TRADE SECTION · 16 – PERMISSION TO SELL AN ANIMAL FOR ANOTHER ANIMAL ON CREDIT
3357 – According to the narration from ʿAbdullāh ibn ʿAmr (may Allah be pleased with him): The Messenger of God (peace and blessings be upon him) ordered him to prepare an army, but the camels on hand ran out before the army's needs were met. The Messenger of God (peace and blessings be upon him) ordered ʿAbdullāh to purchase camels, on the condition that young camels from the charity camels (to be received in the future) would be given in payment. Thereupon, ʿAbdullāh ibn ʿAmr (may Allah be pleased with him) would acquire a camel in exchange for two camels to be given later from the charity camels, thus completing the army's need for mounts.
EXPLANATION
To reconcile this hadith with the previous one, it has been said as follows: In the previous hadith, it was prohibited to sell an animal for another animal on credit from both sides. In this hadith, however, one of the animals is paid immediately, while the other is to be delivered later when the charity camels arrive, so it is a one-sided credit transaction and thus permissible. According to the Ḥanafīs and Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal, it is prohibited to sell an animal for another animal on credit. According to Imām Mālik, if the species are different, it is permissible. According to Imām al-Shāfiʿī, whether the species are the same or different, as long as one of the animals is paid immediately, it is permissible. (Maʿālim al-Sunan)