of the goods without overburdening him; rather, he collects the payment from him bit by bit, and he may even lawfully raise the price slightly above the spot-cash price in consideration of the deferment, so the seller too attains blessing.

Second: muqarada, which is a mudaraba partnership. The source of blessing in it is that an unemployed, needy person finds work through another’s capital when they enter into partnership: one contributes the money and the other the labor. Whatever profit is realized they divide between them according to the terms they have stipulated, so each benefits. In most cases, they only turn to such a partnership when the owner of the capital is unable to trade with his own funds, while the worker is capable and skilled yet jobless. Thus blessing and benefit accrue to both parties.

Third: mixing wheat with barley as household food. The blessing here lies in saving on expenses, for barley is inexpensive; when it is combined with wheat one economizes on the costlier grain. Alongside this it fosters humility in one’s diet, counters extravagance and unchecked luxury, and enables one to share in the sort of food eaten by the poorer classes. Allah is the One who guides to the intended good.

2. Many scholars of legal theory maintain that the number mentioned is not meant as a limitation, for blessing is found in many matters beyond the three cited in this hadith.