ابن ماجہ · Hadith 18

It was narrated from Ishâq bin Qabisah from his father that ‘Ubâdah bin Sâmit Al-Ansâri, head of the army unit, the Companion of the Messenger of Allah (P.B.U.H) , went on a military campaign with Mu’âwiyah in the land of the Byzantines. He saw people trading pieces of gold for Dinár and pieces of silver for Dirham. He said: “0 people, you are consuming Ribâ (usury)! For I heard the Messenger of Allah (P.B.U.H) say: ‘Do not sell gold for gold unless it is like for like; there should be no increase and no delay (between the two transactions).” Mu’âwiyah said to him: “0 Abu Walid, I do not think there is any Riba involved in this, except in cases where there is a delay.”‘Ubâdah said to him: “I tell you a Hadith from the Messenger of Allah (P.B.U.H) , and you tell me your opinion! If Allah brings me back safely I will never live in a land in which you have authority over me.” When he returned, he stayed in Al-Madinah, and ‘Umar bin Khattâb said to him: “What brought you here, 0 Abu Walid?” So he told him the story, and what he had said about not living in the same land as Mu’âwiyah. ‘Umar said: “Go back to your land, 0 Abu Walid, for what a bad land is the land from where you and people like you are absent.” Then he wrote to Mu’âwiyah and said: “You have no authority over him; make the people follow what he says, for he is right.” (Hasan)

Translated by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan · Reviewed by Islamic University of Madinah · Published March 2020