The Book of Commerce
Using Proper and Improper Measurements in Business
4- مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ الْحَكَمِ عَنْ مُثَنًّى الْحَنَّاطِ عَنْ بَعْضِ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ قُلْتُ لَهُ رَجُلٌ مِنْ نِيَّتِهِ الْوَفَاءُ وَهُوَ إِذَا كَالَ لَمْ يُحْسِنْ أَنْ يَكِيلَ قَالَ فَمَا يَقُولُ الَّذِينَ حَوْلَهُ قَالَ قُلْتُ يَقُولُونَ لا يُوفِي قَالَ هَذَا لا يَنْبَغِي لَهُ أَنْ يَكِيلَ.
4. Muhammad ibn Yahya narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Isa, from Ali ibn al-Hakam, from Muthanna al-Hannat, from some of our companions, from Abu Abdillah al-Sadiq (as), who said: "I said to him, 'A man has the intention of being honest, but when he measures, he does not know how to measure.' He said, 'What do those around him say?' I said, 'They say he does not fulfill (his measures).' He replied, 'This person should not measure.'"
5- عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنْ غَيْرِ وَاحِدٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ لا يَكُونُ الْوَفَاءُ حَتَّى يَرْجَحَ.
5. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from more than one person who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘It is not a proper weighing until a side of balance tilts.’”
The Book of Commerce
Cheating in Business
1- عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ وَمُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ جَمِيعاً عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنْ هِشَامِ بْنِ سَالِمٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ لَيْسَ مِنَّا مَنْ غَشَّنَا.
1. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father and Muhammad ibn Yahya from Ahmad ibn Muhammad, all from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from Hisham ibn Salim who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘One who cheats us is not of our people.’”
2- وَبِهَذَا الإسْنَادِ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) لِرَجُلٍ يَبِيعُ التَّمْرَ يَا فُلانُ أَمَا عَلِمْتَ أَنَّهُ لَيْسَ مِنَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ مَنْ غَشَّهُمْ.
2. Through the same chain of narrators as the previous it narrated who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, once said to a man who sold dates, ‘O master so and so, do you know that one who cheats Muslims is not one of them?”’
3- مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ بَعْضِ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ سِجَادَةَ عَنْ مُوسَى بْنِ بَكْرٍ قَالَ كُنَّا عِنْدَ أَبِي الْحَسَنِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) فَإِذَا دَنَانِيرُ مَصْبُوبَةٌ بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ فَنَظَرَ إِلَى دِينَارٍ فَأَخَذَهُ بِيَدِهِ ثُمَّ قَطَعَهُ بِنِصْفَيْنِ ثُمَّ قَالَ لِي أَلْقِهِ فِي الْبَالُوعَةِ حَتَّى لا يُبَاعَ شَيْءٌ فِيهِ غِشٌّ.
3. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from certain persons of our people from Sajdah from Musa ibn Bukayr who has said the following: “Once we were in the presence of abu al-Hassan (a.s.), while in front of him there were certain pieces of dinars. He (the Imam) looked at one piece and picked it up and broke it into two pieces. He (the Imam) said to me, ‘Throw it in the trash so an adulterated thing is not purchased anymore.’”
4- أَبُو عَلِيٍّ الأشْعَرِيُّ عَنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ عَلِيِّ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللهِ عَنْ عُبَيْسِ بْنِ هِشَامٍ عَنْ رَجُلٍ مِنْ أَصْحَابِهِ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ دَخَلَ عَلَيْهِ رَجُلٌ يَبِيعُ الدَّقِيقَ فَقَالَ إِيَّاكَ وَالْغِشَّ فَإِنَّ مَنْ غَشَّ غُشَّ فِي مَالِهِ فَإِنْ لَمْ يَكُنْ لَهُ مَالٌ غُشَّ فِي أَهْلِهِ.
4. Abu Ali al-Ash’ariy has narrated from al-Hassan ibn Ali ibn ‘Abd Allah from ‘Ubays ibn Hisham from a man of his people who has said the following: “Once, a man who sold flour came before abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.). He (the Imam) said to him, ‘Beware of cheating; one who cheats in matters of properties, cheating takes place in his properties, if he does not have any property cheating takes place in his family (wife).”’
5- عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنِ النَّوْفَلِيِّ عَنِ السَّكُونِيِّ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ نَهَى رَسُولُ اللهِ (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) عَنْ أَنْ يُشَابَ اللَّبَنُ بِالْمَاءِ لِلْبَيْعِ.
5. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from al-Nawfaliy from al-Sakuniy, who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, prohibited mixing of milk with water to sell.’”
6- عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنْ هِشَامِ بْنِ الْحَكَمِ قَالَ كُنْتُ أَبِيعُ السَّابِرِيَّ فِي الظِّلالِ فَمَرَّ بِي أَبُو الْحَسَنِ مُوسَى (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) فَقَالَ لِي يَا هِشَامُ إِنَّ الْبَيْعَ فِي الظِّلِّ غِشٌّ وَإِنَّ الْغِشَّ لا يَحِلُّ.
6. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from Hisham ibn al-Hakam who has said the following: “Once when I was selling al-Sabiriy (a certain kind of fabric) in the shade, abu al-Hassan (a.s.), passed by and said to me, ‘O Hisham, selling in shade is cheating and cheating is not lawful.’”
7- عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنِ ابْنِ مَحْبُوبٍ عَنْ أَبِي جَمِيلَةَ عَنْ سَعْدٍ الإسْكَافِ عَنْ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ مَرَّ النَّبِيُّ (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) فِي سُوقِ الْمَدِينَةِ بِطَعَامٍ فَقَالَ لِصَاحِبِهِ مَا أَرَى طَعَامَكَ إِلا طَيِّباً وَسَأَلَهُ عَنْ سِعْرِهِ فَأَوْحَى اللهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ إِلَيْهِ أَنْ يَدُسَّ يَدَيْهِ فِي الطَّعَامِ فَفَعَلَ فَأَخْرَجَ طَعَاماً رَدِيّاً فَقَالَ لِصَاحِبِهِ مَا أَرَاكَ إِلا وَقَدْ جَمَعْتَ خِيَانَةً وَغِشّاً لِلْمُسْلِمِينَ.
7. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from ibn Mahbub from abu Jamilah from Sa‘d al-Iskaf who has said the following: “Abu Ja’far (a.s.), has said, ‘Once, in the market place of al-Madinah, the Holy Prophet, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, passed by a place where food was sold. The Holy Prophet said, to the owner, “I can see your food is good.” He then asked about its price. Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, sent revelation and told him to check the lower levels of the food for sale. When he checked a bad quality of food came out. He then said to the owner, “Now I can see you have collected betrayal and cheating for the Muslims.’””
The Book of Commerce
Swearing at the Time of Buying and Selling
1- أَبُو عَلِيٍّ الأشْعَرِيُّ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الْجَبَّارِ عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ النَّضْرِ عَنْ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ الْفَزَارِيِّ قَالَ دَعَا أَبُو عَبْدِ اللهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) مَوْلًى لَهُ يُقَالُ لَهُ مُصَادِفٌ فَأَعْطَاهُ أَلْفَ دِينَارٍ وَقَالَ لَهُ تَجَهَّزْ حَتَّى تَخْرُجَ إِلَى مِصْرَ فَإِنَّ عِيَالِي قَدْ كَثُرُوا قَالَ فَتَجَهَّزَ بِمَتَاعٍ وَخَرَجَ مَعَ التُّجَّارِ إِلَى مِصْرَ فَلَمَّا دَنَوْا مِنْ مِصْرَ اسْتَقْبَلَتْهُمْ قَافِلَةٌ خَارِجَةٌ مِنْ مِصْرَ فَسَأَلُوهُمْ عَنِ الْمَتَاعِ الَّذِي مَعَهُمْ مَا حَالُهُ فِي الْمَدِينَةِ وَكَانَ مَتَاعَ الْعَامَّةِ فَأَخْبَرُوهُمْ أَنَّهُ لَيْسَ بِمِصْرَ مِنْهُ شَيْءٌ فَتَحَالَفُوا وَتَعَاقَدُوا عَلَى أَنْ لا يَنْقُصُوا مَتَاعَهُمْ مِنْ رِبْحِ الدِّينَارِ دِينَاراً فَلَمَّا قَبَضُوا أَمْوَالَهُمْ وَانْصَرَفُوا إِلَى الْمَدِينَةِ فَدَخَلَ مُصَادِفٌ عَلَى أَبِي عَبْدِ اللهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) وَمَعَهُ كِيسَانِ فِي كُلِّ وَاحِدٍ أَلْفُ دِينَارٍ فَقَالَ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ هَذَا رَأْسُ الْمَالِ وَهَذَا الآخَرُ رِبْحٌ فَقَالَ إِنَّ هَذَا الرِّبْحَ كَثِيرٌ وَلَكِنْ مَا صَنَعْتَهُ فِي الْمَتَاعِ فَحَدَّثَهُ كَيْفَ صَنَعُوا وَكَيْفَ تَحَالَفُوا فَقَالَ سُبْحَانَ اللهِ تَحْلِفُونَ عَلَى قَوْمٍ مُسْلِمِينَ أَلا تَبِيعُوهُمْ إِلا رِبْحَ الدِّينَارِ دِينَاراً ثُمَّ أَخَذَ أَحَدَ الْكِيسَيْنِ فَقَالَ هَذَا رَأْسُ مَالِي وَلا حَاجَةَ لَنَا فِي هَذَا الرِّبْحِ ثُمَّ قَالَ يَا مُصَادِفُ مُجَادَلَةُ السُّيُوفِ أَهْوَنُ مِنْ طَلَبِ الْحَلالِ.
1. Abu Ali al-Ash’ariy has narrated from Muhammad ibn ‘Abd al-Jabbar from Ahmad ibn abu Nadr from abu Ja’far al-Fazariy who has said the following: “Once abu Ja‘far (a.s.), called one of his servants named Musadif and gave him a thousand dinar. He (the Imam) told him to prepare for traveling to Egypt and added, ‘The number of my dependents has increased.’ He (the narrator) has said that the servant prepared certain items of merchandise along with the traders to go for trade to Egypt. When they arrived near Egypt they met a caravan coming out of Egypt. They asked the outgoing caravan with regards to the condition of their merchandise, which was of general nature, in the city. The outgoing people informed them that no such merchandise was available in the city. They (people of the incoming caravan) made an agreement among themselves on oath not to sell their merchandise for less than a profit of one dinar for each dinar worth of merchandise. After taking possession of their belongings, they returned to al-Madinah and Musadif came to abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), with two bagfuls of dinars, each of which had a thousand dinars. He said, ‘I pray to Allah to keep my soul in service for your cause, this is the capital and this is the profit.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘This is a great deal of profit. However, what did you do with the merchandise?’ He (Musadif) told the story of their agreement on oath. He (the Imam) said, ‘Allah is free of all defects. Why do you make an agreement on oath against a Muslim people not to sell for less than a profit of one dinar for each dinar worth of merchandise?’ He (the Imam) then took the two bags and said, ‘This is my capital and we do not need this profit.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘O Musadif, settling with sword is easier than earning by lawful ways.’”