766 – Safwan ibn Umayyah (Allah be pleased with him) reported that “the Prophet ﷺ borrowed some coats of mail from him on the Day of Hunayn. Safwan said, ‘Is this a forcible seizure, O Muhammad?’ He replied, ‘No; it is a guaranteed loan for use.’” Narrated by Abu Dawud, Ahmad, and al-Nasa’i. Al-Hakim declared it authentic (1) and produced a weak corroborative report for it from Ibn ‘Abbas (2).

Status of the hadith
The report is ḥasan (good). Its detailed discussion preceded under the previous hadith, where we cited al-Hafiz’s words from al-Talkhis at the beginning of the first hadith’s analysis. Al-Hakim graded it authentic and al-Dhahabi concurred, and the hadith has further supporting chains. Al-Bayhaqi said, “Even if some of them are mursal, they are strengthened by their corroborations.”

Points derived from these hadiths

1. These narrations are foundational texts clarifying the basic ruling of the ʿāriyah (loan for use): the permissibility of benefiting from an item while it remains intact, without any payment.
2. The practice of ʿāriyah is legislated; the majority hold it to be recommended, while others—among them Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah—consider it obligatory upon the well-off. Concerning those who withhold al-māʿūn, the Exalted says: “and they withhold common goods” (Qur’an 107:7). This includes everything customarily lent, such as utensils and the like.
3. The obligation to return all trusts to their owners, including items loaned for use, on account of His saying: