Chapter on the Legal Rulings Governing the Sale of Fruit

The term “fruit” here refers to what grows on date-palms and other trees and is intended for consumption.

When such fruit is sold without the accompanying trees, the transaction is not valid until the first signs of ripeness appear. This is because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) “forbade the sale of fruit before its ripeness becomes evident, forbidding both the seller and the buyer.” Agreed upon (al-Bukhārī and Muslim). He prohibited the seller so that no one’s wealth would be consumed unjustly, and he prohibited the buyer because he would be assisting in that injustice.

Both Ṣaḥīḥs also relate that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) forbade selling fruit “until it begins to ripen.” They asked, “What is meant by its ripening?” He replied, “When it turns red or yellow.”

The prohibition in these two reports indicates that a sale made before ripeness is void and of no legal effect.

Likewise, it is impermissible to sell crops before the grain has hardened. Muslim narrates from Ibn ʿUmar that “the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) forbade the sale of dates on the palm until they begin to ripen and the sale of grain in the ear…”