4 – Hadith no. 722 shows that it is unlawful to barter one form of a commodity for another form of the same commodity unless the two are at the same stage: both dry or both moist, both finely processed or both coarse, both cooked or both raw. If they are not on an equal footing in these characteristics, their quantities cannot be matched: fresh dates shrink when they dry; grain swells when it is finely milled; and food that has been cooked is compacted by the fire and so its volume falls. Because equality between the two forms cannot be established, the forbidden excess inevitably occurs.

5 – His ﷺ remark, “Do fresh dates lose weight when they dry?” is not a question seeking information, for he ﷺ already knew that they do. Rather, it was intended to draw attention to the operative factor and the legal cause for prohibiting that kind of sale.