He reported God’s Messenger as saying, “Do not go out to meet what is being brought .*
* He may find he could have a higher price in the market, and so he has the right to cancel the deal.
Narrated Abu Huraira reported God's Messenger.as saying, “Do not go out to meet riders to conduct business with them; none of you must buy in opposition to one another1, nor must you bid against one another; a townsman must not sell for a man from the desert; and do not tie up the udders of camels and sheep,:
he may keep them if he is pleased with them, and may return them along with a sa‘ of dates if he is displeased with them.” A version by Muslim has, “If anyone buys a sheep whose udder has been tied up he has three days in which to decide whether to keep it or not; but if he returns it he must return with it a sa’ of any grain but wheat.”2
(Bukhari and Muslim.)
1. When agreement has obviously been reached, although the contract has not been confirmed, no one must step in and offer a higher price.
2. Samra’. The full pharse is hinta samra’, meaning "tawny wheat" ; then the adjective is used by itself as a word for wheat.
Ibn ‘Abbas said what the Prophet forbade was that grain should be sold before it had been received. Ibn ‘Abbas said, “I do not think this applies to every commodity, but only to things of that type.”
