Chapter on Salam (forward purchase) (1)
A salam contract is valid when the parties employ the term “salam,” or the synonymous expressions “salaf” or simply “sale.”
Its conditions are:
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The commodity’s attributes must be precisely fixed whenever it is something sold by capacity, weight, or linear measure. Accordingly, salam is invalid for heterogeneous countables—such as assorted fruits, vegetables, hides, animal heads—or for narrow-necked vessels like qamāqim (2) and astāl (3), and likewise for composite substances whose elements cannot be distinguished, such as pastes. It is, however, permissible with livestock and with a piece of cloth woven from two kinds of yarn.
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The genus, variety, and every specification that clearly affects the price—newness, quality, and the like—must be stated. One may not stipulate “better” or “worse,” but must use the absolute terms “good” or “poor.”
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The quantity must be stated: by volume for what is measured by volume, and by weight for what is sold by weight. If the contract fixes a volume-measured commodity by weight, or the reverse, it is invalid. (5)