The Book of Agriculture
كتاب المزارعة
Chapter 2: Mentioning The Differing Hadiths Regarding The Prohibition Of Leasing Out Land In Return For One Third, Or One Quarter Of The Harvest And The Different Wordings Reported By The Narrators
It was narrated from Rafi' bin Khadij that the Messenger of Allah forbade leasing land.
"I heard Ibn 'Umar say: 'We used to sell grain before it was ripe and before it was evident that it was free of disease and blight (by means of Al-Mukhabarah). We did not see anything wrong with that, until Rafi' bin Khadij said that the Messenger of Allah had forbidden Al-Mukhabarah.'"
"I bear witness that I heard Ibn 'Umar asking about Al-Khibr (the agreement to Al-Mukhabarah) and he said: 'We did not see anything wrong with that, until Ibn Khadij told us earlier that he heard the Messenger of Allah forbidding Al-Khibr.'" Hammad bin Zaid was in accord with the two of them.
"I heard Ibn 'Umar say: 'We did not see anything wrong with Al-Khibr until last year, when Rafi' said that the Prophet of Allah forbade it.'"
It was narrated from Jabir bin 'Abdullah that the Prophet forbade leasing land.
"The Messenger of Allah forbade Al-Mukhabarah, Al-Muhaqalah and Al-Muzabanah."
It was narrated from Ibn 'Umar and Jabir that the Messenger of Allah forbade selling fruits until it was clear that they were free of blemish, and (he forbade from) Al-Mukhabarah; leasing land in return for one-third or one-quarter (of the yield).
"Do you rent out your arable land?" I said: "Yes, O Messenger of Allah. We rent it out in return for one-quarter, and in return for (a number of) Wasqs of barley." The Messenger of Allah said: "Do not do that. Cultivate it (yourselves), or lend it, or keep it."
"Zuhair bin Rafi' came to us and said: 'The Messenger of Allah forbade me to do something that was convenient for us.' I said: 'What was that?' He said: 'The command of the Messenger of Allah is true. He asked me: What do you do with your land? I said: We rent it out in return for one-quarter (of the yield) and a number of Wasqs of dates or barley. He said: Do not do that. Cultivate it, give it to someone else to cultivate, or keep it.'"
"Today the Messenger of Allah has forbidden something which was convenient for you, but following his command is an act of obedience (to Allah) and is good. He forbade Al-Haql."
"I heard Usaid bin Rafi' bin Khadij Al-Ansari say that they did not allow Al-Muhaqalah, which is land that is cultivated in return for some of its produce."
"I was an orphan in the care of my grandfather Rafi' bin Khadij. I reached puberty and became a man, and I performed Hajj with him. My brother 'Imran bin Sahl bin Rafi' bin Khadij came and said: 'O my father, we have leased our land to so and so (a woman) for two hundred Dirhams.' He said: 'O my son, leave that (do not do it), for Allah will give you other provision. The Messenger of Allah forbade leasing land.'"
"Zaid bin Thabit said: 'May Allah forgive Rafi' bin Khadij. By Allah, I have more knowledge of the Hadith than him. We were two men who fought and the Messenger of Allah said: If this is how it is between you, then do not lease land. And he only heard the words: Do not lease land.'"
Chapter 3: Mentioning The Different Wordings With Regard To Sharecropping
"Muhammad used to say: 'In my view land is like the wealth put into a Mudarabah (limited partnership) contract. Whatever is valid with regard to the wealth put into a Mudarabah partnership, is valid with regard to land, and whatever is not valid with regard to the wealth put into a Mudarabah partnership, then it is not valid with regard to land.'" He said: "He did not see anything wrong with giving all of his land to the plowman on the basis that he would work with it himself, or with his children, and helpers, and oxen, and, that he would not spend anything on it; all expenses were to be paid by the owner of the land."
It was narrated from Ibn 'Umar that the Prophet gave the datepalms of Khaibar and their land to the Jews of Khaibar, on condition that they would take care of them at their expense, and the Messenger of Allah would have half of whatever they produced.
It was narrated from Ibn 'Umar that the Prophet gave the datepalms of Khaibar and their land to the Jews of Khaibar on condition that they would take care of them at their expense, and the Messenger of Allah would have half of their fruits.
"Arable land used to be leased out at the time of the Messenger of Allah on condition that the owner of the land would have whatever grew on the banks of the streams and a share of straw, I do not know how much it was."
"Two of my paternal uncles used to cultivate (land) in return for one-third or one-quarter of the crop, and my father was their partner. 'Alqamah and Al-Aswad knew about that and did not change anything."
"Ibn 'Abbas said: 'The best thing you can do is for one of you to rent his land out in return for gold and silver.'"
It was narrated from Ibrahim and Sa'eed bin Jubair that they did not see anything wrong with renting uncultivated land.