What is the explanation of the hadith: "If you engage in 'inah transactions, and hold onto the tails of cows, and are content with agriculture, and abandon jihad, Allah will inflict humiliation upon you which He will not remove until you return to your religion"?
Al-Manawi explained the hadith that 'inah is selling a commodity for a deferred price, then buying it back for a lesser price. It is considered disliked (makruh) by the Shafi'is and valid, while others have prohibited it. As for taking hold of the tails of cows, being content with agriculture, and abandoning jihad, it is a metaphor for being preoccupied with worldly matters instead of jihad. As a result, Allah inflicts humiliation that will not be removed until there is a return to religion. This is strong evidence for the prohibition of 'inah. Al-Manawi pointed out that the hadith has a weak chain of transmission (sanad), but it has other, better chains.
Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026
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