Bay‘ (Sale) means the mutual exchange of one item for another with the consent of both parties. Trade has been declared lawful in Islam.
Allah the Exalted says:
﴿أَحَلَّ اللهُ الْبَيْعَ وَحَرَّمَ الرَّبو﴾ [Al-Baqarah: 275]
"Allah has made trade lawful and forbidden interest."
However, Islam prohibits forms of trade that result in harm to either party or involve unlawful means of earning wealth. Just as the Noble Messenger ﷺ provided guidance in all aspects of life, he also laid down golden principles for trade. Violating these principles not only results in loss and lack of blessings in wealth but may also invoke divine wrath. Therefore, it is essential to avoid prohibited methods and adhere to legitimate and lawful ways of conducting trade.
Narrated by ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Umar (رضي الله عنهما):
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
"When two people engage in a transaction, each one of them has the option to cancel the deal as long as they do not part ways and remain together; or one of them may grant the other the option. If they conclude the deal on this basis, then the sale becomes binding."
Explanation of Terms:
Two scenarios for the option (khiyar) are described:
① As long as both the seller and buyer remain together and do not part ways, they retain the right to cancel the deal.
② If they agree during the transaction that one party will have the right to return the item within a certain time frame, then the option remains valid until they part ways or the agreed duration expires.
References:
Narrated by Hakim ibn Hizam (رضي الله عنه):
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
"The two parties involved in a sale retain the option to cancel until they part ways – or he said: until they separate. If they speak truthfully and clearly disclose (any defects), then blessings will be placed in their transaction. But if they conceal and lie, the blessings of their transaction will be obliterated."
Explanation of Terms:
The latter part of the Hadith highlights a golden principle of economic success. The profit or loss in trade rests upon the seller and buyer themselves.
If they:
✔ Speak truthfully,
✔ Clearly disclose all features and defects of the item,
✔ Avoid any concealment or deceit,
Then they not only avoid the sin of lying and concealing the truth but also attract blessings in their wealth – benefiting both worldly and spiritually.
However, if they resort to:
✘ Lies and deceit,
✘ Concealing flaws,
Then blessings will be entirely removed from their wealth. Despite outward appearances of success, they will remain entangled in financial hardships.
Narrator of the Hadith:
Hakim ibn Hizam ibn Khuwailid ibn Asad ibn ‘Abd al-‘Uzza ibn Qusayy ibn Kilab. His kunyah was Abu Khalid. He was the nephew of Umm al-Mu’minin Sayyidah Khadijah (رضي الله عنها). He accepted Islam in the year of the Conquest of Makkah along with his four sons. Previously, he had participated in the Battle of Badr on the side of the disbelievers. After embracing Islam, he would express his gratitude to Allah for saving him from being killed at Badr. He was born thirteen years before the Year of the Elephant and lived 120 years — sixty years in disbelief and sixty in Islam.
References:
Translator: Hafiz Faizullah Nasir
Book of Transactions (Kitab al-Buyu‘)
Bay‘ (Sale) means the mutual exchange of one item for another with the consent of both parties. Trade has been declared lawful in Islam.
Allah the Exalted says:
﴿أَحَلَّ اللهُ الْبَيْعَ وَحَرَّمَ الرَّبو﴾ [Al-Baqarah: 275]
"Allah has made trade lawful and forbidden interest."
However, Islam prohibits forms of trade that result in harm to either party or involve unlawful means of earning wealth. Just as the Noble Messenger ﷺ provided guidance in all aspects of life, he also laid down golden principles for trade. Violating these principles not only results in loss and lack of blessings in wealth but may also invoke divine wrath. Therefore, it is essential to avoid prohibited methods and adhere to legitimate and lawful ways of conducting trade.
Narrated by ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Umar (رضي الله عنهما):
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
"When two people engage in a transaction, each one of them has the option to cancel the deal as long as they do not part ways and remain together; or one of them may grant the other the option. If they conclude the deal on this basis, then the sale becomes binding."
Explanation of Terms:
- Al-Khiyar: The option granted or taken at the time of sale, allowing a party to either accept or cancel the transaction.
- Al-Bay‘: Transaction, trade, or sale.
Two scenarios for the option (khiyar) are described:
① As long as both the seller and buyer remain together and do not part ways, they retain the right to cancel the deal.
② If they agree during the transaction that one party will have the right to return the item within a certain time frame, then the option remains valid until they part ways or the agreed duration expires.
References:
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Kitāb al-Buyū‘, Hadith: 2112
- Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, Kitāb al-Buyū‘, Hadith: 1531
Narrated by Hakim ibn Hizam (رضي الله عنه):
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
"The two parties involved in a sale retain the option to cancel until they part ways – or he said: until they separate. If they speak truthfully and clearly disclose (any defects), then blessings will be placed in their transaction. But if they conceal and lie, the blessings of their transaction will be obliterated."
Explanation of Terms:
- Al-Bay‘ān: The seller and the buyer.
- Muḥiqat: Will be wiped out, nullified, or erased. (Feminine, passive verb in past tense from the form "fa‘ala yaf‘alu")
The latter part of the Hadith highlights a golden principle of economic success. The profit or loss in trade rests upon the seller and buyer themselves.
If they:
✔ Speak truthfully,
✔ Clearly disclose all features and defects of the item,
✔ Avoid any concealment or deceit,
Then they not only avoid the sin of lying and concealing the truth but also attract blessings in their wealth – benefiting both worldly and spiritually.
However, if they resort to:
✘ Lies and deceit,
✘ Concealing flaws,
Then blessings will be entirely removed from their wealth. Despite outward appearances of success, they will remain entangled in financial hardships.
Narrator of the Hadith:
Hakim ibn Hizam ibn Khuwailid ibn Asad ibn ‘Abd al-‘Uzza ibn Qusayy ibn Kilab. His kunyah was Abu Khalid. He was the nephew of Umm al-Mu’minin Sayyidah Khadijah (رضي الله عنها). He accepted Islam in the year of the Conquest of Makkah along with his four sons. Previously, he had participated in the Battle of Badr on the side of the disbelievers. After embracing Islam, he would express his gratitude to Allah for saving him from being killed at Badr. He was born thirteen years before the Year of the Elephant and lived 120 years — sixty years in disbelief and sixty in Islam.
References:
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Kitāb al-Buyū‘, Hadith: 2110
- Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, Kitāb al-Buyū‘, Hadith: 1532
