Borrowing Dirhams (Coins) to Keep the Good ones Among them

1. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from Hammad from al-Halabiy who has said the following: “This is concerning my question before abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of a man who took a loan of white dirham by numbers, then gave black ones, knowing that they are heavier than what he had taken and he was pleased to make the extra for him. He (the Imam) said, it is not unlawful if there is no stipulation or if he gives it as a gift; all is valid.”’

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

2. A number of our people have narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Ahmad ibn Muhammad all from ibn Mahbub from Khalid ibn Jarir from abu al-Rabi‘ who has said the following: “Once abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), was asked about the case of a man who gave a loan to another man who paid it back with better dirhams without compulsion, and the creditor knew it as well as the debtor that the loan was given to receive payment with the better dirhams. He (the Imam) said, it is not unlawful.’”

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

3. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from Hammad from al-Halabiy who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘If you give dirhams as a loan, then the party pays you back with better ones, it is not unlawful, if there is no stipulation between you.’”

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

4. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Muhammad ibn al-Husayn from Safwan from Ya’qub ibn Shu’ayb who has said the following: “This is concerning my question before abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of a man who gave impure dirhams as a loan to another man, who then paid him back with better dirhams without compulsion. He (the Imam) said, it is not unlawful and it is from Ali (a.s.).’”

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

5. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from ibn Faddal from Yunus ibn Ya’qub from abu Maryam who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, whenever owing something to someone would pay back heavier.’”

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

6. Abu Ali al-Ash’ariy has narrated from Muhammad ibn ‘Abd al-Jabbar and Muhammad ibn ‘Isma’il has narrated from al-Fadl ibn Shadhan from Safwan from ‘Abd al-Rahman ibn al-Hajjaj who has said the following: “This is concerning my question before abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of a man who borrowed from another man dirham and returned with a Mithqal (a certain unit of weight) or borrowed a Mithqal and paid back with dirham. He (the Imam) said, ‘If there is no stipulation it is not unlawful, it is only extra. My father would borrow dirhams of low quality and pay back with dirhams of high quality and say to me, “My son, pay it back to the one from whom I have borrowed.” I would say, “Father, the dirhams you borrowed were of low quality and these are better.” He (the Imam) would say, ‘My son, it is an extra favor. Give it back to him.’”

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

7. Abu Ali al-Ash’ariy has narrated from Muhammad ibn ‘Abd al-Jabbar from Ali ibn al-Nu’man from Ya’qub ibn Shu’ayb who has said the following: “This is concerning my question before abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of a man who owed a basket of dry dates and got back a basket of fresh dates which was less. He (the Imam) said, ‘It is not unlawful.’ I then asked, ‘What will happen if he owes to me a basket of dry dates and I take from him a basket of fresh dates which is more?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘It is not unlawful if it is a known practice between the two of you.’”

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