The Meaning of the Hadith: “He prohibited the sale of gold except like for like”
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Question: What is the meaning of the hadith of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him): ? The questioner says: It is unreasonable for a person to sell new gold for old gold without any reduction in weight. We ask for clarification.
Answer: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) clarified this and said:Sahih Muslim 1587c.
If the gold one has is of good quality and the other gold is of poor quality, or vice versa, one is not obligated to sell this for that. One should sell for something else; either sell like for like and be lenient—if one’s gold is better, be lenient, or the other party is lenient. The owner of the better gold should sell for other currency, such as silver, paper money, or another currency, hand to hand, and then buy his needs from the lower-grade gold. This is the lawful way.
He prohibited the sale of gold except like for like, or weight for weight
نهى عن بيع الذهب إلا مثلًا بمثل، أو وزنًا بوزنAnswer: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) clarified this and said:
Ubida b. al-Simit (Allah be pleased with him) reported Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying: Gold is to be paid for by gold, silver by silver, wheat by wheat, barley by barley, dates by dates, and salt by salt, like for like and equal for equal, payment being made hand to hand. If these classes differ, then sell as you wish if payment is made hand to hand.
الذهب بالذهب، والفضة بالفضة، والتمر بالتمر، والبر بالبر، والشعير بالشعير، والملح بالملح، مثلًا بمثل، سواءً بسواء، يدًا بيد فإذا اختلفت هذه الأصناف فبيعوا كيف شئتم إذا كان يدًا بيدIf the gold one has is of good quality and the other gold is of poor quality, or vice versa, one is not obligated to sell this for that. One should sell for something else; either sell like for like and be lenient—if one’s gold is better, be lenient, or the other party is lenient. The owner of the better gold should sell for other currency, such as silver, paper money, or another currency, hand to hand, and then buy his needs from the lower-grade gold. This is the lawful way.
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.