Currency Exchange

سَأَلْتُهُ عَنْ رَجُلٍ كَانَتْ لِي عَلَيْهِ مِائَةُ دِرْهَمٍ عَدَداً قَضَانِيهَا مِائَةَ دِرْهَمٍ وَزْناً قَالَ لَا بَأْسَ مَا لَمْ يَشْتَرِطْ قَالَ وَ قَالَ جَاءَ الرِّبَا مِنْ قِبَلِ الشُّرُوطِ إِنَّمَا تُفْسِدُهُ الشُّرُوطُ.

“I once asked him (the Imam) (a.s.), about the case of a man who owed me a hundred dirham in numbers and he paid me by weight. He (the Imam) said, ‘It is not unlawful if it is not stipulated . 5 He (the Imam) said, ‘Riba’ comes from stipulation; only stipulation destroys it.’”

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَكُونُ لِلرَّجُلِ عِنْدِيَ الدَّرَاهِمُ الْوَضَحُ‌[1] فَيَلْقَانِي فَيَقُولُ لِي كَيْفَ سِعْرُ الْوَضَحِ الْيَوْمَ فَأَقُولُ لَهُ كَذَا وَ كَذَا فَيَقُولُ أَ لَيْسَ لِي عِنْدَكَ كَذَا وَ كَذَا أَلْفَ دِرْهَمٍ وَضَحاً فَأَقُولُ بَلَى فَيَقُولُ لِي حَوِّلْهَا إِلَى دَنَانِيرَ بِهَذَا السِّعْرِ وَ أَثْبِتْهَا لِي عِنْدَكَ فَمَا تَرَى فِي هَذَا فَقَالَ لِي إِذَا كُنْتَ قَدِ اسْتَقْصَيْتَ

“I once said to abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), ‘A man had a certain amount of clear dirhams with me and in a meeting asked me about the rates of clear dirham on that day and I said, ‘It is so and so much today . 5 He asked if he had so and so much thousand clear dirhams with me and I said that he was right and he asked me to c

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا الْحَسَنِ مُوسَى ع- عَنْ رَجُلٍ يَكُونُ عِنْدَهُ دَنَانِيرُ لِبَعْضِ خُلَطَائِهِ فَيَأْخُذُ مَكَانَهَا وَرِقاً فِي حَوَائِجِهِ وَ هُوَ يَوْمَ قُبِضَتْ سَبْعَةٌ وَ سَبْعَةٌ وَ نِصْفٌ بِدِينَارٍ وَ قَدْ يَطْلُبُ صَاحِبُ الْمَالِ بَعْضَ الْوَرِقِ وَ لَيْسَتْ بِحَاضِرَةٍ فَيَبْتَاعَهَا لَهُ مِنَ الصَّيْرَفِيِّ بِهَذَا السِّعْرِ وَ نَحْوِهِ ثُمَّ يَتَغَيَّرُ السِّعْرُ قَبْلَ أَنْ يَحْتَسِبَا حَتَّى صَارَتِ

“I once asked abu al-Hassan, Musa (a.s.), about the case of a man who had with him a certain amount of dinars that belonged to a person of his associates for which he took wariq (dirham) from him for his needs; and the rate on that day was seven and seven and a half dirham for dinar. The owner of the asset asked for a

سَأَلْتُهُ عَنِ الرَّجُلِ تَكُونُ عَلَيْهِ دَنَانِيرُ قَالَ لَا بَأْسَ أَنْ يَأْخُذَ قِيمَتَهَا دَرَاهِمَ.

“This is concerning my question before abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of a man who owed dinars. He (the Imam) said, ‘It is not unlawful if he takes its price in the form of dirhams . 555

سَأَلْتُهُ عَنْ رَجُلٍ كَانَتْ لَهُ عَلَى رَجُلٍ دَنَانِيرُ فَأَحَالَ عَلَيْهِ رَجُلًا آخَرَ بِالدَّنَانِيرِ أَ يَأْخُذُهَا دَرَاهِمَ بِسِعْرِ الْيَوْمِ قَالَ نَعَمْ إِنْ شَاءَ.

“I once asked him (the Imam) (a.s.), about the case of a man to whom another man owed a certain amount of dinars and he assigned another man to collect it from him; if he could take it in the form of dirhams for the current rate. He (the Imam) said, ‘Yes, if he wanted . 555

سَأَلْتُهُ عَنِ الرَّجُلِ يَكُونُ لَهُ الدَّيْنُ دَرَاهِمُ مَعْلُومَةٌ إِلَى أَجَلٍ فَجَاءَ الْأَجَلُ وَ لَيْسَ عِنْدَ الرَّجُلِ الَّذِي عَلَيْهِ الدَّرَاهِمُ فَقَالَ خُذْ مِنِّي دَنَانِيرَ بِصَرْفِ الْيَوْمِ قَالَ لَا بَأْسَ بِهِ.

“This is concerning my question before abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of a man who owed a certain amount of dirham and the party asked him to accept from him in the form of dinar at the current rate. He (the Imam) said It is not unlawful.”

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا إِبْرَاهِيمَ ع عَنِ الرَّجُلِ يَبِيعُنِي الْوَرِقَ بِالدَّنَانِيرِ وَ أَتَّزِنُ مِنْهُ فَأَزِنُ لَهُ حَتَّى أَفْرُغَ فَلَا يَكُونُ بَيْنِي وَ بَيْنَهُ عَمَلٌ إِلَّا أَنَّ فِي وَرِقِهِ نُفَايَةً وَ زُيُوفاً وَ مَا لَا يَجُوزُ فَيَقُولُ انْتَقِدْهَا وَ رُدَّ نُفَايَتَهَا[1] فَقَالَ لَيْسَ بِهِ بَأْسٌ وَ لَكِنْ لَا تُؤَخِّرْ ذَلِكَ أَكْثَرَ مِنْ يَوْمٍ أَوْ يَوْمَيْنِ فَإِنَّمَا هُوَ الصَّرْفُ قُلْتُ فَإِ

“I once asked Abu Ibrahim (a.s.), about the case of a man who sold to me wariq (dirham) for dinar and I weighed it from him. I weighed it for him until it was complete and there was no other work between us, except that his wariq (dirham) had invalid and unreal pieces, and what was not permissible in them. He asked me

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع الدَّرَاهِمُ بِالدَّرَاهِمِ وَ الرَّصَاصِ فَقَالَ الرَّصَاصُ بَاطِلٌ‌[2].

“This is concerning my question before abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), if exchange of dirham for dirham and lead was permissible. He (the Imam) said, ‘Lead is not valid . 555

سَأَلْتُهُ عَنِ الصَّرْفِ فَقُلْتُ لَهُ الرِّفْقَةُ رُبَّمَا عَجِلَتْ فَخَرَجَتْ فَلَمْ نَقْدِرْ عَلَى الدِّمَشْقِيَّةِ وَ الْبَصْرِيَّةِ وَ إِنَّمَا تَجُوزُ بِسَابُورَ الدِّمَشْقِيَّةُ وَ الْبَصْرِيَّةُ فَقَالَ وَ مَا الرِّفْقَةُ فَقُلْتُ الْقَوْمُ يَتَرَافَقُونَ وَ يَجْتَمِعُونَ لِلْخُرُوجِ فَإِذَا عَجِلُوا فَرُبَّمَا لَمْ نَقْدِرْ عَلَى الدِّمَشْقِيَّةِ وَ الْبَصْرِيَّةِ فَبَعَثْنَا بِالْغِلَّةِ[3] فَصَرَفُوا أَلْ

“I once asked him (the Imam) (a.s.), about currency exchange, saying, ‘The comrades perhaps hurry and I go with them but cannot find al-Dimishqiyah (dirham) or al-Basriyah; they only allow only Sabur of al-Dimishqiyah and al-Basriyah. He (the Imam) asked, ‘What is a comrade? I replied, ‘A group of people get together t

كَانَ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْمُنْكَدِرِ يَقُولُ لِأَبِي يَا أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ رَحِمَكَ اللَّهُ وَ اللَّهِ إِنَّا لَنَعْلَمُ أَنَّكَ لَوْ أَخَذْتَ دِينَاراً وَ الصَّرْفُ بِثَمَانِيَةَ عَشَرَ فَدُرْتَ الْمَدِينَةَ عَلَى أَنْ تَجِدَ مَنْ يُعْطِيكَ عِشْرِينَ مَا وَجَدْتَهُ وَ مَا هَذَا إِلَّا فِرَاراً وَ كَانَ أَبِي يَقُولُ صَدَقْتَ وَ اللَّهِ وَ لَكِنَّهُ فِرَارٌ مِنْ بَاطِلٍ إِلَى حَقٍّ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that Muhammad ibn al-Munkadir would say to my father, ‘O abu Ja‘far, Allah has granted you kindness, by Allah, we know, if you take a dinar and the rate is eighteen and you go around the whole of al-Madinah to find one who would give you twenty, you will not find and this is no more tha

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع عَنِ الرَّجُلِ يَسْتَبْدِلُ الْكُوفِيَّةَ بِالشَّامِيَّةِ وَزْناً بِوَزْنٍ فَيَقُولُ الصَّيْرَفِيُّ لَا أُبَدِّلُ لَكَ حَتَّى تُبَدِّلَ لِي يُوسُفِيَّةً بِغِلَّةٍ وَزْناً بِوَزْنٍ فَقَالَ لَا بَأْسَ فَقُلْنَا إِنَّ الصَّيْرَفِيَّ إِنَّمَا طَلَبَ فَضْلَ الْيُوسُفِيَّةِ عَلَى الْغِلَّةِ فَقَالَ لَا بَأْسَ بِهِ‌[1].

“This is concerning my question before abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of a man who exchanged al-Kufiy (dirham) for al-Shamiy in equal weight, and the exchanger said, ‘I will not exchange it for you unless you exchange for me invalid Yusufiyah in equal weight . 5 He (the Imam) said, ‘It is not unlawful . 5 We the

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع عَنِ الرَّجُلِ يَكُونُ لِي عِنْدَهُ دَرَاهِمُ فَآتِيهِ فَأَقُولُ حَوِّلْهَا دَنَانِيرَ مِنْ غَيْرِ أَنْ أَقْبِضَ شَيْئاً قَالَ لَا بَأْسَ قُلْتُ يَكُونُ لِي عِنْدَهُ دَنَانِيرُ فَآتِيهِ فَأَقُولُ حَوِّلْهَا لِي دَرَاهِمَ وَ أَثْبِتْهَا عِنْدَكَ وَ لَمْ أَقْبِضْ مِنْهُ شَيْئاً قَالَ لَا بَأْسَ.

This is concerning my question before abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of a man with whom I had a certain amount of dinars; I asked him to change them to dirhams and keep them with himself. I did not take possession of any of them . 5 He (the Imam) said, ‘It is not unlawful . 555

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع عَنْ رَجُلٍ ابْتَاعَ مِنْ رَجُلٍ بِدِينَارٍ فَأَخَذَ بِنِصْفِهِ بَيْعاً وَ بِنِصْفِهِ وَرِقاً قَالَ لَا بَأْسَ بِهِ وَ سَأَلْتُهُ هَلْ يَصْلُحُ أَنْ يَأْخُذَ بِنِصْفِهِ وَرِقاً أَوْ بَيْعاً وَ يَتْرُكَ نِصْفَهُ حَتَّى يَأْتِيَ بَعْدُ فَيَأْخُذَ بِهِ وَرِقاً أَوْ بَيْعاً قَالَ مَا أُحِبُّ أَنْ أَتْرُكَ مِنْهُ شَيْئاً حَتَّى آخُذَهُ جَمِيعاً فَلَا يَفْعَلْهُ‌[1].

“This is concerning my question before abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of a man who bought from another man with a dinar; half in the form of certain goods, and with the half in the form of dirham. He (the Imam) said, ‘It is not unlawful . 5 I then asked, ‘Can he take half in the form of goods or dirham and leave

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا إِبْرَاهِيمَ ع- عَنِ الرَّجُلِ يَأْتِينِي بِالْوَرِقِ فَأَشْتَرِيهَا مِنْهُ بِالدَّنَانِيرِ فَأَشْتَغِلُ عَنْ تَعْيِيرِ وَزْنِهَا وَ انْتِقَادِهَا وَ فَضْلِ مَا بَيْنِي وَ بَيْنَهُ فِيهَا فَأُعْطِيهِ الدَّنَانِيرَ وَ أَقُولُ لَهُ إِنَّهُ لَيْسَ بَيْنِي وَ بَيْنَكَ بَيْعٌ فَإِنِّي قَدْ نَقَضْتُ الَّذِي بَيْنِي وَ بَيْنَكَ مِنَ الْبَيْعِ وَ وَرِقُكَ عِنْدِي قَرْضٌ وَ دَنَانِيرِي عِنْدَكَ قَرْضٌ حَتَّى تَ

14. Abu Ali al-Ash’ariy has narrated from Muhammad ibn ‘Abd al-Jabbar from Safwan from Ishaq ibn ‘Ammar who has said the following: “I once asked abu Ibrahim, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, about the case of a man who came to me with dirham and I bought them from him with dinars; then I because of manner of weighing, cashing and th

إِنْ كَانَ الْغَالِبُ عَلَيْهِ الْأُسْرُبَّ فَلَا بَأْسَ بِهِ‌[2].

“About the case of buying al-Asrub with silver, abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘If al- Asrub is more prevalent then it is not unlawful . 555

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا إِبْرَاهِيمَ ع- عَنِ الرَّجُلِ يَكُونُ لِي عَلَيْهِ الْمَالُ فَيَقْضِي بَعْضاً دَنَانِيرَ وَ بَعْضاً دَرَاهِمَ فَإِذَا جَاءَ يُحَاسِبُنِي لِيُوَفِّيَنِي كَمَا يَكُونُ قَدْ تَغَيَّرَ سِعْرُ الدَّنَانِيرِ أَيَّ السِّعْرَيْنِ أَحْسُبُ لَهُ الَّذِي كَانَ يَوْمَ أَعْطَانِي الدَّنَانِيرَ أَوْ سِعْرَ يَوْمِيَ الَّذِي أُحَاسِبُهُ قَالَ سِعْرَ يَوْمَ أَعْطَاكَ الدَّنَانِيرَ لِأَنَّكَ حَبَسْتَ مَنْفَعَتَهَا عَنْ

“I once asked abu Ibrahim (a.s.), about the case of a man who owed me a certain amount of assets and paid me back a certain amount in dinars and others in dirhams. He came to finalize the account to pay me the difference because of the exchange in rate of dinar. Was it necessary to pay according to the rate in the day

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع الرَّجُلُ يَجِيئُنِي بِالْوَرِقِ يَبِيعُنِيهَا يُرِيدُ بِهَا وَرِقاً عِنْدِي فَهُوَ الْيَقِينُ أَنَّهُ لَيْسَ يُرِيدُ الدَّنَانِيرَ لَيْسَ يُرِيدُ إِلَّا الْوَرِقَ وَ لَا يَقُومُ حَتَّى يَأْخُذَ وَرِقِي فَأَشْتَرِي مِنْهُ الدَّرَاهِمَ بِالدَّنَانِيرِ فَلَا يَكُونُ دَنَانِيرُهُ عِنْدِي كَامِلَةً فَأَسْتَقْرِضُ لَهُ مِنْ جَارِي فَأُعْطِيهِ كَمَالَ دَنَانِيرِهِ وَ لَعَلِّي لَا أُحْرِزُ وَ

“This is concerning my question before abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of a man who came to me with dirham to sell them to me for the dirhams with me. He certainly did not want dinars but he wanted the dirham and he did not leave until he took my dirham. I bought from him dirham in exchange for dinars. His dinar

أَبِي اشْتَرَى أَرْضاً وَ اشْتَرَطَ عَلَى صَاحِبِهَا أَنْ يُعْطِيَهُ وَرِقاً كُلُّ دِينَارٍ بِعَشَرَةِ دَرَاهِمَ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘My father purchased a piece of land and stipulated with the owner to pay him wariq (dirham) and dinar for ten dirham.”’

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع آتِي الصَّيْرَفِيَّ بِالدَّرَاهِمِ أَشْتَرِي مِنْهُ الدَّنَانِيرَ فَيَزِنُ لِي بِأَكْثَرَ مِنْ حَقِّي ثُمَّ أَبْتَاعُ مِنْهُ مَكَانِي بِهَا دَرَاهِمَ قَالَ لَيْسَ بِهَا بَأْسٌ وَ لَكِنْ لَا تَزِنْ أَقَلَّ مِنْ حَقِّكَ.

“I once said to abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), ‘I go to the money changer with dirhams and buy from him dinars. He weighs for me more than my right. I then at the same place buy from him with it dirhams. He (the Imam) said, ‘It is not unlawful but do not weigh less than your right.’”

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع عَنِ الرَّجُلِ يَقُولُ لِلصَّائِغِ صُغْ لِي هَذَا الْخَاتَمَ وَ أُبَدِّلَ لَكَ دِرْهَماً طَازَجاً بِدِرْهَمٍ غِلَّةٍ قَالَ لَا بَأْسَ.

“This is concerning my question before abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of a man who said to a jeweler, ‘Make for me this ring in exchange for one fresh dirham with one mixed dirham.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘It is not unlawful.’”

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع- عَنْ شِرَاءِ الذَّهَبِ فِيهِ الْفِضَّةُ وَ الزِّيْبَقُ وَ التُّرَابُ بِالدَّنَانِيرِ وَ الْوَرِقِ‌[3] فَقَالَ لَا تُصَارِفْهُ إِلَّا بِالْوَرِقِ قَالَ وَ سَأَلْتُهُ عَنْ شِرَاءِ الْفِضَّةِ فِيهَا الرَّصَاصُ وَ الْوَرِقُ إِذَا خَلَصَتْ نَقَصَتْ مِنْ كُلِّ عَشَرَةٍ دِرْهَمَيْنِ أَوْ ثَلَاثَةً قَالَ لَا يَصْلُحُ إِلَّا بِالذَّهَبِ‌[4].

“This is concerning my question before abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about buying gold in which there was silver, mercury and soil in exchange for dinars and wariq (dirham). He (the Imam) said, ‘You must not change except with wariq (dirham).’ I then asked him (the Imam) about buying silver in which there was lead and wariq (

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع- عَنِ الْجَوْهَرِ الَّذِي يُخْرَجُ مِنَ الْمَعْدِنِ وَ فِيهِ ذَهَبٌ وَ فِضَّةٌ وَ صُفْرٌ جَمِيعاً كَيْفَ نَشْتَرِيهِ فَقَالَ تَشْتَرِيهِ بِالذَّهَبِ وَ الْفِضَّةِ جَمِيعاً.

‘You can buy it with both gold and silver.’”

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع- عَنْ بَيْعِ السَّيْفِ الْمُحَلَّى بِالنَّقْدِ فَقَالَ لَا بَأْسَ بِهِ‌[1] قَالَ وَ سَأَلْتُهُ عَنْ بَيْعِهِ بِالنَّسِيئَةِ فَقَالَ إِذَا نَقَدَ مِثْلَ مَا فِي فِضَّتِهِ فَلَا بَأْسَ بِهِ أَوْ لَيُعْطِي الطَّعَامَ.

‘It is not unlawful.’ I then asked about selling on credit. He (the Imam) said, ‘If what is sold for cash is like what it is for its silver, then is not unlawful; or give foodstuff.’”

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع عَمَّا يُكْنَسُ مِنَ التُّرَابِ فَأَبِيعُهُ فَمَا أَصْنَعُ بِهِ قَالَ تَصَدَّقْ بِهِ فَإِمَّا لَكَ وَ إِمَّا لِأَهْلِهِ قَالَ قُلْتُ فَإِنَّ فِيهِ ذَهَباً وَ فِضَّةً وَ حَدِيداً فَبِأَيِّ شَيْ‌ءٍ أَبِيعُهُ قَالَ بِعْهُ بِطَعَامٍ قُلْتُ فَإِنْ كَانَ لِي قَرَابَةٌ مُحْتَاجٌ أُعْطِيهِ مِنْهُ قَالَ نَعَمْ‌[2].

“I (jewelry maker) once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about what was swept from the soil (in his shop) and I sold it and what to do about it. He (the Imam) said, ‘Give it as charity; it is your thing or that of your family.’ I then said, ‘There is gold, silver and iron in it. How should I sell?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘Sel

سُئِلَ عَنِ السَّيْفِ الْمُحَلَّى وَ السَّيْفِ الْحَدِيدِ الْمُمَوَّهِ يَبِيعُهُ بِالدَّرَاهِمِ‌[3] قَالَ نَعَمْ وَ بِالذَّهَبِ وَ قَالَ إِنَّهُ يُكْرَهُ أَنْ يَبِيعَهُ بِنَسِيئَةٍ وَ قَالَ إِذَا كَانَ الثَّمَنُ أَكْثَرَ مِنَ الْفِضَّةِ فَلَا بَأْسَ.

“Once he (the Imam) (a.s.), was asked about the decorated sword and sword of iron which was gilded and was sold for dirhams. He (the Imam) said, ‘Yes, and it can be sold for gold also.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘It is Makruh (detestable) to sell it on credit.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘If the price is more than silver, it is not

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع جَامٌ فِيهِ ذَهَبٌ وَ فِضَّةٌ أَشْتَرِيهِ بِذَهَبٍ أَوْ فِضَّةٍ فَقَالَ إِنْ كَانَ تَقْدِرُ عَلَى تَخْلِيصِهِ فَلَا وَ إِنْ لَمْ تَقْدِرْ عَلَى تَخْلِيصِهِ فَلَا بَأْسَ‌[4].

26. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from ibn Faddal from Ali ibn ‘Uqbah from Hamzah from Ibrahim ibn Hilal who has said the following: “This is concerning my question before abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about a bowl in which there were gold and silver; if I could buy it with gold or silver. He (the Imam) said, ‘

قُلْتُ لَهُ تَجِيئُنِي الدَّرَاهِمُ بَيْنَهَا الْفَضْلُ فَنَشْتَرِيهِ بِالْفُلُوسِ فَقَالَ لَا يَجُوزُ وَ لَكِنِ انْظُرْ فَضْلَ مَا بَيْنَهُمَا فَزِنْ نُحَاساً وَ زِنِ الْفَضْلَ فَاجْعَلْهُ مَعَ الدَّرَاهِمِ الْجِيَادِ وَ خُذْ وَزْناً بِوَزْنٍ.

‘It is not lawful. Find the difference, then weigh copper and the difference then place it in good dirhams then take in equal weight.’”

سَأَلْتُهُ عَنْ جَوْهَرِ الْأُسْرُبِّ وَ هُوَ إِذَا خَلَصَ كَانَ فِيهِ فِضَّةٌ أَ يَصْلُحُ أَنْ يُسَلِّمَ الرَّجُلُ فِيهِ الدَّرَاهِمَ الْمُسَمَّاةَ فَقَالَ إِذَا كَانَ الْغَالِبُ عَلَيْهِ اسْمَ الْأُسْرُبِّ فَلَا بَأْسَ بِذَلِكَ يَعْنِي لَا يُعْرَفُ إِلَّا بِالْأُسْرُبِّ.

“This is concerning my question before abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of the substance of al-’Usrub which when purified had silver in it; if one could buy it for advance payment for a known amount of dirhams. He (the Imam) said, ‘If people know it as al-‘Usrub only then it is not unlawful.’”

سَأَلْتُهُ عَنِ السُّيُوفِ الْمُحَلَّاةِ فِيهَا الْفِضَّةُ تُبَاعُ بِالذَّهَبِ إِلَى أَجَلٍ مُسَمًّى فَقَالَ إِنَّ النَّاسَ لَمْ يَخْتَلِفُوا فِي النَّسَاءِ أَنَّهُ الرِّبَا[1] إِنَّمَا اخْتَلَفُوا فِي الْيَدِ بِالْيَدِ فَقُلْتُ لَهُ فَيَبِيعُهُ بِدَرَاهِمَ بِنَقْدٍ فَقَالَ كَانَ أَبِي يَقُولُ يَكُونُ مَعَهُ عَرْضٌ أَحَبُّ إِلَيَّ فَقُلْتُ لَهُ إِذَا كَانَتِ الدَّرَاهِمُ الَّتِي تُعْطَى أَكْثَرَ مِنَ الْفِضَّةِ الَّت

“I once asked him (the Imam); ‘Alayhi al-Salam, about the case of decorated swords in which there was silver sold for gold for an appointed time. He (the Imam) said, ‘People do not differ that on credit; it is Riba ’ (unlawful additional payment). They differ about the deal of hand in hand.’ I then asked, ‘Can he buy i

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع الرَّجُلُ يَكُونُ لِي عَلَيْهِ الدَّرَاهِمُ فَيُعْطِينِي الْمُكْحُلَةَ فَقَالَ الْفِضَّةُ بِالْفِضَّةِ وَ مَا كَانَ مِنْ كُحْلٍ فَهُوَ دَيْنٌ عَلَيْهِ حَتَّى يَرُدَّهُ عَلَيْكَ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ.

“This is concerning my question before abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of a man who owed me a certain amount of dirham and gave me a container of al-Kohl. He (the Imam) said, ‘Silver is for silver and al-Kohl in it is a debt on him until he returns it to you on the Day of Judgment.’”

قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع‌ لَا يَبْتَاعُ رَجُلٌ فِضَّةً بِذَهَبٍ إِلَّا يَداً بِيَدٍ وَ لَا يَبْتَاعُ ذَهَباً بِفِضَّةٍ إِلَّا يَداً بِيَدٍ.

“Abu Ja‘far (a.s.), has said that ’Amir al-Mu’minin has said, ‘One must not sell silver for gold unless it is in a hand in hand deal; and gold is not sold in exchange for silver unless it is in a hand in hand deal.’”

سَأَلْتُهُ عَنِ الرَّجُلِ يَشْتَرِي مِنَ الرَّجُلِ الدَّرَاهِمَ بِالدَّنَانِيرِ فَيَزِنُهَا وَ يَنْقُدُهَا وَ يَحْسُبُ ثَمَنَهَا كَمْ هُوَ دِينَاراً ثُمَّ يَقُولُ أَرْسِلْ غُلَامَكَ مَعِي حَتَّى أُعْطِيَهُ الدَّنَانِيرَ فَقَالَ مَا أُحِبُّ أَنْ يُفَارِقَهُ حَتَّى يَأْخُذَ الدَّنَانِيرَ فَقُلْتُ إِنَّمَا هُوَ فِي دَارٍ وَحْدَهُ وَ أَمْكِنَتُهُمْ قَرِيبَةٌ بَعْضُهَا مِنْ بَعْضٍ وَ هَذَا يَشُقُّ عَلَيْهِمْ‌[1] فَقَالَ إ

“I once asked him (the Imam) (a.s.), about the case of a man who bought dirhams in exchange for dinars; then weighed them, cashed them and counted their prices to find the amount of dinar, then said to him to send his slave so he gave him dinars. He (the Imam) said, ‘I do not like his separation before taking dinars.’

سَأَلْتُهُ عَنْ بَيْعِ الذَّهَبِ بِالدَّرَاهِمِ فَيَقُولُ أَرْسِلْ رَسُولًا فَيَسْتَوْفِيَ لَكَ ثَمَنَهُ فَيَقُولُ هَاتِ وَ هَلُمَّ وَ يَكُونُ رَسُولُكَ مَعَهُ‌[2].

“This is concerning my question before abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about selling gold in exchange for dirham. He (the Imam) said, ‘Send a messenger to receive the price saying, ‘Give that and take this.’”