687 – Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “Do not go out to intercept the caravans bringing goods; whoever is intercepted and someone buys from him, then when the owner reaches the marketplace he has the option.” Narrated by Muslim (1).

— Vocabulary of the hadith —
• al-jalab (incoming merchandise): pronounced with two fatḥahs; it denotes goods that have been brought from one town to another for trade.
• his master (sayyiduhu): i.e., the person who brought the goods.
• the option (khiyār): the seller’s right either to let the transaction stand or to revoke it.

— Points derived from the two hadiths —

1. Both narrations contain two clauses that clarify two prohibited dealings. The words “Do not meet the riders” and, in another wording, “Do not meet the caravans bringing goods,” forbid going out to meet those entering the town to sell their wares when brokers and commission agents intercept them outside the market where goods are normally sold—either to purchase the merchandise from them while they are ignorant of its market price, or to undertake selling it on their behalf to the townsfolk.
2. The majority of scholars rule it unlawful to intercept such sellers, to buy from them, or to prevent them from marketing their goods directly to the people.
3. The rationale for the prohibition is twofold:
   First: the newcomers are defrauded when their goods are bought from them for less than their value in the marketplace.