Who is permitted to be a buyer in the sale of 'Araya?

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The sale of 'Araya is only permissible for one who requires the fruit to eat it while it is still unripe (*rutab*). It is not permissible to sell it to a wealthy person. This is one ruling from Al-Shafi'i. The evidence for the restriction is the Hadith of Zayd ibn Thabit, where the Prophet (peace be upon him) permitted this specific transaction for needy Ansar who lacked cash to buy fresh fruit but possessed surplus mature dates, allowing them to trade an estimated amount of dates for the unripe fruit to eat. Since the permission (*rukhṣah*) for this transaction is conditional upon a specific necessity, this permission cannot be invoked when that necessity is absent. Just as what is permitted due to need is not permitted without need, similar to Zakat for the poor or leniency in travel.