This report therefore makes clear that the reason the Prophet—peace and blessings be upon him—prohibited this was the disputes to which it led. The same applies to sales involving undue uncertainty. His prohibition against selling fruit before its ripeness became evident is established in both Sahīh collections through reports from Ibn Umar, Ibn Abbās, Jābir, and Anas, and in Muslim through a report from Abū Hurayrah. The report of Anas also explains the reason for the prohibition. Both Sahīh collections relate from Anas: “The Messenger of Allah—peace and blessings be upon him—prohibited selling fruit until it began to ripen.” He was asked, “What is meant by ‘began to ripen’?” He replied, “Until it turns red or yellow.” The Messenger of Allah—peace and blessings be upon him—then said, “Suppose Allah were to withhold the crop: on what basis would any of you take his brother’s wealth?”

Another version states: “The Prophet—peace and blessings be upon him—prohibited selling fruit until it ripened. We asked Anas, ‘What constitutes its ripening?’ He replied, ‘It turns red or yellow. Suppose Allah were to withhold the crop: on what basis would you deem your brother’s wealth lawful for yourself?’” Abū Masūd al-Dimashqī said: “Mālik and al-Dārawardī treated Anas’s words, ‘Suppose Allah were to withhold the crop,’ as part of the hadith of the Prophet—peace and blessings be upon him—and interpolated them into it. This is regarded as an error.”

Whether this explanation came from the Prophet—peace and blessings be upon him—or from Anas, it makes clear that such a transaction entails consuming wealth without right, since the wealth is taken under a commutative contract without any guaranteed countervalue.

If the harm inherent in a sale involving undue uncertainty is that it is liable to cause enmity and hatred and lead to the consumption of wealth without right, then it is evident that whenever this harm is outweighed by a greater benefit, that benefit takes precedence. Thus, because horse and camel racing and archery contests serve a benefit recognized by the Sacred Law, they are permissible for a prize, even though other contests for prizes are not. Similarly, a pastime in which a man engages is futile if it brings no benefit; but if it does contain benefit—which is what the Prophet—peace and blessings be upon him—mentioned when he said: “Every pastime