Hadith record

1. Abu Ali al-Ash’ariy has narrated from Muhammad ibn ‘Abd al-Jabbar from Ahmad ibn abu Nadr from abu Ja’far al-Fazariy who has said the following: “Once abu Ja‘far (a.s.), called one of his servants named Musadif and gave him a thousand dinar. He (the Imam) told him to prepare for traveling to Egypt and added, ‘The number of my dependents has increased.’ He (the narrator) has said that the servant prepared certain items of merchandise along with the traders to go for trade to Egypt. When they arrived near Egypt they met a caravan coming out of Egypt. They asked the outgoing caravan with regards to the condition of their merchandise, which was of general nature, in the city. The outgoing people informed them that no such merchandise was available in the city. They (people of the incoming caravan) made an agreement among themselves on oath not to sell their merchandise for less than a profit of one dinar for each dinar worth of merchandise. After taking possession of their belongings, they returned to al-Madinah and Musadif came to abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), with two bagfuls of dinars, each of which had a thousand dinars. He said, ‘I pray to Allah to keep my soul in service for your cause, this is the capital and this is the profit.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘This is a great deal of profit. However, what did you do with the merchandise?’ He (Musadif) told the story of their agreement on oath. He (the Imam) said, ‘Allah is free of all defects. Why do you make an agreement on oath against a Muslim people not to sell for less than a profit of one dinar for each dinar worth of merchandise?’ He (the Imam) then took the two bags and said, ‘This is my capital and we do not need this profit.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘O Musadif, settling with sword is easier than earning by lawful ways.’”

Translation: Muhammad Sarwar — attributed by Thaqalayn·The Arabic above is the original.