their owners, except where they are obliged to part with it; this is not one of those cases.”

I say:

Regarding Mālik’s view, Abū al-Walīd al-Bājī said: “The price that someone who undercuts it is ordered to match is the price charged by the majority. If one person or a small number of people alone lower their prices, they are ordered to match the majority’s price, since it is the majority’s situation that is taken into account, and their price determines the valuation of goods.”

Ibn al-Qāsim related from Mālik: “The traders are not to be expelled for the sake of five.”

He said: “In my view, the size of the markets must be considered in this matter. Is someone who increases what he offers in the market—that is, the quantity sold for a dirham, for example—to be expelled just as someone who reduces it is expelled?”

Abū al-Hasan Ibn al-Qassār al-Mālikī said: “Our scholars differed over Mālik’s words, ‘But one who lowers a price.’ The Baghdad scholars said that he meant someone who sells five for a dirham while others sell eight. Some of the Egyptian scholars said that he meant someone who sells eight while others sell five.”

He said: “In my view, both practices are prohibited. Someone who sells eight while others sell five disrupts the business of the market traders, and this may lead to disturbances and disputes. There is therefore a benefit in prohibiting both.”

Abū al-Walīd said: “There is no disagreement that this is the rule governing the market traders. As for someone bringing goods from elsewhere, Muhammad’s book states: ‘Such a trader is not prevented from selling in the market at a lower price than others.’

“Ibn Habīb said: ‘Goods other than wheat and barley may be sold only at the prevailing price; otherwise, those selling them must withdraw.’ He said: ‘As for someone bringing wheat and barley, he may sell as he wishes;