THE CHAPTER ON CONTRACTS · 68 – A PERSON SAYING, "THERE IS NO DECEPTION IN TRANSACTIONS"
From Ibn Umar, may Allah be pleased with him:
A man said to the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, “I am constantly cheated in trade.” Thereupon the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said to him, "There is no cheating in trade." From that time on, whenever this person engaged in trade, he would say, "There is no cheating here."
EXPLANATION:
The man who was being cheated in trade was Hubban ibn Munghaz. He had lived for one hundred and thirty years. During a battle he went on with the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, he was seriously wounded by a stone thrown from within the fortress. After this incident, there was a change in his speech. Stagnation began to affect his reasoning. Yet, he continued to trade. The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, commanded him to say, "There is no cheating" when engaging in trade. [276]
Anas bin Malik (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated: During the era of Prophethood of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings upon him), there was a man who had weakness in his mind (and speech impediment) while conducting business transactions. His relatives came to the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings upon him) and said, "O Messenger of Allah, so-and-so is engaged in business transactions, but he has weakness in his mind and (speech). Forbid him from engaging in business." The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings upon him) summoned that man and forbade him from conducting sales. That man said, “O Messenger of Allah, I cannot refrain from conducting business.” The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings upon him) said: "If you cannot abandon the sale, then take the goods, pay the price, and do not cheat." [277]
EXPLANATION
The phrase "ha'e wa ha'e" mentioned in the latter part of the hadith is an expression used when conducting business transactions, meaning that the seller should take the goods and give the money, fulfilling his promise.