Question
Please what is the authenticity of Hadith of Ibn Umar in Abu Dawud that states “Do not resell goods at the place of the first seller”?
Answer
Imam Abu Dawud (rahimahullah) has recorded this Hadith. Imam Ibn Hibban (rahimahullah) has declared the Hadith authentic.
The full narration is as follows:
Sayyiduna ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Umar (radiyallahu ‘anhuma) relates, “I purchased olive oil from the market. When I concluded the sale [through an offer to purchase and the seller accepting the offer, without taking possession], a man met me and offered me a good profit. I was about to tap his hand [i.e. about to conclude the sale] when someone behind me grabbed hold of my forearm. I turned and saw it was Zayd ibn Thabit (radiyallahu ‘anhu) who said, ‘Do not sell it in the same place you bought it from, until you take possession of it in your home for Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) forbade that goods be sold in the same place it is purchased until the merchants take possession of the goods in their homes.”
(Sunan Abi Dawud, Hadith: 3493, Sharh Ibn Raslan, Hadith: 3499, Sahih Ibn Hibban; Al Ihsan, Hadith: 4984. Also see Hadith: 4985)
Note: I have merely answered your question regarding the authenticity of the narration in question. This should therefore not be viewed as a Fiqh ruling/fatwa. Kindly contact a Mufti/Darul Ifta for a fatwa on this matter.
Answered by: Moulana Suhail Motala
Approved by: Moulana Muhammad Abasoomar