Exchange of One Kind of Food Items for another Kind

“Once abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), was asked about the case of a man who sells foodstuff to another man in quantity of several kur but cannot deliver what he owes, and says to the other party to accept two Qafiz (a certain unit of measurement) of barley for one Qafiz of wheat to compensate for the deficit. He (the Imam) said, ‘It is not valid; the origin of barley is from wheat, however, he can return his dirhams proportionate to the degree of deficit.’”

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Wheat and barley are equal to each other; neither one of the two can be exchanged in excess of the other.’”

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘It is not permissible to sell two Makhtum (a container) of barley for one Makhtum of wheat. These items cannot be exchanged except in equal quantities of each other and so also is the date.’ Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), was asked about the case of a man who buys wheat but cannot find with his party anything except barley, if he can take two for one. He (the Imam) said, ‘No, because the origin of the two is the same and Ali (a.s.), would count barley for wheat.’”

“I once asked him (the Imam) (a.s.), about wheat and barley. He (the Imam) said, ‘If they are of equal measures it is not harmful.’ He (the narrator) has said, ‘I asked him (the Imam) about flour and wheat. He (the Imam) said, ‘If they are of equal measures it is not harmful.’”

“This is concerning my question before abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), if it is permissible to exchange one Qafiz (a certain unit of measurement) of wheat for two Qafiz of barley. He (the Imam) said, ‘No, it is not permissible unless they are of equal quantities.’ He (the Imam) then said, ‘Barley is from wheat.’”

“About the case of a man who asks another man to sell the fruits of his certain palm tree for two Qafiz (a certain unit of measurement) of dates or less or more that he names as he likes, abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘It is not harmful.’ He (the Imam) then said, ‘Fresh dates and half-ripe dates from one palm tree can be exchanged and it is not harmful but mixing of old dates and half-ripe dates is not valid and so also is the case of raisin and grape.’”

“I once asked abu Basir to ask abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of a man who exchanges two baskets of fresh half-ripe dates for one basket of Mushaqaq (stone-free) dates. Abu Basir asked him (the Imam) and he (the Imam) said, ‘It is Makruh (detestable).’ Abu Basir then asked, ‘Why it is Makruh (detestable)?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘Ali ibn abu Talib (a.s.), disliked to exchange one wasaq of dates of al-Madinah for two wasaq (a certain unit of measurement) of dates of Khaybar because dates of al-Madinah are of inferior quality and Ali (a.s.), would not dislike lawful things.’”

“I once heard abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), saying that ’Amir al-Mu’minin disliked exchanging of one wasaq (a certain unit of measurement) of dates of Khaybar with two wasaq of dates of al- Madinah because dates of Khaybar are of superior quality.’”

“I once asked abu Ja‘far (a.s.), about his opinion on wheat and the sawiq (mush made of wheat or barley). He (the Imam) said, ‘Their exchange in equal measures is not harmful.’ I then asked, ‘What happens if one has a certain yield or preference over the other?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘Does it not have expenses and maintenance?’ I replied, ‘Yes, it has such overheads.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘This is for that.’ He (the Imam) then said, ‘If they are two different things then exchange of one for two at the same time is permissible.’”

“Abu Ja‘far (a.s.), has said, ‘It is permissible to exchange wheat with flour in equal measures and sawiq (mush) of wheat with mush and barley with wheat in equal measures, is not harmful.’”

“I once asked abu Ja‘far (a.s.), about the case of a man who gives foodstuff to a flour man under a contract that requires him to return for every ten Artal (plural of ritl, a certain unit of measurement) twelve Artal of flour. He (the Imam) said, ‘No, it is not permissible.’ I then asked about sesame given under a contract to an oil man who guarantees for every Sa‘ a certain Ritl (a certain unit of measurement). He (the Imam) said, ‘No, it is not permissible.’”

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Exchanging dry dates with fresh ones is not valid; dry dates are dry and fresh are not dry. When it dries it shrinks. Exchanging barley with wheat is also not valid unless it is in equal measures.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘Measuring is one and the same. It is detestable to exchange one Qafiz (a certain unit of measurement) of almond for two or one Qafiz of dates for two Qafiz of dates. However, it is valid to exchange one Sa‘ of wheat with two Sa‘ of dates and one Sa‘ of dates with two Sa‘ of raisins when they are different and in the form of dry fruits. It applies to foodstuff and fruits in the same manner.’ Or that he (the Imam) said, ‘It is not harmful if goods are exchanged as long as they are not exchanged in measurements and weighing.’”

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), disliked exchange of one Qafiz of almond with two Qafiz of almond and one Qafiz of dates with two Qafiz of dates.’”

“This is concerning my question before abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of a man who makes an advance payment for oil to receive ghee. He (the Imam) said, ‘It is not valid.’”

“I once heard abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), saying, ‘It is not valid for a man to make advance payment in the form of ghee to receive oil and vice versa.’”

“Once abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), was asked about the exchange of grape with raisins and he (the Imam) replied, ‘It is not permissible unless it is in equal measures.’ I asked about exchange of dates and raisins. He (the Imam) said, ‘It must be in equal measures.’”

17. In another Hadith through the same chain of narrators as that of the previous Hadith it is narrated thatexchange of two different kinds of goods at the same time is not harmful.’”

“This is concerning my question before abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about dry dates and fresh dates exchanged in equal measures. He (the Imam) said, ‘It is not harmful.’ I then asked him (the Imam) about cooked juice and uncooked one exchanged in equal measures. He (the Imam) said, ‘It is not harmful.’”