or may not, such as animals that have strayed, since the purpose of the contract—taking possession—is beyond one’s control. For this reason, scholars have differed over “selling a debt owed by another person.” Two positions are reported from Ahmad on this issue, although the well-known position among his followers is that it is prohibited.

This same reasoning is given for prohibiting the sale of fruit before signs of ripening appear. Thus, both Sahīh collections report from Anas ibn Mālik:

“The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, forbade selling fruit until it began to ripen. He was asked, ‘What does beginning to ripen mean?’ He replied, ‘Until it turns red.’ The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, ‘Consider: if Allah withholds the fruit, on what grounds does any one of you take his brother’s wealth?’”

Another wording states:

“He forbade selling fruit until signs of ripening appeared, and selling dates until they began to ripen. He was asked, ‘What does beginning to ripen mean?’ He replied, ‘Turning red or yellow.’”

Another wording states:

“The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, forbade selling fruit until it began to ripen. I asked Anas, ‘What is meant by its ripening?’ He said, ‘It turns red or yellow. Consider: if Allah withholds the fruit, on what grounds do you deem your brother’s wealth lawful for yourself?’”

These are al-Bukhārī’s wordings. Muslim reports:

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

He also reports that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said:

“If Allah does not cause them to bear fruit, on what grounds does any one of you deem his brother’s wealth lawful for himself?”

Abū Masʿūd al-Dimashqī said: “Mālik and al-Darāwardī treated Anas’s words, ‘Consider: if Allah withholds the fruit,’ as part of the hadith of the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace. They interpolated these words into it, and this is regarded as an error.”