untying them, provided that a small section is opened, examined, and the purchase is concluded on the basis of the description of what has been seen. If on later inspection only a slight discrepancy appears, or the whole lot is of one kind and each part resembles the other—save that the outer layer is somewhat finer because it is the face of the bale—the sale remains binding on the buyer. But if the goods depart markedly from the agreed description, he may rescind the transaction.

It is impermissible to sell folded cloth whose surface alone is visible until the bale is opened up, displayed, handled inside and out, and its length and breadth are known. Yet if the buyer inspects part of it and purchases the rest on the strength of what he has seen, the sale is valid.

There is no objection to buying honey, clarified butter, oil, and similar goods while they are still in their containers—such as skin flasks or earthen jars—provided the buyer has looked at some of the contents and recognized them. Mālik and his colleagues further allowed the purchase of skin flasks of oil or honey by weight, counting the flask itself in the total weight, because people know how much the container usually adds and any excess or shortfall is negligible. They did not, however, allow the same practice with earthenware jars and large clay vessels, since their weights vary greatly and cannot be fixed with precision.

According to Mālik, it is permissible to buy radishes, carrots, turnips, garlic, onions, and the like while they are still underground, so long as a sample has been examined, the leaves have grown sturdy, the crop is safe from blight, and it has been tasted. Safety from blight is deemed established only when the specimens that have been uprooted and cut show no defect, owing to their soundness and full maturity.

By the same token one may sell the wool still on a sheep’s back and even sell its hide before the animal is slaughtered. Mālik is unanimously reported to permit the sale of wool on the backs of sheep—even if the parties stipulate that shearing be deferred for five, six, or ten days—because such a delay is considered minor. He held two different opinions, however, regarding the sale of hides while still on the backs of sheep or cattle.