or anything that resembles them; such items may be sold before they are received, and disparity in quantity is allowed, because they are not classed as food. Some jurists add that mustard, cinnamon, pepper, ginger, and spikenard all fall under the heading of seasonings, so they share the same ruling.
All of what has been said concerns food that serves as a staple, a fruit, or a relish. As for someone who borrows food but, before taking possession from the lender, sells it to someone else, that is permissible. The same applies to anything acquired without consideration—such as a gift or an inheritance; all of it may be sold before it is taken into one’s possession, because the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, restricted the prohibition to one who buys food, saying: “Whoever purchases food must not sell it until he has received it,” and he did not say: “Whoever owns food must not sell it until he has received it.”
Everything above represents the distilled position of Mālik according to the majority of his companions. They differed, however, about a buyer who purchases food measured by volume and then dies before taking delivery. Most held that his heir may not sell it until it has been received and measured out, for the heir merely takes the deceased’s place, and this is the correct view. Others maintained that the heir may sell it before taking possession, because he is an heir, not the original purchaser.
If someone buys measured food and then lends it to another person, donates it to him, or settles a debt owed to him with it, none of those to whom the food passes may sell it before taking delivery.
When a man purchases food sold by measure, receives the full measure, and then wishes to resell it, he may do so—provided he informs the buyer of the measure and the buyer accepts his statement—if the price is paid on the spot; if the payment is deferred, the sale is invalid. Should the buyer, after accepting the seller’s word, later discover a shortage or an excess and produce evidence of it, the case will be examined; if the surplus or deficiency is slight