general scope in the wording.

Evidence that the wording in our case is not general is found in the report in the two Sahīhs from Anas ibn Mālik, may Allah be pleased with him:

“The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, forbade selling fruit until it begins to ripen. It was asked, ‘What does beginning to ripen mean?’ He replied, ‘It turns red and yellow.’”

One wording in Muslim reads:

“He forbade selling fruit until it begins to ripen.”

Another wording in Muslim reads:

“He forbade selling the fruit of date palms until it begins to ripen.”

It is clear that this means the fruit of date palms, as the explicitly qualified wording states, because this is the fruit that ripens by turning red or yellow. Other fruits ripen by becoming white, such as mulberries, apples, white grapes, white plums—which the people of Damascus call khawkh—and white peaches, known as firsik and called durrāq by the Damascenes. Others ripen by softening without changing colour, such as figs and similar fruits.

Accordingly, the two Sahīhs contain the following report from Jābir:

“The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, forbade selling fruit until it takes on its ripe colour. It was asked, ‘What does taking on its ripe colour mean?’ He replied, ‘It turns red or yellow and becomes edible.’”

This fruit is fresh dates. Likewise, Sahīh Muslim contains a report from Abū Hurayrah, may Allah be pleased with him, who said that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said:

“Do not buy fruit until its soundness becomes apparent, and do not buy dates in exchange for dates.”

The second mention of dates undoubtedly refers to fresh dates. The first therefore does too, since the wording is the same.

Sahīh Muslim also records that he said: The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said:

“Do not buy