The Book of Commerce

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع- عَنْ رَجُلٍ اشْتَرَى بُسْتَاناً فِيهِ نَخْلٌ وَ شَجَرٌ مِنْهُ مَا قَدْ أَطْعَمَ وَ مِنْهُ مَا لَمْ يُطْعِمْ قَالَ لَا بَأْسَ بِهِ إِذَا كَانَ فِيهِ مَا قَدْ أَطْعَمَ قَالَ وَ سَأَلْتُهُ عَنْ رَجُلٍ اشْتَرَى بُسْتَاناً فِيهِ نَخْلٌ لَيْسَ فِيهِ غَيْرُ بُسْرٍ أَخْضَرَ[3] فَقَالَ لَا حَتَّى يَزْهُوَ قُلْتُ وَ مَا الزَّهْوُ قَالَ حَتَّى يَتَلَوَّنَ.

“This is concerning my question before abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of a man who buys a garden with palm trees and trees in it of which certain ones have become edible and others are not edible yet. He (the Imam) said, ‘It is not harmful when there are edible ones.’ I then asked him (the Imam) about the case o

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع وَ قُلْتُ لَهُ أُعْطِي الرَّجُلَ لَهُ الثَّمَرَةُ عِشْرِينَ دِينَاراً عَلَى أَنِّي أَقُولُ لَهُ إِذَا قَامَتْ ثَمَرَتُكَ بِشَيْ‌ءٍ فَهِيَ لِي بِذَلِكَ الثَّمَنِ إِنْ رَضِيتَ أَخَذْتُ وَ إِنْ كَرِهْتَ تَرَكْتُ فَقَالَ مَا تَسْتَطِيعُ أَنْ تُعْطِيَهُ وَ لَا تَشْتَرِطَ شَيْئاً قُلْتُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ لَا يُسَمِّي شَيْئاً وَ اللَّهُ يَعْلَمُ مِنْ نِيَّتِهِ ذَلِكَ قَالَ لَا يَصْلُحُ إِذَا ك

“This is concerning my question before abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of a man whom I gave twenty dinar for his fruits saying that when your fruits become fruits these dinars are payments, if then I will like I will take the fruits, and if I will not like I will not take them. He (the Imam) said, ‘You cannot giv

قَالَ فِي رَجُلٍ قَالَ لآِخَرَ بِعْنِي ثَمَرَةَ نَخْلِكَ هَذَا الَّذِي فِيهَا بِقَفِيزَيْنِ‌ مِنْ تَمْرٍ أَوْ أَقَلَّ أَوْ أَكْثَرَ يُسَمِّي مَا شَاءَ فَبَاعَهُ فَقَالَ لَا بَأْسَ بِهِ وَ قَالَ التَّمْرُ وَ الْبُسْرُ مِنْ نَخْلَةٍ وَاحِدَةٍ لَا بَأْسَ بِهِ فَأَمَّا أَنْ يَخْلِطَ التَّمْرَ الْعَتِيقَ أَوِ الْبُسْرَ فَلَا يَصْلُحُ وَ الزَّبِيبُ وَ الْعِنَبُ مِثْلُ ذَلِكَ.

“This is about the case of a man who says to another man, ‘Sell to me fruits of your palm tree for two Qafiz (a certain measurement) of dates or less or more...’ specifying the amount as he likes and he sells it. He (the Imam) said, ‘It is not harmful. 5 He (the Imam) said, ‘Dates and half ripe dates of a palm tree are

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع- عَنْ بَيْعِ النَّخْلِ سَنَتَيْنِ قَالَ لَا بَأْسَ بِهِ قُلْتُ فَالرُّطْبَةُ يَبِيعُهَا هَذِهِ الْجِزَّةَ وَ كَذَا وَ كَذَا جِزَّةً بَعْدَهَا قَالَ لَا بَأْسَ بِهِ ثُمَّ قَالَ قَدْ كَانَ أَبِي يَبِيعُ الْحِنَّاءَ كَذَا وَ كَذَا خَرْطَةً[1].

“This is concerning my question before abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about selling palm trees for two years. He (the Imam) said, ‘It is not harmful.’ I then asked if fresh dates can be sold in the form of one or several pickings fresh from the trees each time they ripen. He (the Imam) said, ‘It is not harmful.’ He (the Imam)

قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ مَنْ بَاعَ نَخْلًا قَدْ لَقِحَ فَالثَّمَرَةُ لِلْبَائِعِ إِلَّا أَنْ يَشْتَرِطَ الْمُبْتَاعُ قَضَى رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص بِذَلِكَ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘If one sells palm trees which are pollinated, the fruit then belongs to the seller unless the buyer has stipulated otherwise. This is how the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, judged a case.’”

إِذَا سَاوَتْ شَيْئاً فَلَا بَأْسَ بِشِرَائِهَا[2].

‘When it becomes something buying it is not harmful.’”

قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ص‌ مَنْ بَاعَ نَخْلًا قَدْ أَبَّرَهُ فَثَمَرَتُهُ‌[3] لِلْبَائِعِ إِلَّا أَنْ يَشْتَرِطَ الْمُبْتَاعُ ثُمَّ قَالَ عَلِيٌّ ع قَضَى بِهِ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that ’Amir al-Mu’minin has said, ‘If one sells palm trees which he has pollinated, its dates belong to the seller unless the buyer stipulates otherwise. Ali (a.s.), then said that this is how the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their

تَفْسِيرُ قَوْلِ النَّبِيِّ ص لَا يَبِيعَنَّ حَاضِرٌ لِبَادٍ أَنَّ الْفَوَاكِهَ وَ جَمِيعَ أَصْنَافِ الْغَلَّاتِ إِذَا حُمِلَتْ مِنَ الْقُرَى إِلَى السُّوقِ فَلَا يَجُوزُ أَنْ يَبِيعَ أَهْلُ السُّوقِ لَهُمْ مِنَ النَّاسِ يَنْبَغِي أَنْ يَبِيعَهُ حَامِلُوهُ مِنَ الْقُرَى وَ السَّوَادِ فَأَمَّا مَنْ يَحْمِلُ مِنْ مَدِينَةٍ إِلَى مَدِينَةٍ فَإِنَّهُ يَجُوزُ وَ يَجْرِي مَجْرَى التِّجَارَةِ.

“The explanation of the words of the Holy Prophet, ‘People of the city must not sell to the people of countryside’ is that fruits and all kinds of grains which are transported from countryside to the market place, it (their sale) then is not permissible for the people of the market place to buy such items from them to

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع قُلْتُ لَهُ إِنِّي كُنْتُ بِعْتُ رَجُلًا نَخْلًا كَذَا وَ كَذَا نَخْلَةً بِكَذَا وَ كَذَا دِرْهَماً وَ النَّخْلُ فِيهِ ثَمَرٌ فَانْطَلَقَ الَّذِي اشْتَرَاهُ مِنِّي فَبَاعَهُ مِنْ رَجُلٍ آخَرَ بِرِبْحٍ وَ لَمْ يَكُنْ نَقَدَنِي وَ لَا قَبَضَهُ مِنِّي قَالَ فَقَالَ لَا بَأْسَ بِذَلِكَ أَ لَيْسَ قَدْ كَانَ ضَمِنَ لَكَ الثَّمَنَ قُلْتُ نَعَمْ قَالَ فَالرِّبْحُ لَهُ.

“This is concerning my question before abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), that I had sold palm trees each for such and such number of dirham. The palm trees had fruits on them. The buyer then sold them to another man for a certain amount of profit but he had not paid me anything and had not received any delivery from me. He (the I

قَضَى رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص أَنَّ ثَمَرَ النَّخْلِ لِلَّذِي أَبَّرَهَا إِلَّا أَنْ يَشْتَرِطَ الْمُبْتَاعُ.

“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, had judged that the fruits of the palm trees pollinated belong to the seller unless the buyer stipulates otherwise.”’

سَأَلْتُهُ عَنِ الْكَرْمِ مَتَى يَحِلُّ بَيْعُهُ قَالَ إِذَا عَقَدَ وَ صَارَ عُرُوقاً[1].

Tt is permissible when they form into vines.’”

سَأَلْتُهُ عَنْ شِرَاءِ الطَّعَامِ مِمَّا يُكَالُ أَوْ يُوزَنُ هَلْ يَصْلُحُ شِرَاهُ بِغَيْرِ كَيْلٍ وَ لَا وَزْنٍ فَقَالَ أَمَّا أَنْ تَأْتِيَ رَجُلًا فِي طَعَامٍ قَدِ اكْتِيلَ أَوْ وُزِنَ فَيَشْتَرِيَ مِنْهُ مُرَابَحَةً فَلَا بَأْسَ إِنْ أَنْتَ اشْتَرَيْتَهُ وَ لَمْ تَكِلْهُ أَوْ تَزِنْهُ إِذَا كَانَ الْمُشْتَرِي الْأَوَّلُ قَدْ أَخَذَهُ بِكَيْلٍ أَوْ وَزْنٍ فَقُلْتَ عِنْدَ الْبَيْعِ إِنِّي أُرْبِحُكَ فِيهِ كَذَا و

“I once asked him (the Imam) (a.s.), about buying food which is exchanged by means of weighing or measuring, if such items can be bought without weighing or measuring. He (the Imam) said, ‘If you find a man with food which he has weighed or measured and it is bought from him with profit for him, it is not harmful if yo

فِي الرَّجُلِ يَبْتَاعُ الطَّعَامَ ثُمَّ يَبِيعُهُ قَبْلَ أَنْ يُكَالَ قَالَ لَا يَصْلُحُ لَهُ ذَلِكَ.[3]

“About the case of a man who buys a certain amount of food then sells it without weighing or measurement, he (the Imam) said, ‘It is not a valid deal.’”

لَا بَأْسَ وَ يُوَكِّلُ الرَّجُلُ الْمُشْتَرِيَ مِنْهُ بِقَبْضِهِ وَ كَيْلِهِ قَالَ لَا بَأْسَ [بِذَلِكَ‌].

“About the case of a man who buys food then sells it before receiving delivery, he (the Imam) said, ‘It is not harmful.’ ‘Can he appoint the second buyer as his agent to receive delivery?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘It is not harmful.’”

لِلْمُشْتَرِي ابْتَعْ مِنِّي هَذَا الْعِدْلَ الْآخَرَ بِغَيْرِ كَيْلٍ فَإِنَّ فِيهِ مِثْلَ مَا فِي الْآخَرِ الَّذِي ابْتَعْتَهُ قَالَ لَا يَصْلُحُ إِلَّا أَنْ يَكِيلَ وَ قَالَ مَا كَانَ مِنْ طَعَامٍ سَمَّيْتَ فِيهِ كَيْلًا فَإِنَّهُ لَا يَصْلُحُ مُجَازَفَةً هَذَا مَا يُكْرَهُ مِنْ بَيْعِ الطَّعَامِ.

“About the case of a man who buys food from another man, a package by means of known measurement then the party asks the buyer to buy from him another similar package without measurement, because it is similar to the other package already bought. He (the Imam) said, ‘It is not valid without measurement.’ He (the Imam)

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع عَنْ رَجُلٍ عَلَيْهِ كُرٌّ مِنْ طَعَامٍ فَاشْتَرَى كُرّاً مِنْ رَجُلٍ آخَرَ فَقَالَ لِلرَّجُلِ انْطَلِقْ فَاسْتَوْفِ كُرَّكَ قَالَ لَا بَأْسَ بِهِ.

“This is concerning my question before abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of a man who owes one kur (a certain amount) of food. He then buys one kur of food from another man and asks his creditor to come to receive the Kur of food owed to him. He (the Imam) said, ‘Such a transaction is not harmful.’”

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع أَشْتَرِي الطَّعَامَ فَأَضَعُ فِي أَوَّلِهِ وَ أَرْبَحُ فِي آخِرِهِ فَأَسْأَلُ صَاحِبِي أَنْ يَحُطَّ عَنِّي فِي كُلِّ كُرٍّ كَذَا وَ كَذَا فَقَالَ هَذَا لَا خَيْرَ فِيهِ وَ لَكِنْ يَحُطُّ عَنْكَ جُمْلَةً قُلْتُ فَإِنْ حَطَّ عَنِّي أَكْثَرَ مِمَّا وَضِعْتُ قَالَ لَا بَأْسَ بِهِ قُلْتُ فَأُخْرِجُ الْكُرَّ وَ الْكُرَّيْنِ فَيَقُولُ الرَّجُلُ أَعْطِنِيهِ بِكَيْلِكَ فَقَالَ إِذَا ائْتَمَنَك

“I once said to abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), that I buy food in a deal in the beginning of which I lose and in the end I gain profit. I then ask my friend to reduce a certain amount on each kur. He (the Imam) said, ‘There is nothing good in it, however, he can reduce a certain sum.’ I then asked, ‘Can he reduce more than I h

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع أَشْتَرِي الطَّعَامَ فَأَكْتَالُهُ وَ مَعِي مَنْ قَدْ شَهِدَ الْكَيْلَ وَ إِنَّمَا اكْتَلْتُهُ لِنَفْسِي فَيَقُولُ بِعْنِيهِ فَأَبِيعُهُ إِيَّاهُ بِذَلِكَ الْكَيْلِ الَّذِي كِلْتُهُ قَالَ لَا بَأْسَ.

“This is concerning my question before abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about food that I buy and I measure it when someone witnesses my measuring but I measure it for myself. He then says, ‘Sell it to me.’ I then sell it to him by means of the same measurement that I made for myself. He (the Imam) said, ‘It is not harmful.”’

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع اشْتَرَى رَجُلٌ تِبْنَ بَيْدَرٍ[1] كُلَّ كُرٍّ بِشَيْ‌ءٍ مَعْلُومٍ فَيَقْبِضُ التِّبْنَ وَ يَبِيعُهُ قَبْلَ أَنْ يُكَالَ الطَّعَامُ قَالَ لَا بَأْسَ بِهِ‌[2].

“This is concerning my question before abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of a man who buys hay which is on the threshing floor, each kur for a certain amount. He receives delivery of hay and sells it before measuring the hay. He (the Imam) said, ‘It is not harmful.’”

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع عَنِ الْقَوْمِ يَدْخُلُونَ السَّفِينَةَ يَشْتَرُونَ الطَّعَامَ فَيَتَسَاوَمُونَ بِهَا ثُمَّ يَشْتَرِي رَجُلٌ مِنْهُمْ فَيَتَسَاءَلُونَهُ فَيُعْطِيهِمْ مَا يُرِيدُونَ مِنَ الطَّعَامِ فَيَكُونُ صَاحِبُ الطَّعَامِ هُوَ الَّذِي يَدْفَعُهُ إِلَيْهِمْ وَ يَقْبِضُ الثَّمَنَ قَالَ لَا بَأْسَ مَا أَرَاهُمْ إِلَّا وَ قَدْ شَرِكُوهُ فَقُلْتُ إِنَّ صَاحِبَ الطَّعَامِ يَدْعُو كَيَّالًا فَيَكِيلُهُ

“This is concerning my question before abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of a people who embark in a ship and buy food and bargain about it. Then one man buys from them. They ask him and he gives them what they ask for of food. So he who collects payment and gives them food becomes the owner of food. He (the Imam)

إِنْ كَانَ يَوْمَ ابْتَاعَهُ سَاعَرَهُ أَنَّ لَهُ كَذَا وَ كَذَا فَإِنَّمَا لَهُ سِعْرُهُ وَ إِنْ كَانَ إِنَّمَا أَخَذَ بَعْضاً وَ تَرَكَ بَعْضاً وَ لَمْ يُسَمِّ سِعْراً فَإِنَّمَا لَهُ سِعْرُ يَوْمِهِ الَّذِي يَأْخُذُ فِيهِ مَا كَانَ.

“About the case of a man who buys food for a few dirham of which he takes one-half and leaves the other half. Thereafter he comes back when prices have risen or have fallen down, Abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘If on the day of purchase he prices them and determines the amount then such price is what it is, but if h

فِي رَجُلٍ اشْتَرَى طَعَاماً كُلَّ كُرٍّ بِشَيْ‌ءٍ مَعْلُومٍ فَارْتَفَعَ الطَّعَامُ أَوْ نَقَصَ وَ قَدِ اكْتَالَ بَعْضَهُ فَأَبَى صَاحِبُ الطَّعَامِ أَنْ يُسَلِّمَ لَهُ مَا بَقِيَ وَ قَالَ إِنَّمَا لَكَ مَا قَبَضْتَ فَقَالَ إِنْ كَانَ يَوْمَ اشْتَرَاهُ سَاعَرَهُ عَلَى أَنَّهُ لَهُ فَلَهُ مَا بَقِيَ وَ إِنْ كَانَ إِنَّمَا اشْتَرَاهُ وَ لَمْ يَشْتَرِطْ ذَلِكَ فَإِنَّ لَهُ بِقَدْرِ مَا نَقَدَ.

“About the case of a man who buys food, every kur (a certain amount) for a certain price, then prices rise or fall when he has measured only a certain part, and the owner of food refuses to deliver to him the rest, abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘If on the day of purchase he has priced the food and that the food is h

كَتَبَ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْحَسَنِ إِلَى أَبِي مُحَمَّدٍ ع‌ رَجُلٌ اسْتَأْجَرَ أَجِيراً يَعْمَلُ لَهُ بِنَاءً أَوْ غَيْرَهُ وَ جَعَلَ يُعْطِيهِ طَعَاماً وَ قُطْناً وَ غَيْرَ ذَلِكَ ثُمَّ تَغَيَّرَ الطَّعَامُ وَ الْقُطْنُ مِنْ سِعْرِهِ الَّذِي كَانَ أَعْطَاهُ إِلَى نُقْصَانٍ أَوْ زِيَادَةٍ أَ يَحْتَسِبُ لَهُ بِسِعْرِ يَوْمَ أَعْطَاهُ أَوْ بِسِعْرِ يَوْمَ حَاسَبَهُ فَوَقَّعَ ع يَحْتَسِبُ لَهُ بِسِعْرِ يَوْمٍ شَارَطَهُ فِي

‘A man has hired another man to work and build a structure for another person and he gives the worker food, cotton and other things; then the prices of food and cotton rise or fall and change from the day he gave him, if he can count on him with the price of the day of delivery or the price of the day of finalizing the

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع قُلْتُ إِنَّا نَشْتَرِي الطَّعَامَ مِنَ السُّفُنِ ثُمَّ نَكِيلُهُ فَيَزِيدُ فَقَالَ لِي وَ رُبَّمَا نَقَصَ عَلَيْكُمْ قُلْتُ نَعَمْ قَالَ فَإِذَا نَقَصَ يَرُدُّونَ عَلَيْكُمْ قُلْتُ لَا قَالَ لَا بَأْسَ.

“This is concerning my question before abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of our buying food from ships. We then measure and find extra amount. He (the Imam) said, ‘Perhaps you find it to be less also.’ I replied, ‘Yes, that also happens.’ He (the Imam) then asked, ‘Do they give you the deficit?’ I replied, ‘No, th

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع- عَنْ فُضُولِ الْكَيْلِ وَ الْمَوَازِينِ فَقَالَ إِذَا لَمْ يَكُنْ تَعَدِّياً فَلَا بَأْسَ.

‘If it is not excessive, it is not harmful.’”

قُلْتُ لَهُ إِنِّي أَمُرُّ عَلَى الرَّجُلِ فَيَعْرِضُ عَلَيَّ الطَّعَامَ فَيَقُولُ قَدْ أَصَبْتُ طَعَاماً مِنْ حَاجَتِكَ فَأَقُولُ لَهُ أَخْرِجْهُ أُرْبِحْكَ فِي الْكُرِّ كَذَا وَ كَذَا فَإِذَا أَخْرَجَهُ نَظَرْتُ إِلَيْهِ فَإِنْ كَانَ مِنْ حَاجَتِي أَخَذْتُهُ وَ إِنْ لَمْ يَكُنْ مِنْ حَاجَتِي تَرَكْتُهُ قَالَ هَذِهِ الْمُرَاوَضَةُ[1] لَا بَأْسَ بِهَا قُلْتُ فَأَقُولُ لَهُ اعْزِلْ مِنْهُ خَمْسِينَ كُرّاً أَوْ أَقَلَّ

“I once said to abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), that I may pass by a man and he speaks to me about food and says, ‘You have found the kind of foodstuff that you need.’ I then ask him to show me and I will give such and such amount of profit for each kur, but when he shows it to me, I look at it and if I need I take it, if not I

كُنْتُ جَالِساً عِنْدَ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع فَقَالَ لَهُ مُعَمَّرٌ الزَّيَّاتُ إِنَّا نَشْتَرِي الزَّيْتَ فِي زِقَاقِهِ‌[2] فَيُحْسَبُ لَنَا نُقْصَانٌ فِيهِ لِمَكَانِ الزِّقَاقِ فَقَالَ إِنْ كَانَ يَزِيدُ وَ يَنْقُصُ فَلَا بَأْسَ وَ إِنْ كَانَ يَزِيدُ وَ لَا يَنْقُصُ فَلَا تَقْرَبْهُ‌[3].

“Once I was sitting in the presence of abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), when Mu’ammar al-Zayyat said, ‘We buy oil in Ziqaq (a certain container), they compensate it for deficit because of Ziqaq. He (the Imam) said, ‘If it comes extra as well as in deficit, it is not harmful but if it comes extra and no deficit, then you must not

إِذَا رُئِيَا جَمِيعاً فَلَا بَأْسَ مَا لَمْ يُغَطِّ الْجَيِّدُ الرَّدِيَ‌[4].

“One of the two Imam, (abu Ja’far or abu ‘Abd Allah), ‘Alayhim al-Salam, was asked about foodstuff of high and low quality mixed together. He (the Imam) said, ‘If they see all of it, it is not harmful as long as that of good quality does not cover that of low quality.’”

سَأَلْتُهُ عَنِ الرَّجُلِ يَكُونُ عِنْدَهُ لَوْنَانِ مِنْ طَعَامٍ وَاحِدٍ وَ سِعْرُهُمَا شَيْ‌ءٌ وَ أَحَدُهُمَا خَيْرٌ مِنَ الْآخَرِ فَيَخْلِطُهُمَا جَمِيعاً ثُمَّ يَبِيعُهُمَا بِسِعْرٍ وَاحِدٍ فَقَالَ لَا يَصْلُحُ لَهُ أَنْ يَفْعَلَ ذَلِكَ يَغُشَّ بِهِ الْمُسْلِمِينَ حَتَّى يُبَيِّنَهُ.

“This is concerning my question before abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of a man who has various kinds of the same item of foodstuff of the same price of which one is of high quality and one is of low quality but he mixes them together; then sells them for one kind of price. He (the Imam) said, ‘It is not proper f

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع- عَنِ الرَّجُلِ يَشْتَرِي طَعَاماً فَيَكُونُ أَحْسَنَ لَهُ وَ أَنْفَقَ‌[5] لَهُ أَنْ يَبُلَّهُ مِنْ غَيْرِ أَنْ يَلْتَمِسَ زِيَادَتَهُ فَقَالَ إِنْ كَانَ بَيْعاً لَا يُصْلِحُهُ إِلَّا ذَلِكَ وَ لَا يُنَفِّقُهُ غَيْرُهُ مِنْ غَيْرِ أَنْ يَلْتَمِسَ فِيهِ زِيَادَةً فَلَا بَأْسَ وَ إِنْ كَانَ إِنَّمَا يَغُشُّ بِهِ الْمُسْلِمِينَ فَلَا يَصْلُحُ.

“This is concerning my question before abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of a man who buys foodstuff and thinks is best for him and more sellable if he makes them moist but not intending to increase its quantity. He (the Imam) said, ‘If it does not sell without moistening in other ways and it is without seeking to

لَا يَصْلُحُ لِلرَّجُلِ أَنْ يَبِيعَ بِصَاعٍ غَيْرِ صَاعِ الْمِصْرِ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘It is not proper to sell with a Sa‘ (a certain measuring device) which is not in use in the city (land).’”

لَا يَحِلُّ لِلرَّجُلِ أَنْ يَبِيعَ بِصَاعٍ سِوَى صَاعِ أَهْلِ الْمِصْرِ فَإِنَّ الرَّجُلَ يَسْتَأْجِرُ الْجَمَّالَ فَيَكِيلُ لَهُ بِمُدِّ بَيْتِهِ لَعَلَّهُ يَكُونُ أَصْغَرَ مِنْ مُدِّ السُّوقِ وَ لَوْ قَالَ هَذَا أَصْغَرُ مِنْ مُدِّ السُّوقِ لَمْ يَأْخُذْ بِهِ وَ لَكِنَّهُ يَحْمِلُ ذَلِكَ وَ يَجْعَلُ فِي أَمَانَتِهِ‌[1] وَ قَالَ لَا يَصْلُحُ إِلَّا مُدٌّ وَاحِدٌ وَ الْأَمْنَاءُ بِهَذِهِ الْمَنْزِلَةِ.

‘It is not lawful for one to sell with a Sa‘ which is not in use in a city. A man may hire a camel man and measures with a device of his home which perhaps is smaller than the mud (a certain measurement) of the market- place. If he says it is smaller than the mud of the market he does not accept unless he guarantees an

سَأَلْتُهُ عَنْ قَوْمٍ يُصَغِّرُونَ الْقُفْزَانَ يَبِيعُونَ بِهَا قَالَ أُولَئِكَ الَّذِينَ يَبْخَسُونَ‌ النَّاسَ أَشْياءَهُمْ*.

“I once asked abu al-Hassan (a.s.), about a people who make al-Qufzan (measuring devices) small with which they sell. He (the Imam) said, ‘They are of the people who cause losses in their belongings.’”

قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ص‌ لَا بَأْسَ بِالسَّلَمِ كَيْلًا مَعْلُوماً إِلَى أَجَلٍ مَعْلُومٍ لَا يُسْلَمُ إِلَى دِيَاسٍ وَ لَا إِلَى حَصَادٍ[2].

“Abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that ‘Amir al-Mu’minin has said, ‘Advance payment for a merchandise is not harmful if it is for known measures and appointed time. Advance payment is not made except for threshing and the time of harvest.’”

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع- عَنِ السَّلَمِ فِي الطَّعَامِ بِكَيْلٍ مَعْلُومٍ إِلَى أَجَلٍ مَعْلُومٍ قَالَ لَا بَأْسَ بِهِ.

“This is concerning my question before abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about advance payment for foodstuff of a known measure and an appointed time. He (the Imam) said, ‘It is not harmful.’”

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع عَنِ الرَّجُلِ أَ يَصْلُحُ لَهُ أَنْ يُسْلِمَ فِي الطَّعَامِ عِنْدَ رَجُلٍ لَيْسَ عِنْدَهُ زَرْعٌ وَ لَا طَعَامٌ وَ لَا حَيَوَانٌ إِلَّا أَنَّهُ إِذَا حَلَّ الْأَجَلُ اشْتَرَاهُ فَوَفَّاهُ قَالَ إِذَا ضَمِنَهُ إِلَى أَجَلٍ مُسَمًّى فَلَا بَأْسَ بِهِ قُلْتُ أَ رَأَيْتَ إِنْ أَوْفَانِي بَعْضاً وَ عَجَزَ عَنْ بَعْضٍ أَ يَصْلُحُ أَنْ آخُذَ بِالْبَاقِي رَأْسَ مَالِي قَالَ نَعَمْ مَا أَحْسَن

“This is concerning my question before abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of a man who makes advance payment to buy foodstuff from a man who does not have any farm or foodstuff or animals except that he at the appointed time buys the foodstuff and delivers it. He (the Imam) said, ‘If he guarantees it within the appo

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع عَنِ الرَّجُلِ يُسْلِمُ فِي الزَّرْعِ فَيَأْخُذُ بَعْضَ طَعَامِهِ وَ يَبْقَى بَعْضٌ لَا يَجِدُ وَفَاءً فَيَعْرِضُ عَلَيْهِ صَاحِبُهُ رَأْسَ مَالِهِ قَالَ يَأْخُذُهُ فَإِنَّهُ حَلَالٌ قُلْتُ فَإِنَّهُ يَبِيعُ مَا قَبَضَ مِنَ الطَّعَامِ فَيُضْعِفُ قَالَ وَ إِنْ فَعَلَ فَإِنَّهُ حَلَالٌ‌[1] قَالَ وَ سَأَلْتُهُ عَنْ رَجُلٍ يُسْلِمُ فِي غَيْرِ زَرْعٍ وَ لَا نَخْلٍ قَالَ يُسَمِّي شَيْئاً إِل

“This is concerning my question before abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of a man who makes advance payment for farms and takes a certain amount of his foodstuff and a certain amount remains. The other party offers him the remaining of his capital. He (the Imam) said, ‘He must accept it; it is lawful.’ I then said,

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع عَنْ رَجُلٍ أَسْلَفْتُهُ دَرَاهِمَ فِي طَعَامٍ فَلَمَّا حَلَّ طَعَامِي عَلَيْهِ بَعَثَ إِلَيَّ بِدَرَاهِمَ فَقَالَ اشْتَرِ لِنَفْسِكَ طَعَاماً وَ اسْتَوْفِ حَقَّكَ قَالَ أَرَى أَنْ يُوَلَّى ذَلِكَ غَيْرُكَ وَ تَقُومَ مَعَهُ حَتَّى تَقْبِضَ الَّذِي لَكَ وَ لَا تَتَوَلَّى أَنْتَ شِرَاهُ‌[2].

“This is concerning my question before abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of a man to whom I made advance payment for foodstuff. When the time arrived he sent to me dirhams. He (the Imam) said, ‘Buy foodstuff for yourself and compensate for your right.’ He (the Imam) then said, ‘I deem it proper that you appoint som

لَيْسَ‌ عِنْدِي طَعَامٌ وَ لَكِنِ انْظُرْ مَا قِيمَتُهُ فَخُذْ مِنِّي ثَمَنَهُ فَقَالَ لَا بَأْسَ بِذَلِكَ.

“About the case of a man who makes advance payment for foodstuff for an appointed time and when the foodstuff is ready he says, ‘I do not have any foodstuff but consider what its price is and take it from me’, abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘It is not harmful . 555

سَأَلْتُهُ عَنْ رَجُلٍ أَسْلَفَ رَجُلًا دَرَاهِمَ بِحِنْطَةٍ حَتَّى إِذَا حَضَرَ الْأَجَلُ لَمْ يَكُنْ عِنْدَهُ طَعَامٌ وَ وَجَدَ عِنْدَهُ دَوَابَّ وَ مَتَاعاً وَ رَقِيقاً يَحِلُّ لَهُ أَنْ يَأْخُذَ مِنْ عُرُوضِهِ تِلْكَ بِطَعَامِهِ قَالَ نَعَمْ يُسَمِّي كَذَا وَ كَذَا بِكَذَا وَ كَذَا صَاعاً.

“This is concerning my question before abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of a man who makes advance payment of dirhams in exchange for wheat until the appoint time comes and he does not have any foodstuff but has animals and other assets and slaves; if it is lawful for him to take from his assets in exchange for hi

لَيْسَ عِنْدِي دَرَاهِمُ خُذْ مِنِّي طَعَاماً قَالَ لَا بَأْسَ بِهِ إِنَّمَا لَهُ دَرَاهِمُ يَأْخُذُ بِهَا مَا شَاءَ[1].

“We once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of a man who sells foodstuff in exchange for dirhams for an appointed time. When the time comes and he demands it, the party says, ‘I do not have dirhams. Take from me foodstuff . 5 He (the Imam) said, ‘It is not harmful; his are dirhams in exchange, for which he can

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع- عَنْ رَجُلٍ أَسْلَفَ دَرَاهِمَ فِي طَعَامٍ فَحَلَّ الَّذِي لَهُ فَأَرْسَلَ إِلَيْهِ بِدَرَاهِمَ فَقَالَ اشْتَرِ طَعَاماً وَ اسْتَوْفِ حَقَّكَ هَلْ تَرَى بِهِ بَأْساً قَالَ يَكُونُ مَعَهُ غَيْرُهُ يُوَفِّيهِ ذَلِكَ.

“This is concerning my question before abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of a man who makes advance payment of dirhams in exchange for foodstuff and the time comes but the party sends him dirhams. He (the Imam) said, ‘He can buy foodstuff to compensate for his right. Do you see any problems in it ? 5 He (the Imam)

سُئِلَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع عَنْ رَجُلٍ أَسْلَمَ دَرَاهِمَهُ فِي خَمْسَةِ مَخَاتِيمَ مِنْ حِنْطَةٍ أَوْ شَعِيرٍ إِلَى أَجَلٍ مُسَمًّى وَ كَانَ الَّذِي عَلَيْهِ الْحِنْطَةُ وَ الشَّعِيرُ لَا يَقْدِرُ عَلَى أَنْ يَقْضِيَهُ جَمِيعَ الَّذِي لَهُ إِذَا حَلَّ فَسَأَلَ صَاحِبَ الْحَقِّ أَنْ يَأْخُذَ نِصْفَ الطَّعَامِ أَوْ ثُلُثَهُ أَوْ أَقَلَّ مِنْ ذَلِكَ أَوْ أَكْثَرَ وَ يَأْخُذَ رَأْسَ مَالِ مَا بَقِيَ مِنَ الطَّعَامِ د

“Once abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), was asked about the case of a man who makes advance payment in exchange for five Mukhatim (a container) of wheat or barley for an appointed time but the party cannot deliver all that he owes on due time, and he asks the other party to accept half of the foodstuff or one-third or less or mor

فِي الرَّجُلِ يَشْتَرِي طَعَامَ قَرْيَةٍ بِعَيْنِهَا وَ إِنْ لَمْ يُسَمِّ لَهُ طَعَامَ قَرْيَةٍ بِعَيْنِهَا أَعْطَاهُ مِنْ حَيْثُ شَاءَ[1].

‘If the foodstuff of a certain town exactly is not mentioned he can give it from anywhere he likes . 555

كَتَبْتُ إِلَى أَبِي الْحَسَنِ ع الرَّجُلُ يُسْلِفُنِي فِي الطَّعَامِ فَيَجِي‌ءُ الْوَقْتُ وَ لَيْسَ عِنْدِي طَعَامٌ أُعْطِيهِ بِقِيمَتِهِ دَرَاهِمَ قَالَ نَعَمْ.

“I once wrote to abu al-Hassan (a.s.), and asked, ‘I make an advance payment deal with a man for foodstuff and when it is due time I do not have any foodstuff, if I can give him dirhams in exchange. He (the Imam) said, ‘Yes, you can do so.”’

سُئِلَ عَنِ الرَّجُلِ يَبِيعُ الرَّجُلَ الطَّعَامَ الْأَكْرَارَ فَلَا يَكُونُ عِنْدَهُ مَا يُتِمُّ لَهُ مَا بَاعَهُ فَيَقُولُ لَهُ خُذْ مِنِّي مَكَانَ كُلِّ قَفِيزِ حِنْطَةٍ قَفِيزَيْنِ مِنْ شَعِيرٍ حَتَّى تَسْتَوْفِيَ مَا نَقَصَ مِنَ الْكَيْلِ قَالَ لَا يَصْلُحُ لِأَنَّ أَصْلَ الشَّعِيرِ مِنَ الْحِنْطَةِ وَ لَكِنْ يَرُدُّ عَلَيْهِ الدَّرَاهِمَ بِحِسَابِ مَا نَقَصَ مِنَ الْكَيْلِ.

“Once abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), was asked about the case of a man who sells foodstuff to another man in quantity of several kur but cannot deliver what he owes, and says to the other party to accept two Qafiz (a certain unit of measurement) of barley for one Qafiz of wheat to compensate for the deficit. He (the Imam) sai

الْحِنْطَةُ وَ الشَّعِيرُ رَأْساً بِرَأْسٍ لَا يُزَادُ وَاحِدٌ مِنْهُمَا عَلَى الْآخَرِ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Wheat and barley are equal to each other; neither one of the two can be exchanged in excess of the other.’”

قَالَ: لَا يُبَاعُ مَخْتُومَانِ مِنْ شَعِيرٍ بِمَخْتُومٍ مِنْ حِنْطَةٍ وَ لَا يُبَاعُ إِلَّا مِثْلًا بِمِثْلٍ وَ التَّمْرُ مِثْلُ ذَلِكَ قَالَ وَ سُئِلَ عَنِ الرَّجُلِ يَشْتَرِي الْحِنْطَةَ فَلَا يَجِدُ عِنْدَ صَاحِبِهَا إِلَّا شَعِيراً أَ يَصْلُحُ لَهُ أَنْ يَأْخُذَ اثْنَيْنِ بِوَاحِدٍ قَالَ لَا إِنَّمَا أَصْلُهُمَا وَاحِدٌ وَ كَانَ عَلِيٌّ ع يَعُدُّ الشَّعِيرَ بِالْحِنْطَةِ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘It is not permissible to sell two Makhtum (a container) of barley for one Makhtum of wheat. These items cannot be exchanged except in equal quantities of each other and so also is the date.’ Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), was asked about the case of a man who buys wheat but cannot find with h

سَأَلْتُهُ عَنِ الْحِنْطَةِ وَ الشَّعِيرِ فَقَالَ إِذَا كَانَا سَوَاءً فَلَا بَأْسَ قَالَ وَ سَأَلْتُهُ عَنِ الْحِنْطَةِ وَ الدَّقِيقِ فَقَالَ إِذَا كَانَا سَوَاءً فَلَا بَأْسَ.

“I once asked him (the Imam) (a.s.), about wheat and barley. He (the Imam) said, ‘If they are of equal measures it is not harmful.’ He (the narrator) has said, ‘I asked him (the Imam) about flour and wheat. He (the Imam) said, ‘If they are of equal measures it is not harmful.’”

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع أَ يَجُوزُ قَفِيزٌ مِنْ حِنْطَةٍ بِقَفِيزَيْنِ مِنْ شَعِيرٍ فَقَالَ لَا يَجُوزُ إِلَّا مِثْلًا بِمِثْلٍ ثُمَّ قَالَ إِنَّ الشَّعِيرَ مِنَ الْحِنْطَةِ.

“This is concerning my question before abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), if it is permissible to exchange one Qafiz (a certain unit of measurement) of wheat for two Qafiz of barley. He (the Imam) said, ‘No, it is not permissible unless they are of equal quantities.’ He (the Imam) then said, ‘Barley is from wheat.’”