Chapter on Advance Payment in Food, Animals, and Other Goods

اشْتَرِ لِنَفْسِكَ طَعَاماً وَ اسْتَوْفِ حَقَّكَ فَقَالَ أَرَى أَنْ تُوَلِّيَ ذَلِكَ غَيْرَكَ وَ تَقُومَ مَعَهُ حَتَّى تَقْبِضَ الَّذِي لَكَ وَ لَا تَوَلَّ أَنْتَ شِرَاءَهُ‌[4].

Hadith.3934 - Hammad narrated from Al-Halabi, from Abu Abdillah (as): Imam (as) was asked about a man to whom I had lent dirhams in advance for food. When the time came for me to receive the food, he sent me dirhams and said: "Buy food for yourself and settle your due." Imam (as) said: "I think you should appoint someo

أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ ع عَنِ الرَّجُلِ يُسْلِمُ فِي الْحِنْطَةِ أَوِ التَّمْرِ مِائَةَ دِرْهَمٍ فَيَأْتِي صَاحِبُهُ- حِينَ يَحِلُّ لَهُ الدَّيْنُ فَيَقُولُ وَ اللَّهِ مَا عِنْدِي إِلَّا نِصْفُ الَّذِي لَكَ فَخُذْ مِنِّي إِنْ شِئْتَ بِنِصْفِ الَّذِي لَكَ حِنْطَةً وَ نِصْفاً وَرِقاً فَقَالَ لَا بَأْسَ إِذَا أَخَذَ مِنْهُ الْوَرِقَ كَمَا أَعْطَاهُ-[5] قَالَ وَ سَأَلْتُهُ عَنِ الرَّجُلِ يَكُونُ لِي عَلَيْهِ جُلَّةٌ مِنْ بُسْرٍ

I asked Abu Ja'far Imam Muhammad ibn Ali Al-Baqir (as) about a man who makes an advance payment of 100 dirhams for wheat or dates. When the debt becomes due, the seller says, "By Allah (swt), I only have half of what is owed to you. Take half in wheat and the other half in cash if you wish." Imam (as) said: "There is n

أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع فِي الرَّجُلِ يُسْلِمُ فِي غَيْرِ زَرْعٍ وَ لَا نَخْلٍ قَالَ يُسَمِّي كَيْلًا مَعْلُوماً إِلَى‌ أَجَلٍ مَعْلُومٍ‌[1] قَالَ وَ سَأَلْتُهُ‌[2] عَنِ السَّلَمِ فِي الْحَيَوَانِ وَ الطَّعَامِ وَ يَرْتَهِنَ الرَّجُلُ بِمَالِهِ رَهْناً قَالَ نَعَمْ اسْتَوْثِقْ مِنْ مَالِكَ.

I asked Abu Abdillah (as) about a man who makes a forward contract (salam) for something other than crops or dates. Imam (as) said: "He should specify a known measure and set a fixed time for delivery." I also asked Imam (as) about making a forward contract for livestock or food and whether the creditor can take collat

لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع رَجُلٌ كَانَ لَهُ عَلَى رَجُلٍ دَرَاهِمُ مِنْ ثَمَنِ غَنَمٍ اشْتَرَاهَا مِنْهُ فَأَتَى الطَّالِبُ الْمَطْلُوبَ يَتَقَاضَاهُ فَقَالَ لَهُ الْمَطْلُوبُ أَبِيعُكَ هَذِهِ الْغَنَمَ بِدَرَاهِمِكَ الَّتِي لَكَ عِنْدِي فَرَضِيَ قَالَ لَا بَأْسَ بِذَلِكَ.

I said to Abu Abdillah (as): "A man owed another man dirhams for the price of sheep he had bought from him. The creditor came to demand payment, and the debtor said: 'I will sell you these sheep for the dirhams I owe you.' The creditor agreed." Imam (as) said: "There is no harm in that."

أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع عَنْ رَجُلٍ أَسْلَفَ فِي شَيْ‌ءٍ يُسْلِفُ النَّاسُ فِيهِ مِنَ الثِّمَارِ فَذَهَبَ ثِمَارُهَا[5] وَ لَمْ يَسْتَوْفِ سَلَفَهُ قَالَ فَلْيَأْخُذْ رَأْسَ مَالِهِ أَوْ لِيُنْظِرْهُ.

I asked Abu Abdillah (as) about a man who made an advance payment (salam) for something that people typically make advance payments for, such as fruits, but the fruits were destroyed, and he did not receive what was due. Imam (as) said: "Let him take back his principal amount, or he may grant the debtor more time."

نَعَمْ يُسَمِّي كَذَا وَ كَذَا بِكَذَا وَ كَذَا صَاعاً[6].

I asked Abu Abdillah (as) about a man who had advanced dirhams to another man for wheat. When the due date arrived, the debtor did not have any food but had animals, slaves, and goods. I asked: "Is it permissible for him to take these items in place of the wheat owed to him?" Imam (as) said: "Yes, he may specify such a

لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع الرَّجُلُ‌ يَشْتَرِي الْجُلُودَ مِنَ الْقَصَّابِ فَيُعْطِيهِ كُلَّ يَوْمٍ شَيْئاً مَعْلُوماً[1] فَقَالَ لَا بَأْسَ بِهِ.

I said to Abu Abdillah (as): "A man buys hides from a butcher and pays him a fixed amount every day." Imam (as) said: "There is no harm in that."

لَا بَأْسَ بِهِ‌[2].

Hadith.3941 - It is narrated from Aban that Imam (as) said regarding a man who advances dirhams to another man and pays him in another land. Imam (as) said: "There is no harm in that."

لَا بَأْسَ بِأَنْ تَسْتَوْثِقَ مِنْ مَالِكَ‌[3].

Hadith.3942 - Sama'ah asked him about a pledge (rahn) that a man gives as security in a salam transaction when he advances payment for food, goods, or animals. Imam (as) said: "There is no harm in securing your wealth."

أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع عَنِ السَّلَمِ فِي الْحَيَوَانِ فَقَالَ لَيْسَ بِهِ بَأْسٌ فَقُلْتُ أَ رَأَيْتَ إِنْ أَسْلَمَ فِي أَسْنَانٍ مَعْلُومَةٍ أَوْ شَيْ‌ءٍ مَعْلُومٍ مِنَ الرَّقِيقِ فَأَعْطَاهُ دُونَ شَرْطِهِ أَوْ فَوْقَهُ بِطِيبَةِ نَفْسٍ مِنْهُمْ فَقَالَ لَا بَأْسَ بِهِ‌[5].

I asked Abu Abdillah (as) about salam transactions involving animals. Imam (as) said: "There is no harm in it." I then asked: "What if he specifies particular ages or certain characteristics of slaves and delivers something less or more than the condition agreed upon, with mutual consent?" Imam (as) said: "There is no

أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع عَنْ رَجُلٍ بَاعَ طَعَاماً بِدَرَاهِمَ فَلَمَّا بَلَغَ ذَلِكَ الْأَجَلُ تَقَاضَاهُ فَقَالَ لَيْسَ عِنْدِي دَرَاهِمُ خُذْ مِنِّي طَعَاماً قَالَ لَا بَأْسَ بِهِ إِنَّمَا لَهُ دَرَاهِمُ يَأْخُذُ بِهَا مَا شَاءَ[2].

I asked Abu Abdillah (as) about a man who sold food for dirhams. When the payment became due, he demanded his money, but the buyer said: "I do not have dirhams; take food instead." Imam (as) said: "There is no harm in that. He is entitled to dirhams, and he may take whatever he wishes in exchange for them."

لَا بَأْسَ بِهِ قَالَ وَ سُئِلَ عَنِ الزَّعْفَرَانِ يُسْلِفُ فِيهِ الرَّجُلُ دَرَاهِمَ فِي عِشْرِينَ مِثْقَالًا أَوْ أَقَلَّ مِنْ ذَلِكَ أَوْ أَكْثَرَ قَالَ لَا بَأْسَ إِنْ لَمْ يَقْدِرِ الَّذِي عَلَيْهِ الزَّعْفَرَانُ أَنْ يُعْطِيَهُ جَمِيعَ مَالِهِ أَنْ يَأْخُذَ نِصْفَ حَقِّهِ أَوْ ثُلُثَهُ أَوْ ثُلُثَيْهِ وَ يَأْخُذَ رَأْسَ مَالِ مَا بَقِيَ مِنْ حَقِّهِ دَرَاهِمَ‌[5].

Hadith.3945 - Ubaydullah bin Ali Al-Halabi narrated from Abu Abdillah (as): Imam (as) was asked about a man who lent dirhams in advance for five measures of wheat or barley until a specified time. When the payment became due, the debtor was unable to repay the full amount of wheat or barley. The creditor wanted to take

لَا بَأْسَ إِنْ لَمْ يَقْدِرِ الَّذِي عَلَيْهِ الْغَنَمُ عَلَى جَمِيعِ الَّذِي عَلَيْهِ أَنْ يَأْخُذَ صَاحِبُ الْغَنَمِ نِصْفَهَا أَوْ ثُلُثَهَا أَوْ ثُلُثَيْهَا وَ يَأْخُذَ رَأْسَ مَالِ مَا بَقِيَ مِنَ الْغَنَمِ دَرَاهِمَ وَ يَأْخُذَ[1] دُونَ شَرْطِهِمْ وَ لَا يَأْخُذْ فَوْقَ شَرْطِهِمْ‌[2] قَالَ وَ الْأَكْسِيَةُ أَيْضاً مِثْلُ الْحِنْطَةِ وَ الشَّعِيرِ وَ الزَّعْفَرَانِ وَ الْغَنَمِ.

Hadith.3946 - Imam (as) was asked about a man who lends in advance for sheep, both two-year-olds and younger ones, until a specified time. Imam (as) said: "There is no harm if the debtor cannot deliver all the sheep he owes. The creditor may take half, a third, or two-thirds of the sheep, and receive the remaining valu

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ‌ لَا يَنْبَغِي لِلرَّجُلِ إِسْلَافُ السَّمْنِ بِالزَّيْتِ وَ لَا الزَّيْتِ بِالسَّمْنِ‌[4].

I heard Abu Abdullah (as) say: "It is not proper for a man to lend ghee in exchange for oil, nor oil in exchange for ghee."

لَا تَقْرَبَنَّهُ فَإِنَّهُ يُعْطِيكَ مَرَّةً السَّمِينَ وَ مَرَّةً التَّاوِيَ‌[6] وَ مَرَّةً الْمَهْزُولَ فَاشْتَرِهِ مُعَايَنَةً يَداً بِيَدٍ قَالَ وَ سَأَلْتُهُ عَنِ السَّلَفِ فِي رَوَايَا الْمَاءِ[7] فَقَالَ لَا فَإِنَّهُ يُعْطِيكَ مَرَّةً نَاقِصَةً وَ مَرَّةً كَامِلَةً وَ لَكِنِ اشْتَرِهَا مُعَايَنَةً فَهَذَا أَسْلَمُ لَكَ وَ لَهُ‌[8].

Hadith.3948 - Amr ibn Shimr narrated from Jabir, who reported: Abu Ja'far Imam Muhammad ibn Ali Al-Baqir (as) was asked about lending meat in advance. Imam (as) said: "Do not approach it, for sometimes he may give you fat meat, sometimes lean meat, and sometimes emaciated meat. Instead, buy it through direct observatio

قَالَ عَلِيٌّ ع‌ لَا بَأْسَ أَنْ يُسْلَفَ مَا يُوزَنُ فِيمَا يُكَالُ وَ مَا يُكَالُ فِيمَا يُوزَنُ.

Hadith.3949 - Wahb ibn Wahb narrated from Ja'far ibn Muhammad from his father (as): Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib (as) said: "There is no harm in advancing payment for what is weighed in exchange for what is measured, and for what is measured in exchange for what is weighed."

قَالَ عَلِيٌّ ع‌ لَا بَأْسَ بِالسَّلَمِ بِكَيْلٍ مَعْلُومٍ إِلَى أَجَلٍ مَعْلُومٍ وَ لَا يُسْلَمُ إِلَى دِيَاسٍ وَ لَا حَصَادٍ[3].

Hadith.3950 - Ghiyath ibn Ibrahim narrated from Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq (as) from his father, Imam Muhammad ibn Ali Al-Baqir (as): Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib (as): "There is no harm in a Salam contract with a specified measure and a fixed time, but it should not be made conditional upon threshing or harvesting."

أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع أَ يَصْلُحُ أَنْ يُسْلِمَ فِي الطَّعَامِ عِنْدَ رَجُلٍ لَيْسَ عِنْدَهُ طَعَامٌ وَ لَا حَيَوَانٌ إِلَّا أَنَّهُ إِذَا جَاءَ الْأَجَلُ اشْتَرَاهُ وَ أَوْفَاهُ قَالَ إِذَا ضَمِنَهُ إِلَى أَجَلٍ مُسَمًّى فَلَا بَأْسَ قَالَ قُلْتُ أَ رَأَيْتَ إِنْ أَوْفَانِي بَعْضاً وَ أَخَّرَ بَعْضاً أَ يَجُوزُ ذَلِكَ قَالَ نَعَمْ‌[5].

I asked Abu Abdullah (as): "Is it permissible to enter into a Salam contract for food with a man who does not currently possess the food or livestock, but promises to purchase it and deliver it when the due date arrives?" Imam (as) replied: "If he guarantees it for a specified term, then there is no harm in it." I then

لَا بَأْسَ بِهِ‌[1].

Hadith.3952 - Al-Ala narrated from Muhammad ibn Muslim who report from one of Imams (as): I asked Imam (as) about pledging collateral (Rahn) and having a guarantor (Kafil) in a deferred payment sale. Imam (as) said: "There is no harm in it."

فِي رِوَايَةِ زُرَارَةَ عَنْ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ ع‌[2] قَالَ‌ لَا بَأْسَ بِالسَّلَمِ فِي الْمَتَاعِ إِذَا وَصَفْتَ الطُّولَ وَ الْعَرْضَ‌[3] وَ فِي الْحَيَوَانِ إِذَا وَصَفْتَ أَسْنَانَهُ.

Hadith.3953 - In a narration from Zurarah who reported from Abu Ja'far Imam Muhammad ibn Ali Al-Baqir (as): "There is no harm in Salam (advance payment) for goods if you describe their length and width, and for animals if you describe their age."