Narrated by Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both): When the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) arrived in Madinah Munawwarah, the people used to engage in forward sales (salam) of dates for two or three years. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Whoever wishes to do a forward sale should do so with a specified measure, a determined weight, and for a fixed period.

Under this chapter, the following sub-chapters and hadiths have been mentioned.

Mawla of Banu Hashim, Muhammad bin Abi Mujalid, says: Ibn Shaddad and Abu Burdah sent me and said: Go to Sayyiduna Ibn Abi Awfa (may Allah be pleased with him) and say to him that Abdullah bin Shaddad and Abu Burdah send you greetings of peace and ask you whether you people used to do forward sale (bay‘ salam) in wheat, barley, and dried dates during the Prophetic era? He replied: Yes, in the time of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), we used to acquire spoils of war and then do forward sale (bay‘ salam) in wheat, barley, dates, and dried dates. I asked: Did you do this sale with those who owned crops or also with those who did not own crops? He said: We never used to ask about this matter. (When I returned and explained the details to them,) they said: Now go to Sayyiduna Abdur Rahman bin Abza (may Allah be pleased with him) and ask him about this issue as well. So I went to him, and he also gave the same answer as Sayyiduna Ibn Abi Awfa (may Allah be pleased with him). Imam Ahmad says that in the narration of Abu Muawiyah, oil (or olive oil) is also mentioned.

Narrated from Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both): A man bought dates from another man, but that year the dates did not bear fruit. So both of them went to the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) for a decision. He (peace and blessings be upon him) said: How do you consider his dirhams lawful for yourself? Return his dirhams to him. Never make a sale of dates in advance (salam) until its fitness becomes apparent. The narrator says: I asked Masruq, what does the appearance of fitness mean? He said: When the fruit turns red or yellow.

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abu Sa'id Khudri (may Allah be pleased with him), he says: It is not permissible to conduct a forward sale (salam) in wheat, common barley, or huskless barley until the grain has dried. Nor is this sale permissible in grapes, olives, and the like, until these things have ripened well. Nor is it permissible to sell cash gold for deferred silver, or cash silver for deferred gold. Imam Ahmad said: This narration is not marfu‘ (attributed directly to the Prophet).

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) that the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) said: The transaction of a fetus in the womb with deferred payment is usury.

Under this chapter, the following sub-chapters and hadiths have been mentioned.

Ibn Az Nan says: I lent Alqamah two thousand dirhams. When the time for repayment came, I said: Pay my debt. He said: Give me respite until next year, but I refused to give respite, so I took it from him. Then I came to him later, and he said: You have clung to me and you have withheld from me. I said: Yes, and this is your own action. He said: What is my matter? I said: You narrated to me this hadith that is reported from Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Indeed, a loan is equivalent to half of charity. He said: Yes, it is so. Then he said: So now take it.

Narrated by Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Whoever wishes that his supplication be accepted and his affliction be removed, then he should make things easy for the debtor in difficulty regarding his debt.

Narrated by Sayyiduna Muslamah bin Makhlad (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Whoever conceals the faults of a Muslim in this world, Allah Almighty will conceal his faults in this world and the Hereafter. Whoever relieves a person in distress, Allah Almighty will relieve him of one of the calamities of the Day of Judgment. And whoever remains engaged in helping his brother, Allah Almighty will remain engaged in fulfilling his needs.