But the first view is more correct: each individual palm is considered on its own. If they are all sold together, then the determining factor is the variety: where they are of the same variety, the ripeness of one of them counts as the ripeness of them all. But where the varieties differ, each variety has its own ruling.

His statement, “Fruit is not to be sold before its ripeness becomes evident”: lā is a negating particle, and the negation here indicates prohibition, though it could possibly indicate dislikedness. However, the evidence of the hadith shows that the jurists intended prohibition, for the Prophet ﷺ forbade the sale of date palms until their fruit begins to ripen, and the sale of grain ears until they become white and are safe from blight; he forbade both the seller and the buyer. (1)

“Nor may crops be sold before their grain has hardened; nor green fodder, vegetables, cucumbers, or similar produce such as eggplant, apart from the underlying plant, unless this is stipulated on condition that they be cut immediately.”

His statement, “Nor crops before their grain has hardened”: crops are bought for the sake of the grain within the ears. The grain in the ears is soft until its growth is complete, at which point it hardens and becomes firm, and the inside of each grain, within the ear, is white. Thus, crops must not be sold before their grain has hardened, for the reason mentioned previously: they may suffer damage, since the buyer will leave them until they ripen and become fit to eat. They may then be affected by damage during their period of growth, resulting in dispute and contention. Moreover, the seller may be negligent in watering them, leading to a dispute between him and the buyer. In order to prevent such disputes, the Prophet ﷺ forbade the sale of fruit until its ripeness becomes evident (2), and the sale of grain until it has hardened. (3)