(355) Chapter: Prohibition of Malpractices in Commerce

Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) said: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) forbade that a man in the city should be the commission agent of a man from the desert and prohibited the practice of Najsh (i.e., offering a high price for something in order to allure another customer who is interested in the thing); and that a man should make an offer while the offer of his brother is pending; or that he should make a proposal of marriage while that of his brother is pending; or that a woman should try that a sister of hers might be divorced so that she might take her place. Another narration is: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) forbade the people from meeting the caravan on the way for entering into business transaction with them; and the selling of the goods by a dweller of the city on behalf of a man of the desert; and the seeking by a woman the divorce of her sister (from her husband); and the practice of Najsh and leaving the animals unmilked (for sometime for the purpose of accumulation of milk to deceive the buyer). [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]. Commentary: "Litakfa ma fi ina'iha'' means that "Whatever is in her vessel is overturned.'' This is a figurative expression meaning "She would marry her (Muslim sister's) husband when he divorces her present wife.'' "Leaving the animals unmilked'' means that a saleable cattle is not milked for two or three times to create an impression that the cattle is rich in milk, which is not the true case. This is also prohibited. Other points mentioned in this Hadith have been discussed earlier.