Purchasing crops long before their harvest
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Fatwa number ( 19690 )
Q: A person in Sudan exploits the financial needs of Muslims, buying their agricultural crops long before harvest at very low prices, and receiving the full crop at harvest time . What is the ruling of the Shari'ah on this?
A: If this person is buying from farmers and others what their farms produce in agricultural crops, in a way that makes a forward sale (salam) valid, meaning it is for a specified item in the debtor's possession, whose characteristics are fixed by a measure or weight, with its kind, type, and quantity specified, along with a known term for the item being sold, and the price is fully paid in the contract session without specifying the produce of a particular orchard—
then there is nothing wrong with it, and this is the forward sale (salam) that is permissible by the Shari'ah; because the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said:Mishkat al-Masabih 2883 It is agreed upon by al-Bukhari and Muslim. However, if this person is buying the produce of specific agricultural crops before the grain has hardened and the fruit has shown signs of ripeness, it is not permissible; because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) forbade selling fruits until their ripeness becomes apparent, and grains until they harden. Muslim narrated in his Sahih from Ibn 'Umar, Sunan al-Bayhaqi 5:199 , and the ripeness of fruits is: when they turn red and yellow and become pleasant to eat.
If he buys them after the fruits have shown signs of ripeness and the grain has hardened, it is permissible and there is nothing wrong with it. And success is from Allah, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his Companions.
Q: A person in Sudan exploits the financial needs of Muslims, buying their agricultural crops long before harvest at very low prices, and receiving the full crop at harvest time . What is the ruling of the Shari'ah on this?
A: If this person is buying from farmers and others what their farms produce in agricultural crops, in a way that makes a forward sale (salam) valid, meaning it is for a specified item in the debtor's possession, whose characteristics are fixed by a measure or weight, with its kind, type, and quantity specified, along with a known term for the item being sold, and the price is fully paid in the contract session without specifying the produce of a particular orchard—
then there is nothing wrong with it, and this is the forward sale (salam) that is permissible by the Shari'ah; because the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
Those who pay in advance for anything must do so for a specified measure and weight with a specified time fixed.
من أسلف في شيء فليسلف في كيل معلوم، ووزن معلوم، إلى أجل معلومThat the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) forbade selling dates until they ripen, and selling grain until it turns white and is safe from harm, forbidding both the seller and the buyer.
أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم نهى عن بيع النخل حتى يزهو، وعن بيع السنبل حتى يبيض ويأمن العاهة، نهى البائع والمشتريIf he buys them after the fruits have shown signs of ripeness and the grain has hardened, it is permissible and there is nothing wrong with it. And success is from Allah, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his Companions.
Source
www.alifta.gov.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.