Aahfil.

Oaths, claims and the language of selling

Qays ibn Abi Gharazah records the Prophet ﷺ coming to the traders of Madinah, renaming them from samasir (brokers) to merchants, and warning them about what fills a marketplace. Beside it are the severe reports on the false oath used to move goods or seize property.

11 narrations

What this asks in practice

The warning is not against selling, and not even against enthusiasm. It is against reaching for an oath — any escalation of certainty you have not earned — to close something the goods could not close on their own.

This framing is ours. It is not part of the narration.

This is a reference compilation, not a religious ruling. Narrations are reproduced from published translations with their references and their gradings, each attributed to the scholar who gave it — graders disagree, and we show the disagreement rather than resolve it. For how any of this applies to a specific transaction, ask a qualified scholar.

The narrations

Sahih al-Bukhari 2088

Book 34, 41

حَدَّثَنَا عَمْرُو بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا هُشَيْمٌ، أَخْبَرَنَا الْعَوَّامُ، عَنْ إِبْرَاهِيمَ بْنِ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ أَبِي أَوْفَى ـ رضى الله عنه ـ أَنَّ رَجُلاً، أَقَامَ سِلْعَةً، وَهُوَ فِي السُّوقِ، فَحَلَفَ بِاللَّهِ لَقَدْ أَعْطَى بِهَا مَا لَمْ يُعْطَ، لِيُوقِعَ فِيهَا رَجُلاً مِنَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ، فَنَزَلَتْ ‏{‏إِنَّ الَّذِينَ يَشْتَرُونَ بِعَهْدِ اللَّهِ وَأَيْمَانِهِمْ ثَمَنًا قَلِيلاً ‏}‏

Translation

Narrated `Abdullah bin Abu `Aufa: A man displayed some goods in the market and swore by Allah that he had been offered so much for that, that which was not offered, and he said so, so as to cheat a Muslim. On that occasion the following Verse was revealed: "Verily! Those who purchase a small gain at the cost of Allah's covenant and their oaths (They shall have no portion in the Hereafter ..etc)

Grading

Authentic by consensus — the collection is graded as a whole

Sahih al-Bukhari 2515

Book 48, 8

حَدَّثَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا جَرِيرٌ، عَنْ مَنْصُورٍ، عَنْ أَبِي وَائِلٍ، قَالَ قَالَ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ ـ رضى الله عنه مَنْ حَلَفَ عَلَى يَمِينٍ، يَسْتَحِقُّ بِهَا مَالاً وَهْوَ فِيهَا فَاجِرٌ، لَقِيَ اللَّهَ وَهْوَ عَلَيْهِ غَضْبَانُ، فَأَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ تَصْدِيقَ ذَلِكَ ‏{‏إِنَّ الَّذِينَ يَشْتَرُونَ بِعَهْدِ اللَّهِ وَأَيْمَانِهِمْ ثَمَنًا قَلِيلاً‏}‏ فَقَرَأَ إِلَى ‏{‏عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ‏}‏‏.‏ثُمَّ إِنَّ الأَشْعَثَ بْنَ قَيْسٍ خَرَجَ إِلَيْنَا فَقَالَ مَا يُحَدِّثُكُمْ أَبُو عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ قَالَ فَحَدَّثْنَاهُ قَالَ فَقَالَ صَدَقَ لَفِيَّ وَاللَّهِ أُنْزِلَتْ، كَانَتْ بَيْنِي وَبَيْنَ رَجُلٍ خُصُومَةٌ فِي بِئْرٍ فَاخْتَصَمْنَا إِلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏"‏ شَاهِدُكَ أَوْ يَمِينُهُ ‏"‏‏.‏ قُلْتُ إِنَّهُ إِذًا يَحْلِفُ وَلاَ يُبَالِي‏.‏ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏"‏ مَنْ حَلَفَ عَلَى يَمِينٍ يَسْتَحِقُّ بِهَا مَالاً هُوَ فِيهَا فَاجِرٌ، لَقِيَ اللَّهَ وَهْوَ عَلَيْهِ غَضْبَانُ ‏"‏‏.‏ فَأَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ تَصْدِيقَ ذَلِكَ، ثُمَّ اقْتَرَأَ هَذِهِ الآيَةَ ‏{‏إِنَّ الَّذِينَ يَشْتَرُونَ بِعَهْدِ اللَّهِ وَأَيْمَانِهِمْ ثَمَنًا قَلِيلاً‏}‏ إِلَى ‏{‏وَلَهُمْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ‏}‏‏.‏

Translation

Narrated Abu Wail: Abdullah (bin Mas'ud) said, "Whoever took a false oath in order to grab somebody's property will meet Allah while Allah will be angry with him." Allah revealed the following verse to confirm that:--"Verily! Those who purchase a small gain at the cost of Allah's covenant And their oaths...a painful torment." (3.77) Al-Ash'ath bin Qais came to us and asked as to what Abu Abdur-Rehman (i.e. Ibn Mas'ud) was telling you." We related the story to him. On that he said, "He has told the truth. This verse was revealed about me. I had some dispute with another man regarding a well and we took the case before Allah's Messenger (ﷺ). Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said (to me), "Produce two witnesses (to support your claim); otherwise the defendant has the right to take an oath (to refute your claim).' I said, 'The defendant would not mind to take a false oath." Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) then said, 'Whoever took a false oath in order to grab someone else's property will meet Allah, Allah will be angry with him.' Allah then revealed what Confirmed it." Al-Ash'ath then recited the following Verse:--"Verily! Those who purchase a small gain at the cost of Allah's covenant, And their oaths . . . (to) . . . they shall have a painful torment!' (3.77) (See Hadith No)

Grading

Authentic by consensus — the collection is graded as a whole

Jami' at-Tirmidhi 1269

Book 14, 71

حَدَّثَنَا هَنَّادٌ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو مُعَاوِيَةَ، عَنِ الأَعْمَشِ، عَنْ شَقِيقِ بْنِ سَلَمَةَ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ مَسْعُودٍ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏"‏ مَنْ حَلَفَ عَلَى يَمِينٍ وَهُوَ فِيهَا فَاجِرٌ لِيَقْتَطِعَ بِهَا مَالَ امْرِئٍ مُسْلِمٍ لَقِيَ اللَّهَ وَهُوَ عَلَيْهِ غَضْبَانُ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ فَقَالَ الأَشْعَثُ بْنُ قَيْسٍ فِيَّ وَاللَّهِ لَقَدْ كَانَ ذَلِكَ كَانَ بَيْنِي وَبَيْنَ رَجُلٍ مِنَ الْيَهُودِ أَرْضٌ فَجَحَدَنِي فَقَدَّمْتُهُ إِلَى النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَالَ لِي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏"‏ أَلَكَ بَيِّنَةٌ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ قُلْتُ لاَ ‏.‏ فَقَالَ لِلْيَهُودِيِّ ‏"‏ احْلِفْ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ فَقُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِذًا يَحْلِفَ فَيَذْهَبَ بِمَالِي ‏.‏ فَأَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى‏:‏ ‏(‏إِنَّ الَّذِينَ يَشْتَرُونَ بِعَهْدِ اللَّهِ وَأَيْمَانِهِمْ ثَمَنًا قَلِيلاً ‏)‏ ‏.‏ إِلَى آخِرِ الآيَةِ ‏.‏ قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى وَفِي الْبَابِ عَنْ وَائِلِ بْنِ حُجْرٍ وَأَبِي مُوسَى وَأَبِي أُمَامَةَ بْنِ ثَعْلَبَةَ الأَنْصَارِيِّ وَعِمْرَانَ بْنِ حُصَيْنٍ ‏.‏ وَحَدِيثُ ابْنِ مَسْعُودٍ حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ صَحِيحٌ ‏.‏

Translation

Narrated 'Abdullah bin Mas'ud: That the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: "Whoever takes a false oath to deprive a Muslim of his wealth, he will meet Allah while He is angry with him." Al-Ash'ath bin Qais said: "It is about me, by Allah! There was a dispute about some land between myself and a man from the Jews who denied my ownership of it, so I took him to the Prophet (ﷺ). The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said to me: 'Do you have any proof ?' I said: 'No'. So he said to Jew: 'Take an oath.' I said: 'O Messenger of Allah! If he takes an oath then my property will be gone!' So Allah, Most High revealed: Verily those who purchase a small gain at the cost of Allah's Covenant and their oaths.. until the end of the Ayah." [Abu 'Eisa said:] There are narrations on this topic from Wa'il bin Hujr, Abu Musa, Abu Umamah bin Tha'labah Al-Ansari, and 'Imran bin Husain. The Hadith of Ibn Mas'ud is a Hasan Sahih Hadith

Grading

  • Ahmad Muhammad Shakir·Sahih
  • Al-Albani·Sahih
  • Bashar Awad Maarouf·Hasan Sahih
  • Zubair Ali Zai·Sahih - Agreed Upon
Imam at-TirmidhiCheck on sunnah.com

Jami' at-Tirmidhi 1211

Book 14, 10

حَدَّثَنَا مَحْمُودُ بْنُ غَيْلاَنَ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو دَاوُدَ، قَالَ أَنْبَأَنَا شُعْبَةُ، قَالَ أَخْبَرَنِي عَلِيُّ بْنُ مُدْرِكٍ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا زُرْعَةَ بْنَ عَمْرِو بْنِ جَرِيرٍ، يُحَدِّثُ عَنْ خَرَشَةَ بْنِ الْحُرِّ، عَنْ أَبِي ذَرٍّ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ ‏"‏ ثَلاَثَةٌ لاَ يَنْظُرُ اللَّهُ إِلَيْهِمْ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ وَلاَ يُزَكِّيهِمْ وَلَهُمْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ قُلْتُ مَنْ هُمْ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ فَقَدْ خَابُوا وَخَسِرُوا فَقَالَ ‏"‏ الْمَنَّانُ وَالْمُسْبِلُ إِزَارَهُ وَالْمُنْفِقُ سِلْعَتَهُ بِالْحَلِفِ الْكَاذِبِ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ قَالَ وَفِي الْبَابِ عَنِ ابْنِ مَسْعُودٍ وَأَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ وَأَبِي أُمَامَةَ بْنِ ثَعْلَبَةَ وَعِمْرَانَ بْنِ حُصَيْنٍ وَمَعْقِلِ بْنِ يَسَارٍ ‏.‏ قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى حَدِيثُ أَبِي ذَرٍّ حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ صَحِيحٌ ‏.‏

Translation

Narrated Abu Dharr: That the Prophet (ﷺ) said: "There are three whom Allah will not look at on the Day of Judgement, nor will He purify them, and theirs is a painful punishment." We said: "Who are they O Messenger of Allah ? For they have indeed failed and are lost!" He sai: "The Mannan, the one whose Izar hangs (below the ankels) and the one who promotes his merchandise with false oath." [He said:] There are narrations on this topic from Ibn Mas'ud, Abu Hurairah, Abu Umamah bin Tha'labah, 'Imran bin Husain, and Ma'qil bin Yasar [Abu 'Eisa said:] The Hadith of Abu Dharr is a Hasan Sahih Hadith

Grading

  • Ahmad Muhammad Shakir·Sahih
  • Al-Albani·Sahih
  • Bashar Awad Maarouf·Hasan Sahih
  • Zubair Ali Zai·Sahih - Bukhari And Muslim
Imam at-TirmidhiCheck on sunnah.com

Sunan an-Nasa'i 4458

Book 44, 10

أَخْبَرَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ بَشَّارٍ، عَنْ مُحَمَّدٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ، عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ مُدْرِكٍ، عَنْ أَبِي زُرْعَةَ بْنِ عَمْرِو بْنِ جَرِيرٍ، عَنْ خَرَشَةَ بْنِ الْحُرِّ، عَنْ أَبِي ذَرٍّ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ ‏"‏ ثَلاَثَةٌ لاَ يُكَلِّمُهُمُ اللَّهُ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ وَلاَ يَنْظُرُ إِلَيْهِمْ وَلاَ يُزَكِّيهِمْ وَلَهُمْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ فَقَرَأَهَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ أَبُو ذَرٍّ خَابُوا وَخَسِرُوا ‏.‏ قَالَ ‏"‏ الْمُسْبِلُ إِزَارَهُ وَالْمُنَفِّقُ سِلْعَتَهُ بِالْحَلِفِ الْكَاذِبِ وَالْمَنَّانُ عَطَاءَهُ ‏"‏ ‏.‏

Translation

It was narrated from Abu Dharr that the Prophet said: "There are three to whom Allah will not speak on the Day of Resurrection, or will He look at them, or sanctify them, and theirs will be a painful torment: Abu Dharr said:" May they be lost and doomed: He said: "The one who drags his Izar (below the ankles) the one who sells his product by means of false oaths, and the one who reminds others (Al-Mannan) of what he has given to them

Grading

  • Abu Ghuddah·Sahih
  • Al-Albani·Sahih
  • Zubair Ali Zai·Hasan

Sunan an-Nasa'i 4459

Book 44, 11

أَخْبَرَنَا عَمْرُو بْنُ عَلِيٍّ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي سُلَيْمَانُ الأَعْمَشُ، عَنْ سُلَيْمَانَ بْنِ مُسْهِرٍ، عَنْ خَرَشَةَ بْنِ الْحُرِّ، عَنْ أَبِي ذَرٍّ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ ‏ "‏ ثَلاَثَةٌ لاَ يَنْظُرُ اللَّهُ إِلَيْهِمْ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ وَلاَ يُزَكِّيهِمْ وَلَهُمْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ الَّذِي لاَ يُعْطِي شَيْئًا إِلاَّ مَنَّهُ وَالْمُسْبِلُ إِزَارَهُ وَالْمُنَفِّقُ سِلْعَتَهُ بِالْكَذِبِ ‏"‏ ‏.‏

Translation

It was narrated from Abu Dharr that the Prophet said: "There are three at whom Allah will not look on the Day of Resurrection, nor will He sanctify them, and theirs will be a painful torment: the one who does not give anything but he reminds (the recipient of his gift), the one who drags his Izar (below the ankles), and the one who sells his product by means of false oaths." (Sahih)

Grading

  • Abu Ghuddah·Sahih
  • Al-Albani·Sahih
  • Zubair Ali Zai·Hasan

Sunan an-Nasa'i 3797

Book 35, 37

أَخْبَرَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ، عَنْ عَبْدِ الْمَلِكِ، عَنْ أَبِي وَائِلٍ، عَنْ قَيْسِ بْنِ أَبِي غَرَزَةَ، قَالَ كُنَّا نُسَمَّى السَّمَاسِرَةَ فَأَتَانَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَنَحْنُ نَبِيعُ فَسَمَّانَا بِاسْمٍ هُوَ خَيْرٌ مِنِ اسْمِنَا فَقَالَ ‏ "‏ يَا مَعْشَرَ التُّجَّارِ إِنَّ هَذَا الْبَيْعَ يَحْضُرُهُ الْحَلِفُ وَالْكَذِبُ فَشُوبُوا بَيْعَكُمْ بِالصَّدَقَةِ ‏"‏ ‏.‏

Translation

It was narrated that Qais bin Abi Gharazah said: "At the time of the Messenger of Allah we used to be called Samasir (brokers). The Messenger of Allah came to us when we were selling and called us by a name that was better than that. He said: 'O merchants (Tujjar), this selling involves lies and (false) oaths, so mix some charity with it

Grading

  • Abu Ghuddah·Sahih
  • Al-Albani·Sahih
  • Zubair Ali Zai·Sahih

Sunan an-Nasa'i 3799

Book 35, 39

أَخْبَرَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ بَشَّارٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ جَعْفَرٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ، عَنْ مُغِيرَةَ، عَنْ أَبِي وَائِلٍ، عَنْ قَيْسِ بْنِ أَبِي غَرَزَةَ، قَالَ أَتَانَا النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَنَحْنُ فِي السُّوقِ فَقَالَ ‏ "‏ إِنَّ هَذِهِ السُّوقَ يُخَالِطُهَا اللَّغْوُ وَالْكَذِبُ فَشُوبُوهَا بِالصَّدَقَةِ ‏"‏ ‏.‏

Translation

It was narrated that Qais bin Abi Gharazah said: "The Prophet came to us when we were in the marketplace and said: 'This marketplace is filled with idle talk and (false) oaths, so mix some charity with it

Grading

  • Abu Ghuddah·Sahih
  • Al-Albani·Sahih
  • Zubair Ali Zai·Hasan

Sunan an-Nasa'i 3800

Book 35, 40

أَخْبَرَنَا عَلِيُّ بْنُ حُجْرٍ، وَمُحَمَّدُ بْنُ قُدَامَةَ، قَالاَ حَدَّثَنَا جَرِيرٌ، عَنْ مَنْصُورٍ، عَنْ أَبِي وَائِلٍ، عَنْ قَيْسِ بْنِ أَبِي غَرَزَةَ، قَالَ كُنَّا بِالْمَدِينَةِ نَبِيعُ الأَوْسَاقَ وَنَبْتَاعُهَا وَكُنَّا نُسَمِّي أَنْفُسَنَا السَّمَاسِرَةَ وَيُسَمِّينَا النَّاسُ فَخَرَجَ إِلَيْنَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ذَاتَ يَوْمٍ فَسَمَّانَا بِاسْمٍ هُوَ خَيْرٌ مِنَ الَّذِي سَمَّيْنَا أَنْفُسَنَا وَسَمَّانَا النَّاسُ فَقَالَ ‏ "‏ يَا مَعْشَرَ التُّجَّارِ إِنَّهُ يَشْهَدُ بَيْعَكُمُ الْحَلِفُ وَالْكَذِبُ فَشُوبُوهُ بِالصَّدَقَةِ ‏"‏ ‏.‏

Translation

It was narrated that Qais bin Abi Gharazah said: "In Al-Madinah we used to buy and sell Wasqs (of goods), and we used to call ourselves Samasir (brokers), and the people used to call us like that. The Messenger of Allah came out to us one day, and called us by a name that was better than that which we called ourselves and which the people called us. He said: 'O Tujjar (traders), your selling involves (false) oaths and lies, so mix some charity with it

Grading

  • Abu Ghuddah·Sahih
  • Al-Albani·Sahih
  • Zubair Ali Zai·Hasan

Sunan an-Nasa'i 4463

Book 44, 15

أَخْبَرَنِي مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ قُدَامَةَ، عَنْ جَرِيرٍ، عَنْ مَنْصُورٍ، عَنْ أَبِي وَائِلٍ، عَنْ قَيْسِ بْنِ أَبِي غَرَزَةَ، قَالَ كُنَّا بِالْمَدِينَةِ نَبِيعُ الأَوْسَاقَ وَنَبْتَاعُهَا وَنُسَمِّي أَنْفُسَنَا السَّمَاسِرَةَ وَيُسَمِّينَا النَّاسُ فَخَرَجَ إِلَيْنَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَسَمَّانَا بِاسْمٍ هُوَ خَيْرٌ لَنَا مِنَ الَّذِي سَمَّيْنَا بِهِ أَنْفُسَنَا فَقَالَ ‏ "‏ يَا مَعْشَرَ التُّجَّارِ إِنَّهُ يَشْهَدُ بَيْعَكُمُ الْحَلِفُ وَاللَّغْوُ فَشُوبُوهُ بِالصَّدَقَةِ ‏"‏ ‏.‏

Translation

It was narrated that Qays bin Abi Gharazah said: "We used to trade in the markets of Al-Madinah and we used to call ourselves as-Samasir (brokers) and the people called us that, but the Messenger of Allah came out to s and called us by a name that was better than what we called ourselves. He said: "O merchants (Tujjar)! Selling involves (false) oaths and idle talk, so mix some charity with it,"" (Sahih)

Grading

  • Abu Ghuddah·Sahih
  • Al-Albani·Sahih
  • Zubair Ali Zai·Hasan

Sunan Ibn Majah 2145

Book 12, 9

حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ نُمَيْرٍ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو مُعَاوِيَةَ، عَنِ الأَعْمَشِ، عَنْ شَقِيقٍ، عَنْ قَيْسِ بْنِ أَبِي غَرَزَةَ، قَالَ كُنَّا نُسَمَّى فِي عَهْدِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ السَّمَاسِرَةَ فَمَرَّ بِنَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ فَسَمَّانَا بِاسْمٍ هُوَ أَحْسَنُ مِنْهُ فَقَالَ ‏ "‏ يَا مَعْشَرَ التُّجَّارِ إِنَّ الْبَيْعَ يَحْضُرُهُ الْحَلِفُ وَاللَّغْوُ فَشُوبُوهُ بِالصَّدَقَةِ ‏"‏ ‏.‏

Translation

It was narrated that Qais bin Abu Gharazah said: "At the time of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) we used to be called brokers, but the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) passed by us and called by a name that was better than that. He said: 'O merchants, selling involves (false) oaths and idle talk, so mix some charity with it

Grading

  • Al-Albani·Sahih
  • Muhammad Fouad Abd al-Baqi·Sahih
  • Shuaib Al Arnaut·Sahih
  • Zubair Ali Zai·Sahih

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