The Correct View on the Intended Meaning of “Two Sales in One Sale,” Which Is Prohibited

The questioner : I have goods, I mean, merchandise. What? Merchandise, I mean, one type of item in front of me. What? Merchandise. Merchandise. Merchandise. Merchandise.

The Shaykh : One person is selling.

The questioner : Yes, indeed. It is one type of item with one price, known, meaning if the price is cash, he gives it for ten, and if it is on credit, he gives it for twelve or thirteen. Is this permissible for him?

The Shaykh : Yes. I mean, he sells it for ten in cash and for twenty on credit? There is no meaning to that.

The questioner : How do we interpret the hadith, I mean?

The Shaykh : And he may say, “Take it; if you pay me in cash, it is ten; if you pay it deferred for a year, it is twenty.”

The questioner : And so on. I did not understand the meaning of the hadith.

The Shaykh : What is the hadith?

The questioner : The hadith that says, “Whoever sells with two sales in one sale, then he is… or… or…”

The Shaykh : Or riba (usury or interest). Well done. Is this two sales?

The questioner : The two sales, I mean.

The Shaykh : No, absolutely not. He wants to take what we offer, either at the lower price or deferred at the higher price. I mean, there are not two sales; it is two sales where he has the choice between them, and only one of them is established, is that not so? Good. The two sales in one sale do not apply exactly except to the issue of 'inah (a buy-back sale used to disguise a loan), and this is the choice of Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah (may Allah have mercy on him). Yes, O 'Abd.