the majority of scholars, such as Abū Hanīfa, al-Shāfiʿī, and a group of Ahmad’s followers. If accepting wheat is easier for the debtor than requiring him to sell it and pay in dirhams, it is preferable for the creditor to accept the wheat. And Allah knows best.

He—may Allah have mercy on him—was asked:

A man bought grain for a specified price in dirhams, payable at a later date. When payment fell due, the creditor sought to collect what he was owed, but found nothing except grain, valued at the price prevailing at that time and assessed in dirhams toward discharging the debt. May the creditor accept the grain at the prevailing price?

He replied:

There are two opinions on this matter. An example is someone selling wheat on deferred payment and then accepting wheat in place of the price owed. According to Mālik and Ahmad, this is not valid. According to Abū Hanīfa and al-Shāfiʿī, there is nothing wrong with it; this is also the view of some of Ahmad’s followers.

He was asked:

A man is owed a debt by another man who has a son. The debtor’s son said to the creditor:

“Sell me a commodity on deferred payment, and I will sell it for immediate payment in dirhams