Hadith 32884

Yahya related to me from Malik from Ibn Shihab from Malik ibn Ausibn al-Hadathan an-Nasri that one time he asked to exchange 100dinars. He said, "Talha ibn Ubaydullah called me over and we made amutual agreement that he would make an exchange for me. He took thegold and turned it about in his hand, and then said, 'I can't do ituntil my treasurer brings the money to me from al-Ghaba.' Umar ibn al-Khattab was listening and Umar said, 'By Allah! Do not leave him untilyou have taken it from him!' Then he said, 'The Messenger of Allah,may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "Gold for silver isusury except hand to hand. Wheat for wheat is usury except hand tohand. Dates for dates is usury except hand to hand. Barley for barleyis usury except hand to hand." "'Malik said, "When a manbuys dirhams with dinars and then finds a bad dirham among them andwants to return it, the exchange of the dinars breaks down, and hereturns the silver and takes back his dinars. The explanation of whatis disapproved of in that is that the Messenger of Allah, may Allahbless him and grant him peace, said, 'Gold for silver is usury excepthand to hand.' and Umar ibn al-Khattab said, 'If someone asks you towait to be paid until he has gone back to his house, do not leavehim.' When he returns a dirham to him from the exchange after he hasleft him, it is like a debt or something deferred. For that reason, itis disapproved of, and the exchange collapses. Umar ibn al-Khattabwanted that all gold, silver and food should not be sold for goods tobe paid later. He did not want there to be any delay or deferment inany such sale, whether it involved one commodity or different sorts ofcommodities."