What is riba al-fadl?

The short answer

Riba al-fadl ("riba of excess") is exchanging certain goods of the same kind, like gold for gold, in unequal amounts, even when both are handed over on the spot. The Prophet ﷺ named six such goods and said that like must be exchanged for like, equal for equal, hand to hand; between different kinds you may agree any rate, but only hand to hand.

Evidence 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Explanation

Scholars describe two kinds of riba. Riba al-nasi'ah is the increase charged for delay, as in an interest loan. Riba al-fadl is an increase in a same-kind swap: giving more of something for less of the same thing.

The core text lists gold, silver, wheat, barley, dates and salt. Each must be exchanged "like for like and equal for equal, payment being made hand to hand". If the kinds differ, such as gold for silver, "sell as you wish", as long as it is hand to hand 1. Whoever adds or asks for more "dealt in usury", and giver and receiver are equally guilty 2.

A famous example: Bilal (RA) swapped two measures of ordinary dates for one measure of fine dates. The Prophet ﷺ called it riba and showed the halal route: sell the ordinary dates for money, then buy the fine dates with that money 3. So the goal is not to stop people getting what they want. It closes a back door to unjust gain by requiring a clear price.

The same rule governed money-changing. Al-Bara' (RA) reported that when people in Madinah sold silver for later payment, the Prophet ﷺ said there is no harm if payment is made on the spot, but on credit it is riba 4. Umar (RA) told a man not to leave a gold exchange until he had actually received his money 5.

In practice today, this means:

  • Currency exchange must be completed on the spot, whatever the rate.
  • Trading in old gold jewellery for new of a different weight directly is a problem; sell the old piece for money, then buy the new one in a separate deal, as in Bilal's case 3.
  • Delaying one side of a gold, silver or currency swap brings in riba even if the amounts are equal 14.

Allah permitted trade and forbade riba 6. These rules keep trade honest and clearly priced.

The evidence

  1. 1
    Hadith Sahih Muslim 1587c
    Sahih Muslim

    The six items must be exchanged like for like, hand to hand; if the kinds differ, sell as you wish, hand to hand.

    Ubida b. al-Simit (Allah be pleased with him) reported Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying:Gold is to be paid for by gold, silver by silver, wheat by wheat, barley by barley, dates by dates, and salt by salt, like for like and equal for equal, payment being made hand to hand. If these classes differ, then sell as you wish if payment is made hand to hand

    العربية

    حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، وَعَمْرٌو النَّاقِدُ، وَإِسْحَاقُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، - وَاللَّفْظُ لاِبْنِ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ - قَالَ إِسْحَاقُ أَخْبَرَنَا وَقَالَ الآخَرَانِ، حَدَّثَنَا وَكِيعٌ، حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ، عَنْ خَالِدٍ، الْحَذَّاءِ عَنْ أَبِي قِلاَبَةَ، عَنْ أَبِي الأَشْعَثِ، عَنْ عُبَادَةَ بْنِ الصَّامِتِ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏ "‏ الذَّهَبُ بِالذَّهَبِ وَالْفِضَّةُ بِالْفِضَّةِ وَالْبُرُّ بِالْبُرِّ وَالشَّعِيرُ بِالشَّعِيرِ وَالتَّمْرُ بِالتَّمْرِ وَالْمِلْحُ بِالْمِلْحِ مِثْلاً بِمِثْلٍ سَوَاءً بِسَوَاءٍ يَدًا بِيَدٍ فَإِذَا اخْتَلَفَتْ هَذِهِ الأَصْنَافُ فَبِيعُوا كَيْفَ شِئْتُمْ إِذَا كَانَ يَدًا بِيَدٍ ‏"‏ ‏.‏

  2. 2
    Hadith Sahih Muslim 1584e
    Sahih Muslim

    Whoever adds or asks for more has dealt in usury; the receiver and the giver are equally guilty.

    Abu Sa'id al-Khudri (Allah be pleased with him) reported Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying:Gold is to be paid for by gold, silver by silver, wheat by wheat, barley by barley, dates by dates, salt by salt, like by like, payment being made hand to hand. He who made an addition to it, or asked for an addition, in fact dealt in usury. The receiver and the giver are equally guilty

    العربية

    حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا وَكِيعٌ، حَدَّثَنَا إِسْمَاعِيلُ بْنُ مُسْلِمٍ الْعَبْدِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو الْمُتَوَكِّلِ النَّاجِيُّ، عَنْ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ الْخُدْرِيِّ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏ "‏ الذَّهَبُ بِالذَّهَبِ وَالْفِضَّةُ بِالْفِضَّةِ وَالْبُرُّ بِالْبُرِّ وَالشَّعِيرُ بِالشَّعِيرِ وَالتَّمْرُ بِالتَّمْرِ وَالْمِلْحُ بِالْمِلْحِ مِثْلاً بِمِثْلٍ يَدًا بِيَدٍ فَمَنْ زَادَ أَوِ اسْتَزَادَ فَقَدْ أَرْبَى الآخِذُ وَالْمُعْطِي فِيهِ سَوَاءٌ ‏"‏ ‏.‏

  3. 3
    Hadith Sahih al-Bukhari 2312
    Sahih Bukhari

    Swapping two measures of poor dates for one of fine dates is riba; sell for money, then buy.

    Narrated Abu Sa`id al-Khudri:Once Bilal brought Barni (i.e. a kind of dates) to the Prophet (ﷺ) and the Prophet (ﷺ) asked him, "From where have you brought these?" Bilal replied, "I had some inferior type of dates and exchanged two Sas of it for one Sa of Barni dates in order to give it to the Prophet; to eat." Thereupon the Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Beware! Beware! This is definitely Riba (usury)! This is definitely Riba (Usury)! Don't do so, but if you want to buy (a superior kind of dates) sell the inferior dates for money and then buy the superior kind of dates with that money

    العربية

    حَدَّثَنَا إِسْحَاقُ، حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ صَالِحٍ، حَدَّثَنَا مُعَاوِيَةُ ـ هُوَ ابْنُ سَلاَّمٍ ـ عَنْ يَحْيَى، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ عُقْبَةَ بْنَ عَبْدِ الْغَافِرِ، أَنَّهُ سَمِعَ أَبَا سَعِيدٍ الْخُدْرِيَّ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ قَالَ جَاءَ بِلاَلٌ إِلَى النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم بِتَمْرٍ بَرْنِيٍّ فَقَالَ لَهُ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏"‏ مِنْ أَيْنَ هَذَا ‏"‏‏.‏ قَالَ بِلاَلٌ كَانَ عِنْدَنَا تَمْرٌ رَدِيٌّ، فَبِعْتُ مِنْهُ صَاعَيْنِ بِصَاعٍ، لِنُطْعِمَ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم عِنْدَ ذَلِكَ ‏"‏ أَوَّهْ أَوَّهْ عَيْنُ الرِّبَا عَيْنُ الرِّبَا، لاَ تَفْعَلْ، وَلَكِنْ إِذَا أَرَدْتَ أَنْ تَشْتَرِيَ فَبِعِ التَّمْرَ بِبَيْعٍ آخَرَ ثُمَّ اشْتَرِهِ ‏"‏‏.‏

  4. 4
    Hadith Sahih Muslim 1589
    Sahih Muslim

    Money exchange on the spot is fine; on credit it is usury.

    Abu Minhal reported:My partner sold silver to be paid in the (Hajj) season or (in the days of) Hajj. He (my partner) came to me and informed me, and I said to him: Such transaction is not desirable. He said: I sold it in the market (on loan) but nobody objected to this. I went to al-Bara' b. 'Azib and asked him, and he said: Allah's Apostle (ﷺ) came to Medina and we made such transaction, whereupon he said: In case the payment is made on the spot, there is no harm in it, and in case (it is 'sold) on loan, it is usury. You better go to Zaid b. Arqam, for he is a greater trader than I; so I went to him and asked him, and he said like it

    العربية

    حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ حَاتِمِ بْنِ مَيْمُونٍ، حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ بْنُ عُيَيْنَةَ، عَنْ عَمْرٍو، عَنْ أَبِي، الْمِنْهَالِ قَالَ بَاعَ شَرِيكٌ لِي وَرِقًا بِنَسِيئَةٍ إِلَى الْمَوْسِمِ أَوْ إِلَى الْحَجِّ فَجَاءَ إِلَىَّ فَأَخْبَرَنِي فَقُلْتُ هَذَا أَمْرٌ لاَ يَصْلُحُ ‏.‏ قَالَ قَدْ بِعْتُهُ فِي السُّوقِ فَلَمْ يُنْكِرْ ذَلِكَ عَلَىَّ أَحَدٌ ‏.‏ فَأَتَيْتُ الْبَرَاءَ بْنَ عَازِبٍ فَسَأَلْتُهُ فَقَالَ قَدِمَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم الْمَدِينَةَ وَنَحْنُ نَبِيعُ هَذَا الْبَيْعَ فَقَالَ ‏ "‏ مَا كَانَ يَدًا بِيَدٍ فَلاَ بَأْسَ بِهِ وَمَا كَانَ نَسِيئَةً فَهُوَ رِبًا ‏"‏ ‏.‏ وَائْتِ زَيْدَ بْنَ أَرْقَمَ فَإِنَّهُ أَعْظَمُ تِجَارَةً مِنِّي ‏.‏ فَأَتَيْتُهُ فَسَأَلْتُهُ فَقَالَ مِثْلَ ذَلِكَ ‏.‏

  5. 5
    Hadith Sahih al-Bukhari 2174
    Sahih Bukhari

    Umar told a man not to part from a gold exchange until he had received his money.

    Narrated Ibn Shihab:that Malik bin Aus said, "I was in need of change for one-hundred Dinars. Talha bin 'Ubaidullah called me and we discussed the matter, and he agreed to change (my Dinars). He took the gold pieces in his hands and fidgeted with them, and then said, "Wait till my storekeeper comes from the forest." `Umar was listening to that and said, "By Allah! You should not separate from Talha till you get the money from him, for Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, 'The selling of gold for gold is Riba (usury) except if the exchange is from hand to hand and equal in amount, and similarly, the selling of wheat for wheat is Riba (usury) unless it is from hand to hand and equal in amount, and the selling of barley for barley is usury unless it is from hand to hand and equal in amount, and dates for dates, is usury unless it is from hand to hand and equal in amount

    العربية

    حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ يُوسُفَ، أَخْبَرَنَا مَالِكٌ، عَنِ ابْنِ شِهَابٍ، عَنْ مَالِكِ بْنِ أَوْسٍ، أَخْبَرَهُ أَنَّهُ الْتَمَسَ، صَرْفًا بِمِائَةِ دِينَارٍ، فَدَعَانِي طَلْحَةُ بْنُ عُبَيْدِ اللَّهِ فَتَرَاوَضْنَا، حَتَّى اصْطَرَفَ مِنِّي، فَأَخَذَ الذَّهَبَ يُقَلِّبُهَا فِي يَدِهِ، ثُمَّ قَالَ حَتَّى يَأْتِيَ خَازِنِي مِنَ الْغَابَةِ، وَعُمَرُ يَسْمَعُ ذَلِكَ، فَقَالَ وَاللَّهِ لاَ تُفَارِقُهُ حَتَّى تَأْخُذَ مِنْهُ، قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏ "‏ الذَّهَبُ بِالذَّهَبِ رِبًا إِلاَّ هَاءَ وَهَاءَ، وَالْبُرُّ بِالْبُرِّ رِبًا إِلاَّ هَاءَ وَهَاءَ، وَالشَّعِيرُ بِالشَّعِيرِ رِبًا إِلاَّ هَاءَ وَهَاءَ، وَالتَّمْرُ بِالتَّمْرِ رِبًا إِلاَّ هَاءَ وَهَاءَ ‏"‏‏.‏

  6. 6
    Quran Al-Baqara · 2:275

    Allah has permitted trade and forbidden riba.

    ٱلَّذِينَ يَأۡكُلُونَ ٱلرِّبَوٰاْ لَا يَقُومُونَ إِلَّا كَمَا يَقُومُ ٱلَّذِي يَتَخَبَّطُهُ ٱلشَّيۡطَٰنُ مِنَ ٱلۡمَسِّۚ ذَٰلِكَ بِأَنَّهُمۡ قَالُوٓاْ إِنَّمَا ٱلۡبَيۡعُ مِثۡلُ ٱلرِّبَوٰاْۗ وَأَحَلَّ ٱللَّهُ ٱلۡبَيۡعَ وَحَرَّمَ ٱلرِّبَوٰاْۚ فَمَن جَآءَهُۥ مَوۡعِظَةࣱ مِّن رَّبِّهِۦ فَٱنتَهَىٰ فَلَهُۥ مَا سَلَفَ وَأَمۡرُهُۥٓ إِلَى ٱللَّهِۖ وَمَنۡ عَادَ فَأُوْلَٰٓئِكَ أَصۡحَٰبُ ٱلنَّارِۖ هُمۡ فِيهَا خَٰلِدُونَ ۝٢٧٥

    Those who consume interest cannot stand [on the Day of Resurrection] except as one stands who is being beaten by Satan into insanity. That is because they say, "Trade is [just] like interest." But Allah has permitted trade and has forbidden interest. So whoever has received an admonition from his Lord and desists may have what is past, and his affair rests with Allah. But whoever returns to [dealing in interest or usury] - those are the companions of the Fire; they will abide eternally therein

  7. 7
    Hadith Sahih Muslim 1594d
    Sahih Muslim

    Abu Sa'id reports the Prophet's ruling on dates; Ibn Umar and then Ibn Abbas were reported to disapprove of unequal exchange.

    Abu Nadra reported:I asked Ibn Umar and Ibn Abbas (Allah be pleased with them) about the conversion of gold with gold but they did not find any harm in that. I was sitting in the company of Abd Sa'id al-Khudri (Allah be pleased with him) and asked him about this exchange, and he said: Whatever is addition is an' interest. I refused to accept it on account of their statement (statement of Ibn 'Abbas and Ibn 'Umar). He said: I am not narrating to you except what I heard from Allah's Messenger (ﷺ). There came to him the owner of a date-palm with one sa' of fine dates, and the dates of Allah's Apostle (ﷺ) were of that colour. Allah's Apostle (ﷺ) said to him: Where did you get these dates? I went with two sa's of (inferior dates) and bought one sa' of (these fine dates), for that is the prevailing price (of inferior dates) in the market and that is the price (of the fine quality of dates in the market), whereupon Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said: Woe be upon you! You have dealt in interest, when you decide to do it (i. e. exchange superior quality of dates for inferior quality) ; so you should sell your dates for another commodity (or currency) and then with the help of that commodity buy the dates you like. Abu Sa'ad said: When dates are exchanged for dates (with different qualities) there is the possibility (of the element of) interest (creeping into that) or when gold is exchanged for gold having different qualities. I subsequently came to Ibn 'Umar and he forbade me (to do it), but I did not come to Ibn 'Abbas; (Allah be pleased with them). He (the narrator) said: Abu as-Sahba' narrated to me: He asked Ibn Abbas (Allah be pleased with them) in Mecca, and he too disapproved of it

    العربية

    حَدَّثَنَا إِسْحَاقُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، أَخْبَرَنَا عَبْدُ الأَعْلَى، أَخْبَرَنَا دَاوُدُ، عَنْ أَبِي نَضْرَةَ، قَالَ سَأَلْتُ ابْنَ عُمَرَ وَابْنَ عَبَّاسٍ عَنِ الصَّرْفِ، فَلَمْ يَرَيَا بِهِ بَأْسًا فَإِنِّي لَقَاعِدٌ عِنْدَ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ الْخُدْرِيِّ فَسَأَلْتُهُ عَنِ الصَّرْفِ فَقَالَ مَا زَادَ فَهُوَ رِبًا ‏.‏ فَأَنْكَرْتُ ذَلِكَ لِقَوْلِهِمَا فَقَالَ لاَ أُحَدِّثُكَ إِلاَّ مَا سَمِعْتُ مِنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم جَاءَهُ صَاحِبُ نَخْلِهِ بِصَاعٍ مِنْ تَمْرٍ طَيِّبٍ وَكَانَ تَمْرُ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم هَذَا اللَّوْنَ فَقَالَ لَهُ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏"‏ أَنَّى لَكَ هَذَا ‏"‏ ‏.‏ قَالَ انْطَلَقْتُ بِصَاعَيْنِ فَاشْتَرَيْتُ بِهِ هَذَا الصَّاعَ فَإِنَّ سِعْرَ هَذَا فِي السُّوقِ كَذَا وَسِعْرَ هَذَا كَذَا ‏.‏ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏"‏ وَيْلَكَ أَرْبَيْتَ إِذَا أَرَدْتَ ذَلِكَ فَبِعْ تَمْرَكَ بِسِلْعَةٍ ثُمَّ اشْتَرِ بِسِلْعَتِكَ أَىَّ تَمْرٍ شِئْتَ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ قَالَ أَبُو سَعِيدٍ فَالتَّمْرُ بِالتَّمْرِ أَحَقُّ أَنْ يَكُونَ رِبًا أَمِ الْفِ��َّةُ بِالْفِضَّةِ قَالَ فَأَتَيْتُ ابْنَ عُمَرَ بَعْدُ فَنَهَانِي وَلَمْ آتِ ابْنَ عَبَّاسٍ - قَالَ - فَحَدَّثَنِي أَبُو الصَّهْبَاءِ أَنَّهُ سَأَلَ ابْنَ عَبَّاسٍ عَنْهُ بِمَكَّةَ فَكَرِهَهُ ‏.‏

This answer was compiled with the help of AI, using only the verified texts shown here. Every reference links to its source. If you find a mistake, please report it. Updated 2026-09-24

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