the one who resides in towns and villages, while the Bedouin is the newcomer from the desert or elsewhere. The Prophet ﷺ said, “A town-dweller must not sell on behalf of a Bedouin.”

Ibn ʿAbbās (may Allah be pleased with him) explained, “He must not act as his broker, that is, an intermediary between seller and buyer.” The Prophet ﷺ also said, “Leave people to earn their provision from one another.”

Just as it is impermissible for the resident to market the Bedouin’s goods, he should likewise refrain from purchasing on his behalf. What is prohibited is for the resident to approach the Bedouin and offer, “I will sell for you” or “I will buy for you.” If, however, the Bedouin comes to the resident and asks him to sell or to buy for him, there is no objection.

Another forbidden sale is the ʿīnah transaction: a person sells an item to another for a deferred price of twenty thousand, then buys it back from him for fifteen thousand in cash, handing over the money on the spot while the twenty-thousand debt remains until its due date. This is unlawful because it is merely a ruse to reach ribā (usury): in effect, it is the sale of deferred cash for immediate cash with an excess, the commodity serving only as a pretext.