Advance Payment for Buying Slaves and Animals

“I once asked abu Ja‘far (a.s.), about the case of advance payment for meat. He (the Imam) said, ‘You must not go close to it because one time he gives you fatty, one time what is about to become spoilled and one time he gives you boney. Buy with examination and in hand in hand manner.’ I then asked about advance payment for containers of water. He (the Imam) said, ‘You must not go close to it because one time he gives you less and one time complete. Buy it with examination; it is safe for you and for him.’”

“This is concerning my question before abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of a man saying, ‘He has sheep that milks and the milk is abundant every day, if one can buy from him five hundred Ritl (a certain unit of measurement) or more and every one hundred Ritl for so and so much dirham then every day take certain Ritl until the deal is complete.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘It is not unlawful (for this) and similar things.’”

“Once abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), was asked, when I was present, by a man who said, ‘My brother comes from and goes to the mountains, milks sheep of known age for an appointed time; then he is given four years old in place of three years old.’ He (the Imam) asked, ‘Is it with fine consent of his party?’ he replied, ‘Yes, it is so.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘It is not unlawful.’”