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PRICIPLE OF BUSINESS (VOL-2) BY ASHRAF ALI THANVI (r.a)

Princip le O f Busine ss 2

Writte n By

Maulana Ashraf Ali Thanvi Rahmatullah Alaihi

Table Of Cont e nt s

Invalid and imp ro p e r transactio ns

Se ll ing at a p ro fit o r at co st

Transactio ns b ase d o n ribâ o r inte re st

Go ld and s ilve r

Ite ms so ld b y we ig ht

Ite ms so ld b y me asure me nt o r co unting

Bay‘us salam o r fo rward b uying

The taking o f lo ans

Giving g uarante e s

Passing o ve r o f d e b ts to so me o ne e lse

Ap p o inting a p e rso n as a wakîl (re p re se ntative )

Dismissing a wakîl

Glo ssary

Invalid and imprope r t ransact ions

1. A transactio n which is no t co nsid e re d in the Sharî‘ah , which is re g ard e d as use le ss, and re g ard ing which o ne wil l say that it is as if thep e rso n d id no t e ve n p urchase the ite m and the se lle r d id no t e ve n se ll i t, is re fe rre d to as bâtil o r invalid . The rule with re g ard to such atransactio n is that the p e rso n who p urchase d the ite m d o e s no t b e co me its o wne r and that it is s ti l l co nsid e re d to b e und e r the o wne rship o fthe se lle r. The re fo re , it is no t p e rmissib le fo r the b uye r to co nsume it o r to g ive it to anyo ne . It is no t p e rmissib le fo r him to uti l ize it in anyway.

As fo r the transactio n which has take n p lace b ut so me so rt o f sho rtco ming is fo und in it, is re fe rre d to as fâsid o r imp ro p e r. The rule withre g ard to such a transactio n is that as lo ng as the ite m d o e s no t co me into the p o sse ssio n o f the b uye r, o wne rship o f that ite m wil l no t b etransfe rre d to him. Once he take s p o sse ssio n o f it, i t wil l co me und e r his o wne rship b ut it is no t halâl and tayyib . The re fo re , it is no tp e rmissib le fo r him to co nsume it o r uti l ize it in any way. Inste ad , it is wajib to cance l o r annul this transactio n. If the p e rso n wishe s to ke e p it,he must re co mme nce the transactio n and the n p urchase it. If the p e rso n d id no t cance l this transactio n and inste ad , so ld the ite m toso me o ne e lse , he wil l b e co mmitting a s in.

Ho we ve r, it wil l b e p e rmissib le fo r the se co nd b uye r to co nsume it o r uti l ize it in any way and this se co nd transactio n wil l b e valid . If thep e rso n so ld it at a p ro fit, i t wil l b e wâjib o n him to g ive the p ro fits in charity. It is no t p e rmissib le fo r him to use it fo r his p e rso nal p urp o se s.

2. The custo m o f se ll ing the fish that is in the lake s o r p o o ls o f land lo rd s is a bâtil transactio n. All the fish that are in the se lake s and p o o ls d ono t b e lo ng to anyo ne as lo ng as the y are no t caug ht and fishe d o ut. The p e rso n who catche s the fish b e co me s its o wne r. Once yo u haveund e rsto o d this asp e ct, no w try and und e rstand the fo llo wing : i f the land lo rd s d o no t e ve n o wn tho se fish, ho w can it b e p e rmissib le fo rthe m to se ll the m? Ob vio usly, if the land lo rd catche s the fish himse lf and the n se lls it, this wil l b e p e rmissib le . If he asks so me o ne e lse tocatch the fish, that p e rso n wil l b e co me its o wne r. The land lo rd has no rig ht o ve r the fish which has b e e n caug ht b y that p e rso n. In the sameway, it is also no t p e rmissib le fo r him to p re ve nt p e o p le fro m fishing the re .

3. Grass b e g an g ro wing o n its o wn o n a p e rso n's land . He d id no t p lant it no r d id he irrig ate it. This g rass d o e s no t b e lo ng to anyo ne . Anyo necan co me and cut it and take it away. It is no t p e rmissib le fo r the o wne r o f the land to se ll i t no r is it p e rmissib le fo r him to sto p anyo ne fro mcutting it. Ho we ve r, if the p e rso n irrig ate d it and p ut so me wo rk into it, i t wil l co me und e r his o wne rship . No w it wil l b e p e rmissib le fo r him tose ll i t and to sto p o the rs fro m cutting it as we ll.

4. The yo ung o f an animal that is s ti l l in the sto mach o f the mo the r canno t b e so ld b e fo re it is b o rn. Such a transactio n is bâtil . Ho we ve r, it isp e rmissib le to se ll the e ntire animal. But if the o wne r says : " I am se ll ing this g o at to yo u b ut the kid that is in its s to mach b e lo ng s to me .Once it g ive s b irth to that kid , yo u wil l have to g ive it to me " , the n such a transactio n is fâsid .

5. The milk that is s ti l l in the ud d e rs o f an animal canno t b e so ld b e fo re it can b e milke d . Such a transactio n is bâtil . The o wne r wil l have tomilk the co w firs t and the n se ll the milk. Similarly, it is p ro hib ite d and bâtil to se ll the wo o l that is o n a she e p b e fo re it can b e she are d .

6. It is no t p e rmissib le to se ll the timb e r, wo o d , e tc. that is p art o f the ho use o r ro o f b e fo re re mo ving o r d ig g ing the se ite ms o ut.

7. It is no t p e rmissib le to se ll the hair, b o ne s, e tc. o f humans. Such a transactio n is bâtil . It is also no t p e rmissib le to uti l ise the se thing s fo ro ne 's p e rso nal p urp o se s.

8. Ap art fro m p ig s, the b o ne s, hair and ho rns o f d e ad animals are p ure . It is p e rmissib le to use the m and to se ll the m as we ll.

9. Yo u p urchase d a g o at o r any o the r ite m fo r R5 fro m so me o ne , to o k p o sse ssio n o f it, to o k it ho me and had it tie d . Ho we ve r, yo u d id no t p ayfo r it as ye t. Co incid e ntally, yo u are unab le to p ay fo r it o r yo u d e cid e d no t to ke e p it any lo ng e r. Yo u the re fo re we nt to the p e rso n and said : " Take this g o at b ack fo r R4 and I wil l g ive yo u R1 se p arate ly." This se ll ing and this taking away wil l no t b e p e rmissib le . As lo ng as thep e rso n d o e s no t g ive him the full amo unt in cash, it wil l no t b e p e rmissib le to se ll i t to him fo r a le sse r p rice .

10. A p e rso n so ld his ho use o n the co nd itio n that he wil l no t hand it o ve r imme d iate ly. Inste ad , he wil l s tay in it fo r o ne mo nth. Alte rnative ly, heso ld it o n the co nd itio n that the b uye r g ive s him a ce rtain amo unt o f mo ne y as a lo an. Or a p e rso n p urchase d fab ric o n the co nd itio n that thep e rso n who is se ll ing it must cut and se w it. Or he mad e the co nd itio n that he wil l p urchase it o n co nd itio n that it is d e live re d to his ho use . Orhe mad e any o the r s imilar co nd itio n which is re g ard e d as b ase le ss and p ro hib ite d in the Sharî‘ah . In all the se case s, the transactio n wil l b e fâsid .

11. A p e rso n p urchase d a co w o n co nd itio n that it g ive s fo ur l i tre s o f milk. This transactio n is fâsid . Ho we ve r, if he d id no t sp e cify any amo untb ut me re ly mad e the co nd itio n that this co w g ive s a lo t o f milk, the transactio n wil l b e p e rmissib le .

12. A p e rso n p urchase d animate to ys (such as d o lls) fo r his child re n. This transactio n is bâtil . Such to ys have no value in the Sharî‘ah .The re fo re , no p rice wil l b e p aid fo r the m and if so me o ne hap p e ns to b re ak the m, he wil l no t have to p ay any co mp e nsatio n.

13. If yo u p urchase d d ry g ro ce rie s, o il, g he e , e tc. fo r a ce rtain amo unt p e r kilo g ram, the se lle r co uld have g ive n yo u the se ite ms in any o f thefo llo wing thre e ways :

(a) He we ig he d the se ite ms in yo ur p re se nce o r in the p re se nce o f the p e rso n who m yo u se nt. (b ) He d id no t we ig h the m. Inste ad , he aske dyo u to g o ho me and to ld yo u that he wil l se nd the ite ms to yo u. (c) The ite ms we re alre ad y we ig he d and ke p t as id e and whe n yo u aske d fo rthe m, he me re ly p icke d the m up and g ave the m to yo u witho ut re -we ig hing the m. The rule with re g ard to (a) is that o nce yo u b ring the ite msho me , yo u d o no t have to we ig h the m. Yo u can e at the m, d rink the m, use the m, se ll the m, and d o whate ve r e lse yo u l ike witho ut having to re -we ig h the m. All this is p e rmissib le and valid .

The rule with re g ard to (b ) and (c) is that as lo ng as yo u d o no t we ig h the m yo urse lf, yo u canno t co nsume the m, yo u canno t se ll the m no r canyo u use the m in any way. If yo u se ll the m witho ut we ig hing the m, the transactio n wil l b e fâsid . Eve n if yo u we ig h the m afte r this , thetransactio n wil l no t b e p ro p e r.

14. Be fo re he co uld se ll yo u the se ite ms, he we ig he d the m and sho we d the m to yo u. The re afte r, yo u p urchase d the m b ut he d id no t re -we ig hthe m. In such a case , it is ne ce ssary fo r yo u (the b uye r) to re -we ig h the m. Yo u canno t co nsume the m o r se ll the m witho ut re -we ig hing the m.Altho ug h he we ig he d the m and sho we d the m to yo u b e fo re yo u co uld b uy the m, this we ig hing o f his wil l no t b e co nsid e re d . 15. All i te ms ap artfro m land , p ro p e rtie s, ho use s, e tc. canno t b e re so ld as lo ng as the b uye r d o e s no t take p o sse ssio n o f the m afte r b uying the m.

16. A p e rso n p urchase d a g o at o r any o the r ite m. Afte r a fe w d ays ano the r p e rso n co me s and says that the g o at actually b e lo ng s to him.So me o ne had take n it away and so ld it to yo u witho ut it b e lo ng ing to him. If this p e rso n can sub stantiate his c laim with two witne sse s in thep re se nce o f a Shar'î jud g e , the g o at wil l have to b e g ive n to him o nce the jud g e p asse s jud g e me nt in his favo ur. This p e rso n (who hadp urchase d the g o at) canno t c laim the mo ne y fro m him. Inste ad , he can c laim the mo ne y fro m the p e rso n fro m who m he had p urchase d theg o at.

17. A fo wl, g o at o r co w d ie d . It is harâm to se ll that animal. Such a transactio n is bâtil . In fact, it is no t e ve n p e rmissib le to g ive this d e adanimal to the to ile t-c le ane rs and tanne rs fo r the ir co nsump tio n. Ho we ve r, if yo u g ive it to the to ile t-c le ane r o r tanne r fo r thro wing away and hep icks it up and e ats it, the re wil l b e no b lame o n yo u. It is p e rmissib le fo r yo u to have the animal skinne d , it' s skin tre ate d and tanne d andthe re afte r to se ll i t o r use it fo r yo ur p e rso nal p urp o se s.

18. Once a p e rso n d e cid e s to p urchase an ite m, has it we ig he d , ag re e s o n a p rice and the se lle r also ag re e s to se ll i t at a p articular p rice , itwil l no t b e p e rmissib le fo r so me o ne e lse to co me and b id a hig he r p rice and take it away. Similarly, it is no t p e rmissib le fo r ano the r p e rso n tosay : " Do n' t b uy fro m him. I wil l g ive it to yo u at a b e tte r p rice ."

19. A hawke r so ld fo ur g uavas to yo u fo r R1. Ano the r p e rso n b arg aine d with him and g o t five g uavas fo r R1. On se e ing this , yo u have no rig htto ask him fo r o ne mo re g uava. It is no t p e rmissib le and harâm to take it fo rce fully. Yo u can o nly take what yo u had ag re e d up o n with him.

20. A p e rso n is se ll ing so me thing b ut he d o e s no t want to se ll i t to yo u . It is no t p e rmissib le to take the ite m fo rce fully and g ive him themo ne y. This is b e cause he is the o wne r o f that ite m, he can se ll i t i f he wishe s. If no t, he d o e s no t have to se ll i t. He also has the rig ht to se ll i tto who mso e ve r he wishe s. Ve ry o fte n, the p o lice take thing s fo rce fully. This is ab so lute ly harâm . If any wo man's husb and is a p o lice man andhe b ring s any ite m ho me , she must find o ut p ro p e rly as to whe re he o b taine d it fro m. She must no t use that ite m witho ut asking him.

21. A p e rso n b o ug ht a kilo o f p o tato e s. The re afte r, he to o k a fe w mo re p o tato e s fo rce fully. This is no t p e rmissib le . But if the se lle r g ive s a fe wmo re o n his o wn wil l, i t wil l b e p e rmissib le to acce p t the m. Similarly, o nce a p rice has b e e n ag re e d up o n and the p e rso n take s the ite m, it wil lno t b e p e rmissib le to g ive an amo unt le ss than the p rice that was ag re e d up o n. If the se lle r hap p ily re d uce s the p rice o n his o wn, it wil l b ep e rmissib le . 22. If the re is a b e e -hive in a p e rso n's ho use , he wil l b e re g ard e d as its o wne r. It is no t p e rmissib le fo r anyo ne e lse to b re ak ito r take it away witho ut his p e rmissio n. If a b ird g ive s b irth to so me chicks in a p e rso n's ho use , he d o e s no t b e co me the o wne r o f tho se b ird s.Inste ad , who e ve r catche s the m wil l b e co me the ir o wne r. Ho we ve r, it is no t p e rmissib le to catch the chicks and tro ub le the m.

Se lling at a prof it or at cost

1. I p urchase d an ite m fo r R1. I have the rig ht to se ll this ite m fo r R1, R10, R20, R50 o r at any o the r p rice . The re is no s in inthis . Ho we ve r, if the transactio n was se ttle d in a way that the b uye r says : " Make a p ro fit o f 10c o n the ite m and se ll i t to me " ,and yo u say : " Okay, I wil l se ll i t to yo u afte r making a p ro fit o f 10c o n it" , the n in such a case it is no t p e rmissib le fo r yo u tomake a p ro fit o f mo re than 10c o n that ite m. Alte rnative ly, the b uye r says : " Fo r whate ve r p rice yo u p urchase d it, ad d 40cp ro fit to it and se ll i t to me ." Eve n in such a case , it wil l b e wajib o n yo u to q uo te the co rre ct p rice and it wil l b e harâm to make mo re than40c p ro fit. Similarly, if yo u te ll the b uye r : " I wil l se ll this to yo u at co st and I wo n' t make any p ro fit fro m yo u" , it wil l no t b e p e rmissib le to makeany p ro fit. It wil l b e wâjib to q uo te the co st p rice .

2. Yo u inte nd p urchasing an ite m and yo u ask the se lle r to se ll i t to yo u at a p ro fit o f 10c. He re p lie s " Okay, I se ll i t to yo u at a p ro fit o f 10c."Alte rnative ly, yo u say:

" Se ll i t to me at yo ur co st p rice ." He re p lie s : " Okay, g ive me that amo unt and d o n' t g ive me any p ro fit." Ho we ve r, in b o th case s, he d id no tte ll yo u the co st p rice o f the ite m as ye t. In such a case , if he q uo te s yo u his co st p rice b e fo re g e tting up fro m his p lace , the transactio n wil lb e valid . But if he d o e s no t q uo te yo u the p rice at that p lace , and says : " Take the ite m no w, I wil l che ck the p rice and info rm yo u" o r saysso me thing e lse , the n in such a case the transactio n wil l b e fâsid .

3. Afte r taking the ite m, the b uye r le arns that the p e rso n had n' t q uo te d the co rre ct co st p rice and had mad e a p ro fit mo re than what he hadp ro mise d . In such a case the b uye r d o e s no t have the rig ht to g ive a le sse r amo unt. If he wishe s to p urchase the ite m, he wil l have to p ay thep rice that was q uo te d to him. Ho we ve r, he d o e s have the rig ht to re turn the ite m if he d o e s no t wish to p urchase it. If the se lle r had ag re e d tose ll the ite m at co st and had p ro mise d that he wil l no t make any p ro fit and the re afte r q uo te d an amo unt that is mo re than his co st p rice , the nhe d o e s no t have the rig ht to take mo re than the co st p rice . The b uye r has the rig ht to p ay the co st p rice and no t p ay the ad d itio nal amo untthat he had q uo te d .

4. Yo u p urchase d an ite m o n cre d it. As lo ng as yo u d o no t info rm o the r b uye rs that yo u have p urchase d it o n cre d it, i t wil l no t b e p e rmissib lefo r yo u to se ll i t at a p ro fit o r at co st (if me ntio n o f the co st p rice is mad e at the time o f sale ). Inste ad , yo u sho uld info rm the m that yo up urchase d the ite m o n cre d it. In so d o ing , it wil l b e p e rmissib le fo r yo u to se ll i t at co st o r at a p ro fit. Ho we ve r, if yo u d o no t make anyme ntio n o f yo ur co st p rice s, it wil l b e p e rmissib le fo r yo u to se ll i t at whate ve r p rice yo u wish.

5. Yo u p urchase d a c lo th fo r R100. The re afte r, yo u had it d ye d at a co st o f R4. Alte rnative ly, yo u had it washe d o r se wn fo r R4. It wil l no w b eund e rsto o d that yo u acq uire d it fo r R104. It wil l no w b e p e rmissib le fo r yo u to me ntio n its co st p rice as b e ing R104 and the re afte r to makeyo ur p ro fit o n this amo unt. Ho we ve r, yo u sho uld no t say that yo u p urchase d it fo r R104. Inste ad , yo u sho uld say that it land e d yo u at R104 sothat it is no t re g ard e d as a l ie .

6. Yo u p urchase d a g o at fo r R100. Yo u ke p t it with yo u fo r o ne mo nth and it co st yo u R10 to fe e d it in this o ne mo nth. It wil l b e p e rmissib le fo ryo u to q uo te the co st p rice as b e ing R110, and se ll i t at a p ro fit acco rd ing ly. Ho we ve r, if this g o at p ro d uce s milk, yo u wil l have to sub tract thatamo unt acco rd ing ly as we ll, e .g . if i t co st yo u R10 to fe e d this g o at and it p ro d uce d milk to the value o f R5, yo u wil l have to sub tract thisamo unt fro m the R10 and say that this g o at land e d yo u at R105.

The re are many o the r masâ'il in this re g ard b ut s ince wo me n d o no t e nco unte r the m ve ry fre q ue ntly, we have no t me ntio ne d the m. (Be aring inmind that Bahishti Ze war was o rig inally writte n fo r wo me n).

Transact ions base d on Ribâ or Int e re st

The re is a ve ry majo r s in in co nd ucting transactio ns which are b ase d o n ribâ o r inte re st. The Quran and Had îth haveme ntio ne d many harms and e vils in this re g ard and have g re atly e mp hasize d ab ste ntio n fro m such transactio ns. Rasûlullâh sallallâhu ‘alayhi wa sallam curse d the p aye r o f inte re st, the re ce ive r o f inte re st, the p e rso n who acts as a p ro xy fo r such atransactio n, the p e rso n who write s it d o wn and the p e rso n who witne sse s such a transactio n. Rasûlullâh sallallâhu ‘alayhi wa sallam also ad d e dthat the p aye r and re ce ive r o f inte re st are b o th e q ual in this crime . It is

the re fo re ne ce ssary to b e e xtre me ly cautio us in ab staining fro m such transactio ns. The masâ'il in this re g ard are ve ry intricate . On trivialtransactio ns o ne can b e re g ard e d as co mmitting the s in o f invo lving himse lf in inte re st. Many p e o p le d o no t e ve n re alize that the y haveco mmitte d a s in. We wil l e xp lain the ne ce ssary masâ'il in this re g ard . Whe n co nd ucting any transactio n, always b e ar the se masâ'il in mind .

No te : Acco rd ing to the no rm in Ind ia and Pakistan, all thing s can b e d ivid e d into fo ur cate g o rie s

(1) Go ld and s ilve r, and ite ms that are mad e fro m the m. (2) Ite ms o the r than g o ld and s ilve r that are so ld b y we ig ht, such as d ry g ro ce rie s,cro p s, s te e l, co p p e r, wo o l, ve g e tab le s, e tc. (3) Ite ms that are so ld b y me asure me nt, such as fab rics. (4) Ite ms that are so ld b y co unting , suchas e g g s, mang o e s, g uavas, o rang e s, g o ats, cattle , ho rse s, e tc. Try and und e rstand the rule s o f all the ab o ve ind ivid ually.

Gold and Silve r

1. The re are se ve ral ways o f p urchasing g o ld and s ilve r. One is that g o ld co uld b e p urchase d in e xchang e fo r g o ld o r s ilve r ine xchang e fo r s ilve r, e .g . a p e rso n p urchase s g o ld with a g o ld co in which he has in his p o sse ssio n o r s ilve r with a s ilve r co in whichhe has in his p o sse ssio n. In o the r wo rd s, the ite m that is b e ing p urchase d is o f the same cate g o ry as that with which it is b e ingp urchase d . In such a case , two facto rs are wajib : (i) the g o ld o r the s ilve r o n b o th s id e s wil l have to b e e q ual, (i i) the transactio nmust b e co mp le te b e fo re the b uye r and the se lle r can se p arate , the re must b e no o utstand ing amo unt. If the y co nd uct this transactio nco ntrary to any o f the se two facto rs, it wil l b e inte re st. Fo r e xamp le , if yo u p urchase s ilve r with a R1 co in (which is mad e o f s ilve r), yo u wil l haveto p urchase the s ilve r that is e q ual in we ig ht as that o f the R1 co in. If i t is mo re o r le ss than the R1 co in, it wil l b e inte re st.

Similarly, if yo u hand o ve r the R1 co in and he d o e s no t g ive yo u the s ilve r imme d iate ly, inste ad he p ro mise s to g ive it to yo u afte r a sho rt whileand g o e s away o r, yo u d o no t hand o ve r the R1 co in to him and inste ad yo u take the s ilve r o n cre d it, the n this wil l also b e inte re st.

2. The se co nd me tho d is that the same cate g o ry is no t fo und o n b o th s id e s. Inste ad , o ne p e rso n has g o ld while the o the r has s ilve r. The rulein this re g ard is that it is no t ne ce ssary fo r the m to b e e q ual in we ig ht. It is p e rmissib le to p urchase as much g o ld as p o ssib le with a R1 co in.Similarly, it is p e rmissib le to p urchase as much s ilve r as p o ssib le with a g o ld co in. Ho we ve r, this transactio n wil l have to b e co mp le te db e fo re the two can se p arate . In this case it is also wâjib to ab stain fro m any cre d it, as me ntio ne d in the p re vio us mas'ala .

3. The marke t value o f s ilve r has rise n sharp ly. In o the r wo rd s, a R1 co in is se ll ing fo r R1,20 and no o ne is g iving it fo r R1. Alte rnative ly, ap ie ce o f s ilve r je we le r has b e e n e xq uis ite ly d e sig ne d and its we ig ht is e q ual to 10 R1 co ins o f s ilve r. Ho we ve r, o ne canno t p urchase it fo rle ss than the we ig ht o f 12 R1 co ins o f s ilve r. In o rd e r to save yo urse lf fro m inte re st, an alte rnative me tho d is that yo u sho uld no t p urchase itwith s ilve r co ins. Inste ad , p urchase it with mo ne y (no te s) o r no rmal o rd inary co ins. Ho we ve r, yo u sho uld no t p urchase the R1 co in with R1,20.If yo u d o so , it wil l b e inte re st. Similarly, if yo u wish to p urchase R8 wo rth o f s ilve r fo r R9, p ay the p e rso n with R7 wo rth o f s ilve r and R2 in cash.In so d o ing , yo u wil l b e p urchasing R7 wo rth o f s ilve r with R7 wo rth o f s ilve r, and the b alance o f the s ilve r wil l actually b e p aid fo r with yo ur R2.In sho rt, if yo u wish to p urchase s ilve r with s ilve r always te nd e r le ss s ilve r than what is actually b e ing p urchase d and the re maind e r sho uld b ep aid in cash (no te s o r co ins). 4. If b o th the b uye r and se lle r ag re e , the n an e asy me tho d wil l b e to ad d so me mo ne y o n that s id e whe re thesilve r is le ss in we ig ht.

5. An e asie r me tho d is that e ach o f the m sho uld ke e p whate ve r s ilve r he wishe s to ke e p , and the o the r sho uld ke e p whate ve r s ilve r co ins hewishe s to ke e p . Ho we ve r, e ach o ne sho uld also ad d so me mo ne y to his s ilve r o r s ilve r co ins. He sho uld the n say : " I am b uying this s ilve r

wishe s to ke e p . Ho we ve r, e ach o ne sho uld also ad d so me mo ne y to his s ilve r o r s ilve r co ins. He sho uld the n say : " I am b uying this s ilve rand this mo ne y in e xchang e fo r the se s ilve r co ins and this mo ne y." In so d o ing , the y wil l save the mse lve s fro m all te chnicalitie s.

6. If the p rice o f s ilve r has d ro p p e d and o ne is ab le to p urchase R1.50 wo rth o f s ilve r fo r R1 (mad e o f s ilve r) and o ne fe e ls that if he has top urchase R1.50 wo rth o f s ilve r fo r R1, he wil l suffe r a lo ss, the n the me tho d o f avo id ing this and also avo id ing any inte re st is that he sho uldinc lud e so me mo ne y (no t mad e o f s ilve r) in the p rice o f the s ilve r irre sp e ctive o f ho w little it may b e , e .g . he p urchase d R15 wo rth o f s ilve r fo rR10. In this way, it wo uld b e und e rsto o d that the s ilve r wo rth R9 was in e xchang e o f the nine s ilve r co ins o f R1 e ach whils t the cash (i.e . o the rco ins no t mad e o f s ilve r) o f R1 was in e xchang e o f the re maind e r. 7. A p e rso n wishe s to p urchase hig h q uality s ilve r in e xchang e fo r hisinfe rio r q uality s ilve r and is unab le to acq uire an amo unt o f hig h q uality s ilve r which is e q ual in we ig ht to his infe rio r q uality s ilve r. In such acase , he sho uld firs t se ll his infe rio r q uality s ilve r fo r whate ve r p rice he may b e ab le to g e t. The re afte r, he sho uld p urchase the hig h q ualitys ilve r with the mo ne y that he re ce ive s. In b uying and se ll ing , the rule s that have b e e n me ntio ne d ab o ve sho uld also b e b o rne in mind .Alte rnative ly, b o th the b uye r and se lle r co uld inc lud e so me mo ne y in b o th the s ilve r and the re afte r und e rtake the transactio n.

8. Mo st wo me n p urchase s ilve r lace s, b ro cad e s, tasse ls, e tc. fro m the b azaars. The y sho uld also b e ar the ab o ve masâ'il in mind b e causethis is also s ilve r and s ilve r co ins are b e ing p aid in e xchang e fo r the se s ilve r ite ms. Eve n in this case , an e asy me tho d wil l b e to inc lud eso me mo ne y o n e ithe r s id e and the n und e rtake the transactio n.

9. If a p e rso n p urchase s an ite m which is mad e o f g o ld o r s ilve r and it is such that it is e ntire ly mad e o f g o ld o r e ntire ly mad e o f s ilve r and itd o e s no t co ntain anything e lse , the n the same rule wil l ap p ly. That is , if a g o ld ite m is b e ing p urchase d with s ilve r o r s ilve r co ins, o r a s ilve rite m is b e ing p urchase d with g o ld co ins, it wil l b e p e rmissib le to p urchase that ite m irre sp e ctive o f the d iffe re nce in we ig ht. The o nly facto rthat the y have to wo rry ab o ut is that the transactio n must b e co mp le te d the re and the n. No ne o f the p artie s must have any o utstand ing amo unt.But if a s ilve r ite m is b e ing p urchase d with s ilve r co ins o r a g o ld ite m is b e ing p urchase d with g o ld co ins, it wil l b e wâjib fo r the m to b ee q ual in we ig ht. If the re is any sho rtfall o r e xtra o n e ithe r s id e , the ite m sho uld b e p urchase d thro ug h the ab o ve -me ntio ne d me tho d s.

10. The ite m is such that it has so me o the r me tal o r s to ne in ad d itio n to the s ilve r Fo r e xamp le , an armle t has b e e n fi l le d with se aling -wax, asto ne has b e e n se t o nto a no se -ring , a sto ne has b e e n se t into a ring , o r an armle t has no t b e e n fi l le d with se aling -wax b ut inste ad it hasb e e n b e ad e d with strand s o f wire (and b e ad s). If the se ite ms have b e e n p urchase d with s ilve r co ins, the n che ck the amo unt o f s ilve r the yco ntain. Is the s ilve r in the ite m which yo u have p urchase d e q ual in we ig ht as that o f the s ilve r co ins, is it mo re o r is it le ss? If the s ilve r in theite m is d e finite ly le ss than the we ig ht o f yo ur s ilve r co ins, this transactio n is p e rmissib le . If i t is e q ual o r mo re , the transactio n wil l b ere g ard e d as inte re st. In o rd e r to save yo urse lf fro m this inte re st, the ab o ve -me ntio ne d me tho d s sho uld b e e mp lo ye d . That is , the s ilve r co inswith which yo u wil l b e p aying sho uld b e le ss in value than the s ilve r that the ite m co ntains and inc lud e so me cash in o rd e r to fi l l in the b alance .The co nd itio n o r p re re q uis ite o f the e ntire transactio n b e ing carrie d o ut at o ne time (i.e . witho ut any

cre d it o n e ithe r s id e ) has also to b e ad he re d to in all the se masâ'il .

11. Yo u have take n so me o ne e lse 's ring in e xchang e fo r yo ur ring . Che ck if b o th have any sto ne o r g e m. If b o th the ring s have a sto ne o r g e m,this e xchang e is p e rmissib le irre sp e ctive o f whe the r the amo unt o f s ilve r in b o th the ring s is e q ual, le ss o r mo re . Ho we ve r, it is ne ce ssarythat this e xchang e take s p lace in o ne s itting .

If b o th the ring s are p lain, i.e . witho ut any sto ne , the n the co nd itio n is that the s ilve r wil l have to b e e q ual. Eve n if the re is a s lig ht d iffe re nce , itwil l b e re g ard e d as inte re st.

If o ne o f the ring s are p lain and the o the r has a sto ne , it wil l b e p e rmissib le to e xchang e o ne fo r the o the r o nly if the p lain ring has mo resilve r than the ring which has a sto ne . If i t is no t so , it wil l b e harâm to e xchang e and it wil l b e re g ard e d as inte re st.

Similarly, if this transactio n and e xchang e d o e s no t take p lace at o nce ; i.e . o ne o f the m hand s o ve r his ring imme d iate ly while the o the r saysthat he wil l g ive it at a late r s tag e , the n this wil l also b e re g ard e d as inte re st.

12. In all tho se masâ'il whe re we said that it is a co nd itio n o r a p re re q uis ite fo r the transactio n to b e e xe cute d in o ne s itting o r at o ne time -this me ans that the transactio n must b e co mp le te d b e fo re the two can se p arate . If o ne o f the m se p arate s o r mo ve s away b e fo re thetransactio n can b e co mp le te d , it wil l no t b e co nsid e re d and this wil l also b e re g ard e d as inte re st. Fo r e xamp le , yo u p urchase so me g o ld ,s ilve r, o r a g o ld and s ilve r ite m fro m the je we le r in e xchang e fo r R10

wo rth o f s ilve r. In such a case , yo u sho uld hand o ve r the s ilve r co ins the re and the n. In the same way, the je we le r sho uld hand o ve r the ite m toyo u the re and the n. If the je we le r d o e s no t have the s ilve r with him and says that he wil l g o ho me just no w and se nd the s ilve r ite m to yo u, thiswil l no t b e p e rmissib le . Inste ad , he sho uld se nd so me o ne to b ring it fo r him. At the same time , yo u sho uld no t mo ve fro m that p lace unti l thesilve r ite m is b ro ug ht no r sho uld yo u allo w the je we le r to mo ve away fro m the re . If the je we le r asks yo u to g o ho me with him and that he wil lg ive it to yo u o ve r the re , yo u sho uld fo llo w him c lo se ly and try to b e with him all the time . If he d isap p e ars into the ho use o r d isap p e arsso me whe re e lse , it wil l b e a s in and the transactio n wil l no t b e p e rmissib le . Yo u wil l have to re ne w the e ntire transactio n.

13. Afte r p urchasing the ite m, yo u we nt ho me to b ring the s ilve r co ins, o r the je we le r we nt to re lie ve himse lf o r we nt into the b ack o f his sho pfo r so me wo rk. In so d o ing the two o f yo u we re se p arate d fro m e ach o the r. This is no t p e rmissib le and the transactio n wil l b e re g ard e d asinte re st.

14. If yo u d o no t have the s ilve r co ins with yo u at that time and yo u wish to p urchase the ite m o n cre d it, the n the me tho d o f p urchasing the ite mis that whate ve r amo unt yo u have to p ay fo r the ite m, b o rro w that amo unt fro m the p e rso n as a lo an. Once yo u have take n that amo unt, p ay fo rthe ite m that yo u wish to p urchase , and the re sp o nsib il i ty to re -p ay the lo an wil l re main o n yo ur sho uld e rs. Yo u can re -p ay this lo an whe ne ve ryo u wish.

15. Yo u p urchase d a he ad -co ve ring o r hat which has b e e n e mb ro id e re d with s ilve r at a p rice o f R10 wo rth o f s ilve r. In such a case , try toe stimate the amo unt o f s ilve r

that wil l co me o ut fro m that he ad -co ve ring . Afte r e stimating the amo unt o f s ilve r, it wil l b e wajib o n yo u to p ay an e q uivale nt amo unt fro m yo urs ilve r co ins imme d iate ly. The b alance o f the p rice co uld b e p aid whe ne ve r yo u wish. The same rule wil l ap p ly to p re -se t je we le ry. Fo re xamp le , yo u p urchase d je we le ry to the value o f R50 in s ilve r while it has R20 wo rth o f s ilve r in it. In such a case , yo u wil l have to p ay the R20imme d iate ly, and the b alance co uld b e p aid whe ne ve r yo u wish.

16. Yo u p urchase d cash mo ne y in e xchang e fo r s ilve r co ins. The rule in this re g ard is that it is no t ne ce ssary fo r the transactio n to b ee xe cute d imme d iate ly. Inste ad , it wil l b e suffic ie nt if i t is fulfi l le d b y o ne o f the p artie s. Fo r e xamp le , yo u g ave the s ilve r imme d iate ly while he

g ave the cash mo ne y afte r so me time . Alte rnative ly, he g ave yo u the cash mo ne y imme d iate ly, while yo u g ave him the s ilve r afte r se p aratingfro m him. This is p e rmissib le . Ho we ve r, if yo u take small chang e (co ins in small d e no minatio ns) to g e the r with the cash mo ne y, this smallchang e wil l have to b e g ive n the re and the n.

Ho we ve r, it sho uld b e b o rne in mind that this rule with re g ard to cash wil l o nly b e ap p licab le whe n the sho p -ke e p e r has the cash mo ne y in hisp o sse ssio n b ut is unab le to hand it o ve r imme d iate ly d ue to so me re aso n, o r b e cause it is s ti l l at ho me and he wil l b ring it fo r yo u fro m the re .But if he d id no t have the mo ne y in his p o sse ssio n and said that he wil l g ive it to yo u afte r se ll ing so me o f his g o o d s o r, he g ave yo u a p art o fthe mo ne y no w and said that whe n he make s a sale and re ce ive s so me

mo ne y yo u must co me and take the b alance o f what he o we s yo u; this wil l no t b e p e rmissib le . Since mo st o f the se d e b ts take p lace o nacco unt o f an ab se nce o f mo ne y, it is the re fo re p re fe rab le no t to le ave any mo ne y o n cre d it. If i t b e co me s ne ce ssary to und e rtake such atransactio n, take whate ve r mo ne y the p e rso n has as a lo an and le t him ke e p the s ilve r as an amânah . Once he g ive s yo u all the mo ne y und e rtake the transactio n.

17. If a p e rso n g ive s g o ld co ins in e xchang e fo r s ilve r co ins, it is wâjib fo r b o th o f the m to b e p re se nt and fo r the transactio n to b e carrie do ut in the p re se nce o f the b uye r and se lle r.

18. A p e rso n p urchase d a g o ld o r s ilve r ite m with g o ld o r s ilve r co ins and mad e the co nd itio n that he has the rig ht to ke e p the ite m o r re turn itwithin o ne d ay o r thre e d ays. This is no t p e rmissib le . One sho uld no t make co nd itio ns o f this nature in such transactio ns.

It e ms sold by we ight

1. We wil l no w e xp lain the rule s with re g ard to ite ms so ld b y we ig ht, such as d ry g ro ce rie s, me at, s te e l, co p p e r, ve g e tab le s,salt, e tc. If a p e rso n wishe s to e xchang e o r p urchase any o f the ab o ve -me ntio ne d ite ms (o r ite ms that fall und e r this cate g o ry) ine xchang e fo r the same ite m, e .g . he wishe s to e xchang e whe at in re turn fo r whe at, rice in e xchang e fo r rice , flo ur in e xchang efo r flo ur o r any o the r s imilar ite m which is the same , the n the rule in this re g ard is that it is wâjib to take the fo llo wing two facto rsinto co nsid e ratio n : (i) the we ig ht o f the ite m wil l have to b e e q ual o n b o th s id e s. Eve n the s lig hte st d iffe re nce in we ig ht wil l no t b ep e rmitte d . If no t, it wil l b e re g ard e d as inte re st. (i i) If the two p artie s d o no t take p o sse ssio n o f the re sp e ctive ite ms, the minimumre q uire me nt is that the whe at o f b o th sho uld b e ke p t se p arate ly. Yo u sho uld take yo ur whe at, we ig h it, ke e p it se p arate ly and te ll him that thiswhe at is ke p t o ve r he re , he can take it whe ne ve r he wishe s. In the same way, he sho uld also we ig h his whe at, ke e p it se p arate ly and te ll yo uthat this whe at is ke p t o ve r he re and that yo u can take it whe ne ve r yo u wish. If the y d o no t d o this and se p arate fro m e ach o the r (o r g o away),the y wil l b e co mmitting the s in o f inte re st.

2. A p e rso n wishe s to g ive his infe rio r q uality whe at in e xchang e fo r whe at that is o f a hig h q uality, o r infe rio r q uality flo ur in e xchang e fo r flo urthat is o f a hig h q uality. Whe n e ng ag ing in e xchang e s o f this nature , it is o b vio us that no o ne wo uld g ive an e q ual amo unt. In o rd e r to saveo ne se lf fro m inte re st, o ne sho uld se ll this infe rio r q uality whe at o r flo ur in e xchang e fo r mo ne y. Fo r e xamp le , b y se ll ing a ce rtain amo unt o fflo ur fo r R2. The re afte r, he sho uld p urchase the hig h q uality flo ur (o r whe at) with the R2 that he re ce ive d . This is p e rmissib le .

3. If an ite m is b e ing e xchang e d fo r ano the r ite m, e .g . a p e rso n g ive s so me whe at and take s rice , b arle y, g ram, co rn, salt, me at, ve g e tab le s,e tc., the n in such a case it is no t wâjib fo r the we ig ht o f b o th the ite ms to b e e xactly the same . He can g ive a kilo o f whe at in e xchang e fo r 10kilo s o f rice o r any o the r ite m. He co uld also g ive a kilo o f whe at in e xchang e fo r a fractio n o f a kilo o f any o the r ite m.

Ho we ve r, the se co nd facto r is wâjib he re as we ll. That is , the transactio n must b e e xe cute d in the p re se nce o f b o th the p e rso ns.Alte rnative ly, the minimum is that the ite ms o f b o th the p e rso ns must b e ke p t se p arate ly. If the y d o no t d o this , the y wil l b e co mmitting the s ino f inte re st.

4. A wo man p urchase d ve g e tab le s fro m the hawke r in e xchang e fo r a kilo o f g ram. She the n se p arate d he rse lf fro m the re and we nt into theho use to b ring so me whe at. This is harâm and no t p e rmissib le . She wil l have to re co mme nce the e ntire transactio n.

5. Ite ms which are so ld b y we ig ht we re p urchase d with s ilve r co ins, mo ne y, c lo the s, o r any o the r ite m which is no t so ld b y we ig ht b ut so ld b yme asure me nt o r b y co unting . Fo r e xamp le , the p e rso n g ave a me te r o f mate rial and to o k so me whe at o r s imilar ite m (which is so ld in we ig ht)in e xchang e . Alte rnative ly, he g ave so me whe at o r g ram and to o k so me g uavas, o rang e s, p e ars, e g g s, o r any o the r ite m that is so ld b yco unting . In sho rt, o n o ne s id e we have an ite m that is so ld b y we ig ht, and the o the r s id e we have an ite m that is so ld b y co unting o rme asuring . In such a case ,

none o f the two facto rs which we had me ntio ne d wil l b e wajib . Fo r R1, a p e rso n can p urchase as much whe at, flo ur, o r ve g e tab le s as hewishe s. Similarly, he can g ive so me c lo the s and take as much d ry g ro ce rie s as he wishe s. By g iving so me whe at, g ram, e tc. he can take asmuch g uavas, o rang e s, e tc. as he wishe s. All this is p o ssib le irre sp e ctive o f whe the r the e ntire transactio n is e xe cute d in o ne s itting o rwhe the r it is co mp le te d afte r the m se p arating . In all case s this transactio n wil l b e co rre ct.

6. On o ne s id e the re is s ifte d flo ur while o n the o the r s id e the re is un-s ifte d flo ur. Alte rnative ly, o n o ne s id e the re is co urse flo ur while o n theo the r s id e the re is fine flo ur. Whe n e xchang ing such flo ur, it wil l b e wâjib fo r the m to b e e q ual in we ig ht. It is no t p e rmissib le to have anyd iffe re nce in the we ig ht. If i t b e co me s ne ce ssary to e xchang e it in this way, the ab o ve -me ntio ne d me tho d s sho uld b e ad o p te d . If o n o ne s id eyo u have whe at flo ur and o n the o the r s id e yo u have g ram flo ur o r rice

flo ur, the n in such a case it wil l no t b e wâjib to have an e q ual we ig ht o f b o th. Ho we ve r, the se co nd facto r, i.e . that the transactio n must b ee xe cute d in o ne s itting , is wâjib .

7. In no way is it p e rmissib le to e xchang e whe at fo r flo ur. This is irre sp e ctive o f whe the r yo u g ive a kilo o f whe at in e xchang e fo r a kilo o fflo ur, o r whe the r the re is any d iffe re nce in the ir we ig ht. In all case s it is no t p e rmissib le . Ho we ve r, if the p e rso n g ive s so me whe at and d o e sno t take any whe at flo ur, inste ad he take s the flo ur o f so me o the r ite m such a g ram flo ur, it wil l b e p e rmissib le to d o so . Ho we ve r, thetransactio n wil l have to b e e xe cute d the re and the n.

8. A p e rso n g ave mustard se e d s and to o k mustard o il in re turn o r he g ave se same se e d s in e xchang e fo r se same o il. In such a case yo usho uld che ck whe the r this o il is d e finite ly mo re than the o il that can b e e xtracte d fro m the se mustard o r se same se e d s o r no t. If this o il ismo re , it wil l b e p e rmissib le to und e rtake such a transactio n p ro vid e d it is e xe cute d the re and the n. If i t is e q ual to o r le ss, o r yo u have ad o ub t as to whe the r it is mo re o r no t, it wil l no t b e p e rmissib le . Inste ad it wil l b e re g ard e d

as inte re st.

9. A p e rso n g ave b e e f in e xchang e fo r mutto n. It is no t wâjib fo r the we ig ht o f b o th to b e the same . The re can b e a d iffe re nce in the we ig ht.Ho we ve r, the transactio n wil l have to b e e xe cute d the re and the n.

10. A wo man g ave he r wate r p itche r and to o k ano the r o ne in e xchang e . Alte rnative ly, she e xchang e d he r wate r p itche r fo r a small p o t o r p an. Insuch a case it is a co nd itio n fo r b o th the ite ms to b e e q ual in we ig ht and fo r the transactio n to b e e xe cute d the re and the n. If the re is a s lig htd iffe re nce in the we ig ht, it wil l b e inte re st. This is b e cause b o th the ite ms are mad e o f co p p e r and the y wil l the re fo re b e re g ard e d as b e ingo f the same cate g o ry. If the y are e q ual in we ig ht b ut the transactio n was no t e xe cute d the re and the n, it wil l also b e inte re st. Ho we ve r, if o neite m is mad e o f co p p e r and the o the r o f s te e l, b rass o r any o the r me tal, it wil l b e p e rmissib le to have so me d iffe re nce in we ig ht. Ho we ve r,the transactio n wil l have to b e e xe cute d the re and the n.

11. A wo man p urchase s a kilo o f whe at o n cre d it fro m a p e rso n and says : " I d o n' t have any whe at. Ho we ve r, in co mp e nsatio n fo r yo urwhe at I wil l g ive yo u two kilo s o f g ram." This is no t p e rmissib le b e cause it me ans that the wo man is e xchang ing he r g ram fo r whe at and at thetime o f e xchang ing it is ne ce ssary to have the e ntire transactio n to b e e xe cute d the re and the n. The re must b e no cre d it re maining . Ho we ve r,if the ne e d arise s to carry o ut such a transactio n, she sho uld take the whe at o n cre d it b ut she sho uld no t me ntio n that she wil l g ive two kilo s o fg ram in e xchang e fo r it. Inste ad , afte r so me time she sho uld b ring the g ram and info rm the p e rso n thus : " I am g iving yo u this g ram ine xchang e fo r the whe at that I had take n fro m yo u." This is p e rmissib le .

12. In all the ab o ve -me ntio ne d masâ'il i t is a p re re q uis ite fo r the e ntire transactio n to b e e xe cute d the re and the n. If this is no t d o ne , the n theminimum is that

b o th the ite ms sho uld b e we ig he d the re and the n and ke p t se p arate ly. If this is no t d o ne , the transactio n wil l b e re g ard e d asinte re st. It e ms sold by me asure me nt or count ing

1. The fo llo wing rule s ap p ly to ite ms that are no t so ld b y we ig ht, b ut so ld e ithe r b y me asure me nt o r co unting . If a p articular typ eo f ite m is e xchang e d fo r the same typ e o f ite m, e .g . g uavas are e xchang e d fo r g uavas, o r o rang e s are e xchang e d fo r o rang e s, o r a fab ric ise xchang e d fo r s imilar fab ric , the n in all the se case s it is no t a p re re q uis ite fo r b o th the ite ms to b e e q ual. It is p e rmissib le to have so med iffe re nce . Ho we ve r, it is wâjib fo r the transactio n to b e e xe cute d the re and the n.

If the ite m that is b e ing e xchang e d is d iffe re nt fro m the o the r ite m, e .g . g uavas are e xchang e d fo r o rang e s, whe at is e xchang e d fo r g uavas o ra fine fab ric is e xchang e d fo r a co arse fab ric , this wil l b e p e rmissib le und e r all c ircumstance s. It is no t wâjib fo r b o th the ite ms to b ee q ual no r is it wâjib to e xe cute the transactio n the re and the n (i.e . it is p e rmissib le to take , fo r e xamp le , the g uavas no w and g ive the o rang e slate r o n).

Addit ional point s

1. The e sse nce o f this e ntire e xp lanatio n is that ap art fro m g o ld and s ilve r, if the same ite m is o n e ithe r s id e and it is so ld b y we ig ht, e .g .whe at in e xchang e fo r whe at o r g ram in e xchang e fo r g ram, the n it is wâjib fo r the m to b e e q ual in we ig ht and it is also wâjib fo r the e ntiretransactio n to b e e xe cute d the re and the n.

If the same ite m is fo und o n e ithe r s id e b ut it is no t so ld b y we ig ht, e .g . g uavas in e xchang e fo r g uavas, o rang e s in e xchang e fo r o rang e s o rfab ric in e xchang e fo r a s imilar fab ric o r, the re are d iffe re nt ite ms o n e ithe r s id e b ut b o th are so ld b y we ig ht, e .g . whe at in e xchang e fo r g ramo r g ram in e xchang e fo r rice , the n in b o th the se case s it is no t wâjib fo r the m to b e e q ual in we ig ht. A d iffe re nce in we ig ht is p e rmitte d .Ho we ve r, it is wâjib to e xe cute the e ntire transactio n the re and the n.

Whe re b o th the se facto rs are no t fo und , i.e . the ite ms are d iffe re nt o n e ithe r s id e and b o th o f the m are no t so ld b y we ig ht, the n in such a casea d iffe re nce is p e rmitte d and it is also no t wâjib to e xe cute the e ntire transactio n the re and the n. Fo r e xamp le , e xchang ing g uavas fo ro rang e s. Und e rstand the se masâ'il we ll.

2. A ute nsil mad e o f china was e xchang e d fo r ano the r such ute nsil o f a d iffe re nt q uality. Alte rnative ly, a ute nsil mad e o f china was e xchang e dfo r an e name le d co p p e r ute nsil. Eq uality in the se ite ms is no t wâjib . It is also p e rmissib le to g ive o ne such ite m in e xchang e fo r two suchite ms. Similarly, it is p e rmissib le to g ive o ne ne e d le in e xchang e fo r se ve ral ne e d le s. Ho we ve r, if the re are co p p e r ute nsils o n e ithe r s id e o re name le d co p p e r ute nsils o n e ithe r s id e , the n in such a case , the transactio n wil l have to b e e xe cute d the re and the n. But if the typ e isd iffe re nt, e .g . a ute nsil mad e o f china in e xchang e fo r an e name lle d co p p e r ute nsil, the n e ve n this p re re q uis ite is no t wâjib .

3. Yo ur ne ig hb o ur co me s to yo u and te lls yo u : " G ive me the rotis which yo u have mad e with o ne kilo o f flo ur b e cause a fe w vis ito rs haveco me to my ho use . In re turn fo r the se rotis , yo u can take a kilo o r o ne and q uarte r kilo s o f flo ur o r whe at. Alte rnative ly, g ive me the se rotis no w and late r yo u can take the flo ur o r whe at fro m me ." This is p e rmissib le .

4. Whe n se nd ing yo ur se rvant o r maid to p urchase an ite m, e xp lain to the m care fully as to ho w the y sho uld co nd uct the se transactio ns. Itsho uld no t o ccur that the y p urchase so me thing in an inco rre ct manne r which wo uld invo lve an inte re st transactio n whe re b y yo u and all yo urchild re n e at that ite m and are the re b y caug ht up in e ating so me thing harâm . The s in o f all tho se who m yo u fe e d fro m such fo o d , e .g . yo urhusb and , yo ur g ue sts, e tc. wil l fall o n yo ur sho uld e rs.

Bay'us Salam or Forward buying

1. Prio r to harve sting o r afte r harve sting the cro p s, o ne g ive s R100 to a p e rso n and says : " (Afte r two o r thre e mo nths) in ace rtain mo nth, o n a ce rtain d ay, I wil l take whe at in e xchang e fo r this R100 which I am g iving yo u no w." In ad d itio n to this , thep e rso n also sp e cifie d the q uantity o f whe at that he wil l take in e xchang e fo r this mo ne y. This transactio n is valid . He wil l have tog ive the whe at in the mo nth and d ate which he had sp e cifie d and at that ve ry p rice which the y had ag re e d up o n. This isirre sp e ctive o f whe the r the marke t value o f the whe at o n that sp e cifie d d ate is mo re o r le ss than the p rice that he had sp e cifie d . Such atransactio n is kno wn as bay'us salam . In o rd e r fo r this transactio n to b e valid , the re are se ve ral co nd itio ns. Try and und e rstand the mtho ro ug hly.

(a) The typ e , q uality, c lass, e tc. o f the whe at (o r whate ve r o the r cro p o ne is p urchasing ) sho uld b e c le arly me ntio ne d so that the re is nod isp ute whe n taking d e live ry o f the ite m. Fo r e xamp le , he must state : " Yo u must g ive me a ce rtain typ e o f whe at. It must no t b e to o fine no rto o co arse . It must b e o f a hig h q uality and no t o f an infe rio r q uality. It must no t b e mixe d with anything e lse such as g ram, p e as, e tc. It must b etho ro ug hly d rie d and no t we t." In sho rt, whate ve r typ e o f ite m he

wishe s to p urchase , he must c le arly state ho w it sho uld b e so that the re is no d isp ute late r. If, at that time , he d id no t s tip ulate b ut me re ly said : " Yo u must g ive me whe at in e xchang e fo r this R100" , the n this transactio n wil l no t b e p e rmissib le . Alte rnative ly, if he me re ly said that hemust g ive him so me husk o r rice witho ut sp e cifying the typ e o r q uality; the n this wil l no t b e p e rmissib le .

(b ) The se co nd co nd itio n is that he must also sp e cify the we ig ht, that fo r R100 he wil l take 10 kilo s o r 15 kilo s o r whate ve r the amo unt may b e .If the p e rso n says that he must g ive it to him acco rd ing to the marke t rate at that time o r that he must g ive 2 kilo s mo re than whate ve r themarke t rate wil l b e at that time , this wil l no t b e p e rmissib le . The marke t rate wil l no t b e co nsid e re d . At the time whe n making the ag re e me nt,the amo unt must b e d e cid e d up o n and o nce the stip ulate d d ate arrive s, he must take the sp e cifie d amo unt. (c) The third co nd itio n is that hemust also sp e cify the p rice that he is g o ing to p ay, i.e . he is g o ing to take the whe at fo r R100 o r R200 o r whate ve r the case may b e . If thep e rso n d o e s no t sp e cify this c le arly b ut sp e aks in vag ue te rms b y saying that he wil l take so me whe at fo r a fe w hand s, the n this is no t valid .

(d ) The fo urth co nd itio n is that he must p ay all the mo ne y at that ve ry time and at that ve ry p lace . If the y ag re e o n the e ntire transactio n,se p arate and g o away, and he n the p e rso n co me s b ack to p ay the mo ne y, this ag re e me nt o f the irs wil l b e invalid and the y wil l have tore co mme nce the e ntire transactio n. Similarly, if the p e rso n p ays R50 in cash and the b alance o f R50 afte r so me time , the bay'us salam willb e valid in re sp e ct o f the R50 and invalid in re sp e ct o f the b alance R50.

(e ) The fifth co nd itio n is that the p e rso n must sp e cify the time o f taking d e live ry which must b e a minimum o f o ne mo nth. That he wil l take thewhe at afte r o ne mo nth o n a p articular d ate . It is no t p e rmissib le to stip ulate a p e rio d le ss than o ne mo nth. He can stip ulate mo re than o nemo nth irre sp e ctive o f ho w much mo re it may b e . Ho we ve r, he must c le arly state the mo nth, d ay and d ate so that the re is no d isp ute and thep e rso n d o e s no t say that he wil l no t g ive it yo u imme d iate ly and yo u d e mand that yo u want it imme d iate ly. The re fo re , s tip ulate e ve rythingb e fo re hand . If the p e rso n d o e s no t sp e cify the mo nth, d ay and d ate , and inste ad says that o nce the cro p is harve ste d yo u must g ive it, thiswil l no t b e valid .

(f) The s ixth co nd itio n is that the p e rso n must sp e cify the p lace whe re he wants the whe at, e ithe r in this to wn o r in so me o the r to wn.Alte rnative ly, he co uld ask the p e rso n to d e live r it to his ho use . In sho rt, the p e rso n sho uld c le arly state whe re he wishe s to have the whe atd e live re d o r co lle cte d . If the p e rso n d o e s no t sp e cify the p lace it wil l no t b e valid . Ho we ve r, if i t is an ite m that is l ig ht and the re is no lab o rinvo lve d in transp o rting the ite m, e .g . a wo man p urchase s musk o r p e arls , e tc. the n it is no t ne ce ssary to me ntio n the p lace . Whe re ve r heme e ts the p e rso n, he can hand it o ve r.

If the bay'us salam is e xe cute d acco rd ing to the ab o ve -me ntio ne d co nd itio ns, the transactio n wil l b e valid , if no t, it wil l no t b e valid .

2. If i te ms o the r than whe at and o the r cro p s are such that at the time o f p urchasing the m the y can b e c le arly d e scrib e d in o rd e r to p re ve nt anyd isp ute at the time o f taking d e live ry, the n bay'us salam with re g ard to such ite ms wil l also b e valid . Such ite ms inc lud e e g g s, b ricks andclo the s. Ho we ve r, all the ne ce ssary d e tails wil l have to b e me ntio ne d , e .g . he wil l have to sp e cify the s ize o f the b ricks, the ir le ng th, the irwid th, e tc. The c lo th wil l have to b e d e scrib e d as to whe the r it is o f s i lk, ho w fine o r co arse it sho uld b e , e tc. The e g g s wil l have to b ed e scrib e d as to whe the r the y wil l b e farm e g g s o r e g g s p ro d uce d fro m b atte ry chicke ns, e tc. In sho rt, all the ne ce ssary d e tails wil l have to b ecle arly me ntio ne d so that the re is no d isp ute late r o n.

3. A p e rso n p urchase d five b ag s o r five b aske ts o f husk fo r R100 o n the b asis o f bay'us salam . This transactio n wil l no t b e valid b e cause yo ug e t d iffe re nt s ize s o f b ag s and b aske ts. Ho we ve r, if the y are ab le to sp e cify and ag re e up o n a ce rtain s ize o r co nd uct the transactio n b ywe ig ht, it wil l b e valid .

4. An ad d itio nal co nd itio n fo r the valid ity o f bay'us salam is that fro m the time that the y co nd uct the transactio n ti l l the time that the y sp e cifie dfo r d e live ry o f the ite m, that ite m must b e availab le in the marke t and it must no t b e co me scarce . In the co urse o f this time , if this ite mb e co me s ab so lute ly scarce to such an e xte nt that it is unavailab le in the marke ts o f this co untry and can o nly b e o b taine d fro m e lse whe reafte r much d ifficulty, the n this bay'us salam wil l b e invalid .

5. Whe n co nd ucting the transactio n, the p e rso n says : " Afte r the cro p is harve ste d , in a ce rtain mo nth I wil l take the fre sh whe at o r, I wil l takethe whe at that co me s fro m a p articular farm." This is no t p e rmissib le . Such a co nd itio n sho uld the re fo re no t b e mad e . Whe n the sp e cifie dtime ap p ro ache s, the p e rso n can g ive the o ld o r the fre sh whe at. Ho we ve r, if the fre sh whe at is alre ad y harve ste d , it wil l b e p e rmissib le tomake a co nd itio n with re g ard to the fre sh whe at.

6. Yo u had ag re e d to take whe at to the value o f R100. The sp e cifie d time e xp ire d and we nt b e yo nd that as we ll and this p e rso n d id no t g ivethe whe at as ye t. No r is the re any ho p e o f re ce iving it. In such a case it is no t p e rmissib le fo r yo u to ask him no t to g ive yo u the whe at and thatin p lace o f the whe at he sho uld g ive yo u g ram, rice o r so me thing e lse . It is no t p e rmissib le to take anything e lse in p lace o f the whe at. Yo uco uld e ithe r g ive him mo re time in which he co uld g ive yo u the whe at o r yo u co uld take yo ur mo ne y b ack.

Similarly, if b o th o f yo u annul the bay'us salam and yo u d e cid e no t to take the whe at and take the mo ne y b ack, the n yo u canno t take anythinge lse fro m him in p lace o f that whe at. Yo u wil l have to take yo ur mo ne y b ack. Similarly, if the transactio n b e co me s annulle d o n its o wn, e .g . thatite m has b e co me scarce and canno t b e o b taine d , the n e ve n in such a case yo u wil l have to take yo ur mo ne y b ack. Yo u canno t take anythinge lse in p lace o f the whe at. Yo u co uld take yo ur mo ne y and p urchase so me thing e lse with that mo ne y fro m him.

T he t aking of loans

1. It is p e rmissib le to take lo ans o f ite ms which co uld b e re p lace d , such as d ry g ro ce rie s, e g g s, me at, e tc. It is no tp e rmissib le to take lo ans o f ite ms which are d ifficult to re p lace (i.e . it is d ifficult to o b tain an e xact re p lica o f the ite m) suchas, g uavas, o rang e s, g o ats, fo wls, e tc. 2. At a time whe n 10 kilo s o f whe at was b e ing so ld fo r R10, yo u b o rro we d 5 kilo s.The re afte r, the p rice o f whe at d ro p p e d and 20 kilo s o f whe at b e g an to b e so ld fo r R10. Yo u wil l s ti l l have to g ive 5 kilo s andno t mo re . Similarly, if the p rice rise s, yo u wil l s ti l l have to g ive 5 kilo s. 3. Whe n the p e rso n re turne d the whe at that he had b o rro we d fro m yo u,he g ave yo u whe at o f a hig he r q uality. It is p e rmissib le to acce p t this whe at and it is no t re g ard e d as inte re st. Ho we ve r, at the time o fb o rro wing the whe at it is no t p e rmissib le to say that yo u wil l take whe at that is o f a hig he r q uality. It sho uld b e re me mb e re d that the whe atsho uld no t b e mo re in we ig ht. If yo u take whe at that is mo re in we ig ht than the o ne that yo u had g ive n, it wil l no t b e p e rmissib le . Yo u mustwe ig h the whe at p ro p e rly and g ive it. If s l ig htly mo re is g ive n (as a p re cautio n), it wil l b e o ve rlo o ke d . 4. Yo u b o rro we d mo ne y o r so me g rainso n the p ro mise that yo u wil l re turn it within o ne mo nth o r fifte e n d ays and the p e rso n acce p te d this p ro mise . Eve n the n, me ntio ning this p e rio dwill no t b e co nsid e re d . In fact, it is no t p e rmissib le to me ntio n any p e rio d . If the p e rso n who le nt the mo ne y o r g rains ne e d s the same andasks fo r it, o r asks fo r it witho ut e ve n re ally ne e d ing it, yo u wil l have to re turn it.

5. Yo u b o rro we d two kilo s o f whe at, flo ur o r so me thing e lse . Whe n the p e rso n aske d fo r it, yo u re p lie d : " I d o no t have any whe at at the

mo me nt. In p lace o f that whe at take R2." The p e rso n ag re e d to take the mo ne y inste ad . In such a case , the mo ne y wil l have to b e hand e d o ve rto the p e rso n the re and the n. If the p e rso n g o e s into the ho use in o rd e r to b ring the mo ne y and se p arate s fro m the p e rso n, this ag re e me ntwil l b e co me invalid . He wil l have to re p e at the e ntire ag re e me nt with re g ard to taking the mo ne y inste ad o f the whe at.

6. A p e rso n b o rro we d o ne s ilve r co in who se marke t value was R5. The re afte r, the marke t s lump e d and the value o f the same co in d ro p p e d toR4. The p e rso n d o e s no t have to g ive any ad d itio nal s ilve r in o rd e r to co ve r up the R1. Inste ad , he me re ly has to g ive the same s ilve r co inb ack o r any o the r o ne which is e q ual to that o ne in we ig ht. The p e rso n canno t say that he is no t g o ing to take the s ilve r co in and that he mustb ring R5 in cash inste ad .

7. It is the custo m in ce rtain ho me s that o ne ho use may b o rro w five co o ke d rotis no w, and late r whe n the y make the ir rotis , the y re turn the m.This is p e rmissib le .

Giving guarant e e s

1. Na‘îmah (name o f a wo man) was o wing mo ne y to so me o ne . Yo u we nt and g ave a g uarante e that if she d o e s no t fulfi l l thisd e b t, the p e rso n must co me and co lle ct it fro m yo u o r that yo u are re sp o nsib le fo r he r, o r that she o we s yo u as we ll (i.e .s ince yo u have truste d he r and le nt he r mo ne y, it is o kay fo r the o the r p e rso n to trust he r as we ll), o r yo u me ntio n so me o the rwo rd s which co uld b e re g ard e d as a g uarante e .

The p e rso n to who m the mo ne y was o we d also acce p te d this g uarante e o f yo urs. It no w b e co me s wâjib o n yo u to fulfi l l this g uarante e whichyo u g ave . If Na‘îmah d o e s no t fulfi l l this d e b t, yo u wil l have to fulfi l l i t and the cre d ito r has the rig ht to ask fo r the mo ne y fro m who mso e ve r hewishe s, i.e . e ithe r fro m Na‘îmah o r fro m yo u. As lo ng as Na‘îmah d o e s no t fulfi l l he r d e b t o r d o e s no t have it waive d , yo u wil l co ntinue b e inghe r g uaranto r and b e ing re sp o nsib le fo r the fulfi l lme nt o f the d e b t. Ho we ve r, if the cre d ito r waive s yo ur re sp o nsib il i ty and says that yo u areno w co mp le te ly ab so lve d fro m this ag re e me nt and that he wil l no t ask yo u to fulfi l l the d e b t, the n this g uarante e o f yo urs wil l no lo ng e rre main. If the cre d ito r d o e s no t acce p t yo ur g uarante e fro m the ve ry b e g inning and says that he is no t g o ing to take yo ur g uarante e intoco nsid e ratio n, yo u wil l no t b e re sp o nsib le .

2. Yo u had g ive n a g uarante e o n b e half o f so me o ne . This p e rso n d id no t have any mo ne y to fulfi l l the d e b t. Yo u the re fo re had to fulfi l l i t o nhis b e half. If yo u had g ive n this g uarante e up o n the ins iste nce o f the d e b to r, yo u can c laim whate ve r mo ne y yo u p aid to the cre d ito r o n b e halfo f the d e b to r. If yo u had g ive n this g uarante e o ut o f yo ur o wn fre e wil l, yo u wil l have to se e who had acce p te d yo ur g uarante e firs t; was it thed e b to r o r the cre d ito r? If the d e b to r had acce p te d yo ur g uarante e firs t, i t wil l b e re g ard e d as if yo u had g ive n yo ur g uarante e o n his instance .Yo u can the re fo re c laim yo ur mo ne y fro m him. And if the cre d ito r acce p te d yo ur g uarante e firs t, yo u d o no t have the rig ht to c laim it fro m thed e b to r. It wil l b e re g ard e d as if yo u fulfi l le d his d e b t o ut o f yo ur g o o d -he arte d ne ss. If the d e b to r g ive s yo u the mo ne y o n his o wn, it wil l b eacce p tab le (b ut yo u canno t d e mand it).

3. If the cre d ito r g rants a re sp ite o f o ne mo nth o r fifte e n d ays to the d e b to r, the n he (the cre d ito r) canno t d e mand this mo ne y fro m theg uaranto r d uring this p e rio d .

4. Yo u d id no t g ive a g uarante e to p ay o n b e half o f the d e b to r. Inste ad , the mo ne y o f the d e b to r was ke p t in yo ur custo d y as an amânah . Yo uthe re fo re said that this p e rso n's amânah is ke p t b y yo u and that yo u wil l p ay the cre d ito r fro m this amânah . Ho we ve r, the amânah that waske p t b y yo u g o t s to le n o r d isap p e are d thro ug h so me o the r way. Yo ur g uarante e wil l no lo ng e r b e ap p licab le . It wil l no t b e wajib o n yo u to p ayit no r can the cre d ito r d e mand it fro m yo u.

5. Yo u wishe d to g o so me whe re , so yo u hire d o r re nte d a car o r truck fro m so me o ne . Ano the r p e rso n came to the o wne r o f the car and g ave ag uarante e that if yo u d o no t re turn it, he wil l g ive his o wn car to the o wne r. Such a g uarante e is valid . If yo u d o no t re turn the car, the g uaranto rwil l have to g ive his o wn car to the o wne r.

6. Yo u g ave a ce rtain ite m o f yo urs to a p e rso n to g o and se ll i t. He so ld it b ut d id no t b ring the mo ne y and says to yo u : " The mo ne y canno tg o anywhe re . I am re sp o nsib le fo r it. If yo u d o no t g e t it, yo u must co me and co lle ct it fro m me ." Such a g uarante e is no t valid .

7. A p e rso n says : " Le ave yo ur fo wl e n-cag e d in this fo wl-run. If the cat cap ture s it, I am re sp o nsib le . Yo u must take it fro m me ." Alte rnative ly,he says the fo llo wing with re g ard to a she e p : " If the wo lf cap ture s it, I am re sp o nsib le ." Such a g uarante e is no t valid .

8. If an immature b o y o r g irl g ive s a g uarante e , it wil l no t b e valid . Passing ove r of de bt s t o some one e lse

1. Yo u o we mo ne y to Shafî‘ah while Râb i‘ah o we s yo u mo ne y. Shafî‘ah aske d yo u fo r the mo ne y which yo u o we he r. Yo u re p ly : " Râb i‘ah is o wing me so me mo ne y. Take the mo ne y which I o we yo u fro m he r and d o no t ask me ." If Shafî‘ah ag re e s to thisthe re and the n, and Râb i‘ah also ag re e s to this , the n yo u are ab so lve d fro m the re sp o nsib il i ty o f yo ur d e b t to Shafî‘ah.Shafî‘ah canno t ask yo u fo r the mo ne y; she wil l have to ask Râb i‘ah, irre sp e ctive o f whe n she re ce ive s the mo ne y.Furthe rmo re , the mo ne y that yo u have aske d Shafî‘ah to co lle ct fro m Râb i‘ah, yo u canno t c laim that amo unt fro m Râb i‘ah.Ho we ve r, if Râb i‘ah is o wing yo u mo re than what yo u

we re o wing Shafî‘ah, yo u can c laim the b alance fro m Râb i‘ah. If Râb i‘ah p ays the mo ne y to Shafî‘ah, we ll and g o o d . But if she d id no t p ay andp asse s away, the n Shafî‘ah wil l b e p aid afte r se ll ing all he r (Râb i‘ah's) p e rso nal b e lo ng ing s. If Râb i‘ah d id no t le ave b e hind any we alth o rp o sse ssio ns o r, while she was alive she d e nie d o wing yo u any mo ne y, to o k an o ath that she o we s no mo ne y to yo u, and the re are nowitne sse s in this re g ard as we ll, the n in such a case Shafî‘ah can ask yo u fo r the mo ne y that yo u o we he r and can also d e mand it fro m yo u. If inthe ve ry b e g inning yo u ask Shafî‘ah to take the mo ne y fro m Râb i‘ah and she d o e s no t ag re e , o r Râb i‘ah he rse lf is no t hap p y ab o ut g iving themo ne y to Shafî‘ah, the n this d e b t has no t falle n o ff yo ur sho uld e rs (i.e . yo u are sti l l re sp o nsib le to p ay Shafî‘ah he r mo ne y).

2. Râb i‘ah was no t o wing yo u any mo ne y. Ho we ve r, yo u p asse d o n yo ur d e b t (mo ne y which yo u we re o wing to Shafî‘ah) to Râb i‘ah. Râb i‘ahacce p te d this and Shafî‘ah also ag re e d . Eve n in such a case yo ur d e b t to Shafî‘ah wil l b e p asse d o ve r to Râb i‘ah and she wil l b e re sp o nsib leto fulfi l l i t. The re fo re , all the ab o ve -me ntio ne d rule s wil l also ap p ly o ve r he re . Afte r fulfi l l ing the d e b t o n yo ur b e half, Râb i‘ah can c laim thatmo ne y fro m yo u. Ho we ve r, she d o e s no t have the rig ht to c laim that mo ne y b e fo re she can fulfi l l i t o n yo ur b e half.

3. Yo u had ke p t so me mo ne y with Râb i‘ah as an amânah . Yo u the re fo re p asse d o ve r yo ur d e b t (mo ne y which yo u we re o wing to Shafî‘ah) toRâb i‘ah. The re afte r, that mo ne y which was with Râb i‘ah g o t lo st o r d isap p e are d in so me way o r the o the r.Râb i‘ah is no lo ng e r re sp o nsib le .Inste ad , Shafî‘ah wil l d e mand the mo ne y fro m yo u and take it fro m yo u. No w she has no rig ht to d e mand o r take the mo ne y fro m Râb i‘ah.

4. If yo u p ass o ve r yo ur d e b t to Râb i‘ah and the re afte r yo u yo urse lf fulfi l l this d e b t and p ay the mo ne y to Shafî‘ah, this wil l b e valid . Shafî‘ah

canno t re fuse to acce p t the mo ne y fro m yo u and ins ist o n taking it fro m Râb i‘ah.

Appoint ing a pe rson as a wakîl (re pre se nt at ive )

1. Just as a p e rso n has the p o we r to carry o ut a ce rtain wo rk o n his o wn, he also has the cho ice o f ap p o inting so me o ne tocarry o ut that task o n his b e half. This is ap p licab le in b uying and se ll ing transactio ns, taking o r g iving o n re nt, g e ttingmarrie d , e tc. Fo r e xamp le , se nd ing the d o me stic se rvant to the marke t to p urchase so me thing , se ll ing so me thing thro ug hhe r, se nd ing he r to hire a car, taxi, e tc. The p e rso n who is ap p o inte d fo r such a task is kno wn as a wakîl (re p re se ntative o rp ro xy) in the Sharî‘ah . If yo u se nd the d o me stic se rvant o r lab o ure r to p urchase so me thing fo r yo u fro m the marke t, he wil l b e yo ur wakîl .

2. Yo u se nt the d o me stic se rvant to p urchase me at. She p urchase d the me at o n cre d it. The b utche r canno t d e mand the mo ne y fo r the me atfro m yo u. He wil l have to ask the d o me stic se rvant who wil l in turn ask yo u fo r the mo ne y. Similarly, if yo u ask yo ur d o me stic se rvant to se ll ace rtain ite m fo r yo u, yo u d o no t have the rig ht to ask o r d e mand the mo ne y fro m the p e rso n who p urchase d the ite m. He wil l p ay the mo ne y tothe p e rso n fro m who m he p urchase d the ite m (in this case , yo ur d o me stic se rvant). But if he co me s and g ive s the mo ne y to yo u, it wil l b ep e rmissib le . What this me ans is that if he re fuse s to g ive the mo ne y to yo u, yo u canno t fo rce him to d o so . 3. Yo u se nt yo ur wo rke r top urchase so me thing and he b ro ug ht it. He has the rig ht to re fuse to hand o ve r the ite m to yo u unti l yo u g ive him the mo ne y fo r it. This isirre sp e ctive o f whe the r he p aid fo r it with his o wn mo ne y o r whe the r he has no t p aid o r it as ye t. Ho we ve r, if he p urchase d it o n cre d it o n thep ro mise that he wil l p ay within five o r te n d ays, the n he canno t ask yo u fo r the mo ne y b e fo re the stip ulate d numb e r o f d ays.

4. Yo u aske d yo ur d o me stic se rvant to p urchase o ne kilo o f me at. She co me s ho me with o ne and half ki lo s. It is no t wajib fo r yo u to acce p tthe o ne and half ki lo s. If yo u d o no t take it, she wil l have to take the half ki lo .

5. Yo u aske d a p e rso n to g o and p urchase a ce rtain g o at fro m a ce rtain p e rso n fo r R200. This wakîl canno t g o and p urchase that g o at at thatp rice fo r himse lf. In o the r wo rd s, whe n yo u ask the wakîl to p urchase so me thing sp e cifically fo r yo u, it is no t p e rmissib le fo r him to p urchasethat ve ry ite m fo r himse lf. Ho we ve r, if he p urchase s it at a p rice mo re than what yo u had sp e cifie d , it wil l b e p e rmissib le fo r him to p urchase itfo r himse lf. But if yo u d id no t sp e cify any p rice , it wil l in no way b e p e rmissib le fo r him to p urchase it fo r himse lf.

6. Yo u d id no t sp e cify any p articular g o at. Yo u me re ly aske d him to p urchase a g o at fo r yo u. It wil l b e p e rmissib le fo r him to p urchase a g o atfo r himse lf as we ll. He can p urchase whiche ve r o ne he wishe s to p urchase fo r himse lf, and whiche ve r o ne he wishe s fo r yo u. If he p urchase sit with the inte ntio n that he is p urchasing it fo r himse lf, i t wil l b e his. If he p urchase s it with the inte ntio n that he is p urchasing it fo r yo u, it wil l b eyo urs. And if he p urchase s it with yo ur mo ne y, it wil l b e yo urs irre sp e ctive o f what inte ntio n he make s whe n p urchasing it. 7. He p urchase d ag o at fo r yo u. Ho we ve r, b e fo re he co uld g ive it to yo u, it d ie d o r g o t s to le n. In such a case , yo u wil l have to g ive him the mo ne y fo r that g o at. Ifyo u te ll him that he had p urchase d that g o at fo r himse lf, the n yo ur mo ne y wil l b e lo st if yo u had alre ad y g ive n him the mo ne y. But if yo u had n' tg ive n him the mo ne y and he co me s to yo u no w to ask fo r the mo ne y, the n if yo u are ab le to take an o ath that he had p urchase d the g o at fo rhimse lf, the n his g o at wil l b e lo st. And if yo u are unab le to take an o ath, yo u wil l have to acce p t his wo rd .

8. The lab o re r o r d o me stic se rvant p urchase d an ite m fo r yo u at a hig h p rice . If the p rice is s lig htly hig he r than the no rmal marke t value , yo uwill have to take the ite m and g ive the mo ne y fo r it. But if the p rice is e xtre me ly hig h to such an e xte nt that no o ne can q uo te such a hig h p rice ,it is no t wajib o n yo u to acce p t it. If yo u d o no t acce p t it, he wil l have to take it.

9. Yo u g ave an ite m to a p e rso n to se ll. It is no t p e rmissib le fo r this p e rso n to p urchase the ite m fo r himse lf and g ive the mo ne y to yo u.Similarly, if yo u ask a p e rso n to p urchase an ite m fo r yo u, he canno t b ring his o wn ite m and se ll i t to yo u. If he wishe s to se ll his ite m to yo u, o rp urchase yo ur ite m fo r himse lf, he must c le arly state so b y saying : " This is my ite m, yo u can p urchase it fro m me " o r " I wil l p urchase thisite m fro m yo u." It is no t p e rmissib le to d o so witho ut c le arly stating this .

10. Yo u se nt the d o me stic se rvant to p urchase g o at me at. She co me s b ack with b e e f. Yo u have the cho ice o f e ithe r acce p ting it o r re je cting it.Similarly, if yo u se nd he r to p urchase p o tato e s and she co me s b ack with bhindi (lad y's fing e rs - a ve g e tab le ) o r anything e lse , it is no tne ce ssary fo r yo u to acce p t it. If yo u re je ct it, she wil l have to take it.

11. Yo u aske d he r to p urchase so me thing wo rth R1 and she co me s with R2 wo rth. Yo u have the rig ht to take R1 wo rth and g ive the e xtra b ackto he r. 12. Yo u se nt two p e rso ns to p urchase a ce rtain ite m. It wil l b e ne ce ssary fo r b o th o f the m to b e p re se nt whe n p urchasing the ite m. It isno t p e rmissib le fo r o nly o ne p e rso n to p urchase the ite m. If o nly o ne p e rso n p urchase s it, the valid ity o f the transactio n wil l b e d e p e nd e nt o nyo u. If yo u acce p t it, i t wil l b e valid .

13. Yo u aske d a p e rso n to p urchase a g o at, a co w o r so me thing e lse fo r yo u. This p e rso n d id no t p urchase it himse lf b ut se nt so me o ne e lse .It wil l no t b e wâjib fo r Yo u to acce p t what this third p e rso n p urchase s. Yo u can acce p t it o r re je ct it. Ho we ve r, if he himse lf p urchase s it fo ryo u, yo u wil l have to take it.

Dismissing a wakîl

1. The rig ht to d ismiss a wakîl re mains with yo u all the time , e .g . yo u say to a p e rso n : " I ne e d a g o at. If yo u co me acro ss o ne , yo u mustb uy it fo r me ." The re afte r yo u sto p him fro m p urchasing it fo r yo u. He no w has no rig ht to p urchase it fo r yo u. If he p urchase s it, i t wil l b e hisre sp o nsib il i ty. Yo u d o no t have to take it.

2. Yo u d id no t d ismiss a wakîl yo urse lf. Inste ad , yo u wro te him a le tte r o r se nt so me o ne to info rm him that he sho uld no t p urchase the ite mfo r yo u. Eve n the n, he wil l b e d ismisse d . If yo u d id no t d ismiss him yo urse lf, b ut so me o ne e lse we nt o n his o wn and info rme d him that yo uhave d ismisse d him and that he sho uld no t p urchase the ite m, the n he wil l b e co nsid e re d to b e d ismisse d if two p e rso ns info rme d him o f thiso r o ne re liab le , re lig io us p e rso n info rme d him o f this . But if this was no t so , he wil l no t b e d ismisse d . If he p urchase s the ite m, yo u wil l haveto take it.

Glossary

Exp lanatio n o f Is lamic Te rms

‘Âlim : One who has attaine d a co nsid e rab le amo unt o f Is lamic kno wle d g e .

Amânah : A trust o r so me thing with which yo u have b e e n e ntruste d . Fo r furthe r

d e tails , re fe r to the chap te r o n amânah.

Auliyâ : Plural o f " walî" . A walî is a frie nd o f Allah.

Bâti l : In Is lamic jurisp rud e nce it re fe rs to an act which is invalid .

Barakah : Lite rally me ans " b le ssing s" . It also re fe rs to the e xp e rie ncing o f ab und ance in thing s which are o f l i ttle value .

Bay‘us salam : Te chnically, it re fe rs to a co ntract o f sale causing an imme d iate p ayme nt o f the p rice and ad mitting a d e lay in the d e live ry o fthe g o o d s.

Bid ‘ah : Lite rally me ans an " inno vatio n" . In Is lam it re fe rs to the intro d uctio n o f ne w thing s into Is lam which have no b asis in the Quran o rHad ith and re g ard ing the se thing s as acts o f îb âd ah. A b id ‘ah is a majo r s in in Is lam.

Du‘ : Sup p licatio n, p raye r o r d e vo tio nal p hrase s.

Fâsid : In Is lamic jurisp rud e nce it re fe rs to an actio n which is co nsid e re d to b e imp ro p e r.

Farâid : Plural o f fard .

Fard : Lite rally me ans " co mp ulso ry" . In Is lam it re fe rs to tho se acts and thing s which are co mp ulso ry o n a Muslim. Ab and o ning o r ab stainingfro m a fard act is a majo r s in. Re je cting a fard act amo unts to kufr.

Fid yah : Re d e mp tio n fro m the o missio n o f ce rtain re lig io us d utie s b y a mate rial d o natio n o r a re lig io us act.

Ghe e : Clarifie d b utte r.

Ghusl : The act o f washing the e ntire b o d y fro m he ad to to e witho ut le aving a s ing le

p lace d ry.

Hâfiz : One who has me mo rize d the Quran.

Halâl : That which is lawful o r p e rmissib le in Is lam.

Harâm : That which is unlawful o r p ro hib ite d in Is lam.

Ib âd ah : Lite rally me ans " wo rship " . In Is lam it re fe rs to all tho se acts with which o ne re nd e rs wo rship to Allah.

Ijârah fâs id ah : Imp ro p e r le asing o r hiring . Fo r furthe r d e tails , re fe r to the re le vant chap te r.

Jahannam : He ll.

Janâzah : Fune ral p ro ce ssio n. The d e ce ase d p e rso n is also re fe rre d to as a janâzah.

Jannah : Parad ise .

Kafan : The c lo th in which the d e ce ase d is e nshro ud e d .

Kaffârah : Lite rally me ans " p e nance , ato ne me nt, e xp iatio n." In Is lamic law it re fe rs

to re d e mp tio n fro m the o missio n o f ce rtain re lig io us d utie s b y a mate rial d o natio n o r

a ritual act.

Kuffâr : Plural o f kâfir. A kâfir is o ne who re je cts Allah and d o e s no t b e lie ve in Muhammad sallallâhu ‘alayhi wa sallam as the final me sse ng e ro f Allah.

Kufr : Re fe rs to the state o f d isb e lie f.

Mahr : Do wry.

Makrûh : That which is d is like d o r d e te stab le .

Marad ul maut : Re fe rs to the last s ickne ss o f a p e rso n afte r which he p asse s away.

Masâ' i l : Plural o f mas'ala.

Mas'ala : Lite rally me ans " an issue , p ro b le m o r q ue stio n" . In Is lamic jurisp rud e nce it

re fe rs to a rule o r re g ulatio n.

Mud ârab ah : Sile nt p artne rship . Fo r furthe r d e tails , re fe r to the re le vant chap te r.

Mujâhid în : Plural o f mujâhid . Re fe rs to a p e rso n who is e ng ag e d in j ihâd o r war ag ainst the kuffâr.

Mustahab : That which is p re fe rab le o r d e sirab le .

Mutawakkil : One who p ractice s tawakkul.

Nafs : The so ul.

Nûr : Lig ht.

Ro ti : Flat ro und b re ad .

Shafî : One who ho ld s the rig ht o f p re -e mp tio n.

Shaytân : The accurse d d e vil.

Shuf‘ah : The rig ht o f p re -e mp tio n.

Sunnah : An act carrie d o ut o r sanctio ne d b y Rasûlullâh sallallâhu ‘alayhi wa sallam .

Tawakkul : The act o f p lac ing o ne 's co mp le te faith and trust in Allah.

Ulamâ : Plural o f ‘âlim.

Wâjib : Lite rally me ans " o b lig ato ry" . In Is lamic jurisp rud e nce it re fe rs to an act which has no t b e e n e stab lishe d b y an ab so lute p ro o f.Le aving o ut a wâjib witho ut any valid e xcuse make s o ne a fâs iq and e ntails p unishme nt.

Wakil l: Re p re se ntative

Wasiyyah : Be q ue st

Wilâyat : Lite rally me ans " frie nd ship " . In Is lamic sûfism it re fe rs to that s tag e whe re a p e rso n g ains c lo se p ro ximity to Allah.