Abu Nuʿaym said, “He died in 146 AH, and this is more accurate than the view of those who said 145—Allah knows best.”
I wrote to Ibn Abī ʿUmar, Ibn ʿAllān, and a group who had heard it from ʿUmar ibn Muḥammad. Hibat Allah ibn Muḥammad informed us; Muḥammad ibn Muḥammad ibn Ghaylān informed us; Abū Bakr al-Shāfiʿī narrated to us; al-Ḥārith ibn Muḥammad narrated to us; Yazīd ibn Hārūn narrated to us; Ismāʿīl ibn Abī Khālid narrated to us, from Ḥakīm ibn Jābir, from ʿUbādah ibn al-Ṣāmit:
“I heard the Messenger of Allah ﷺ say: ‘Gold for gold, equal for equal, hand to hand; barley for barley, equal for equal, hand to hand; dates for dates, equal for equal, hand to hand,’—and he went on to mention salt…”
Muʿāwiyah said, “This man is saying nothing.”
ʿUbādah replied, “Indeed, by Allah, I do not care if I never again set foot in your land.” (1)
It was recorded solely by al-Nasāʾī.
The report has a weakness: it also comes via Ḥakīm, who said, “I was informed by ʿUbādah.”
(1) Reported by al-Nasa’i, 7/277, in the Book of Sales, chapter “Selling barley for barley.” It is likewise recorded by Muslim (1587) in the Book of Agricultural Partnerships, chapter on Currency Exchange, through the isnad: Hammad b. Zayd → Ayyub → Abu Qilabah, who said: “I was in Syria sitting in a study circle that included Muslim b. Yasar. Abu’l-Ashʿath arrived—people announced, ‘Here is Abu’l-Ashʿath!’—so I sat with them and said to him, ‘Relate to our brother the report of Ubadah b. al-Samit.’ He replied, ‘Certainly. We took part in a campaign while Muʿawiyah was commander. We seized abundant spoils, among them silver vessels. Muʿawiyah ordered a man to sell them to the troops for their stipends, and the people rushed to do so. When Ubadah b. al-Samit heard, he said: “I heard the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) forbid selling gold for gold, silver for silver, wheat for wheat, barley for barley, dates for dates, and salt for salt except in equal amounts, hand to hand; whoever gives or takes more has committed riba (usury).” The people therefore returned what they had taken. When that reached Muʿawiyah, he stood and preached, saying, “What is the matter with men who narrate reports from the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ)? We accompanied him and were in his company, yet never heard this from him!” Ubadah b. al-Samit then stood, repeated the incident, and added, “We shall certainly relate what we heard from the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), even if Muʿawiyah dislikes it—or even if it angers Muʿawiyah. I care not if I never serve in his army on the darkest night.”’
The hadith is also transmitted with similar wording by Abu Dawud (3349), al-Tirmidhi (1240), al-Nasa’i 7/274–275, Ibn Majah (2254), and al-Shafiʿi (2/177–178).