Thus, the correct view is that once such produce has completed its growth, immediate cutting is not a condition when it is sold. Rather, the purchaser may harvest it according to customary practice.

His statement, “or similar produce, such as eggplant”: in our local dialect, eggplant is called baydajan. This is a harmless alteration, since it is customary usage. It is mentioned that an eggplant seller displayed his produce for sale in the market, but people did not buy from him. So he said: “So-and-so narrated to us from so-and-so,” until he reached the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, who said: “Eggplant is for whatever purpose it is eaten” (1). His intention was to encourage people to buy it, so they rushed to purchase it from him. This is one of the examples scholars cite in hadith terminology of a fabricated report invented for a worldly purpose. The purposes of fabricators are many: among them are corrupting the religion, pursuing worldly ends, and other motives.

There is no doubt that it is impermissible for a person to relate this to people unless he makes clear that it is fabricated.

His statement, “apart from the underlying plant,” excludes the case in which it is sold together with its underlying plant, for then the sale is valid. Thus, if he sells the fruit of a date palm before the onset of