the warehouse. He then says, “Come to me at the warehouse after an hour, and I will give you the barley.” This is not permissible, because they separated before taking possession. But if he says, “Give me your hand,” and they walk together to the warehouse and he hands it over to him, this is permissible, because they have not separated.

If he sells a commodity measured by volume for one measured by weight, they may separate before taking possession, and deferment is permissible. Likewise, with anything that is neither measured by volume nor by weight, such as clothing and animals, deferment is permissible.

It is not permissible to sell a debt for a debt.

His statement, “If he sells a commodity measured by volume for one measured by weight, they may separate before taking possession, and deferment is permissible”: an example is where he sells one hundred sāʿ of wheat for one hundred kilograms of copper. This is permissible, because they do not share either the effective cause of excess usury or the same genus. Thus, they may separate, and deferment is permissible.

His statement, “Anything that is neither measured by volume nor by weight, such as clothing and animals, may be subject to deferment”: this is because it is not subject to usury. Goods subject to usury are either measured by volume or by weight; therefore, anything that is neither measured by volume nor by weight may be deferred. He did not say “excess usury,” because if deferment is permissible, then an excess is permissible as well—but not the reverse. An excess may be permissible while deferment is not, as in the exchange of wheat for barley, for example: an excess is permissible, but deferment is not.

An example of the foregoing is that if I sell you one garment for two garments, with the one garment present and the two garments to be delivered after six months, this is permissible, because clothing is not subject to usury, being neither measured by volume nor by weight.

Another example: a man needs a camel but has no dirhams. He comes to someone and says, “Give me one camel now, and I will give you two camels after a year.” This is permissible, because it is not subject to usury, as it is neither measured by volume nor by weight. Supporting evidence is that the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, instructed Abdullah ibn Amr ibn al-As, may Allah be pleased with them, to