Bukhari

Hadith Commentary:
Imam al-Bukhari rahimahullah, in the chapter he established, has presented a reconciliation between the hadiths that praise agriculture and those that censure it.
The summary of this is that if farming is done within the bounds of moderation, such that it does not lead to any negligence in fulfilling the obligations of Islam, then such farming is praiseworthy, and its virtue has been mentioned in the hadith.
However, if one becomes so engrossed in farming that a Muslim becomes heedless of his religious obligations, then such farming is no longer praiseworthy.

هَذَا مِنْ إِخْبَارِهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ بِالْمُغَيَّبَاتِ لِأَنَّ الْمُشَاهَدَ الْآنَ أَنَّ أَكْثَرَ الظُّلْمِ إِنَّمَا هُوَ عَلَى أَهْلِ الْحَرْثِ وَقَدْ أَشَارَ الْبُخَارِيُّ بِالتَّرْجَمَةِ إِلَى الْجَمْعِ بَيْنَ حَدِيثِ أَبِي أُمَامَةَ وَالْحَدِيثِ الْمَاضِي فِي فَضْلِ الزَّرْعِ وَالْغَرْسِ وَذَلِكَ بِأَحَدِ أَمْرَيْنِ إِمَّا أَنْ يُحْمَلَ مَا وَرَدَ مِنَ الذَّمِّ عَلَى عَاقِبَةِ ذَلِكَ وَمَحَلُّهُ مَا إِذَا اشْتَغَلَ بِهِ فَضَيَّعَ بِسَبَبِهِ مَا أُمِرَ بِحِفْظِهِ وَإِمَّا أَنْ يُحْمَلَ عَلَى مَا إِذَا لَمْ يُضَيِّعْ إِلَّا أَنَّهُ جَاوَزَ الْحَدَّ فِيهِ وَالَّذِي يَظْهَرُ أَنَّ كَلَامَ أَبِي أُمَامَةَ مَحْمُولٌ عَلَى مَنْ يَتَعَاطَى ذَلِكَ بِنَفْسِهِ أَمَّا مَنْ لَهُ عُمَّالٌ يَعْمَلُونَ لَهُ وَأَدْخَلَ دَارَهُ الْآلَةَ الْمَذْكُورَةَ لِتُحْفَظَ لَهُمْ فَلَيْسَ مُرَادًا وَيُمْكِنُ الْحَمْلُ عَلَى عُمُومِهِ فَإِنَّ الذُّلَّ شَامِلٌ لِكُلِّ مَنْ أَدْخَلَ عَلَى نَفْسِهِ مَا يَسْتَلْزِمُ مُطَالبَة آخر لَهُ وَلَا سِيمَا إِذْ كَانَ الْمُطَالِبُ مِنَ الْوُلَاةِ وَعَنِ الدَّاوُدِيِّ هَذَا لِمَنْ يَقْرُبُ مِنَ الْعَدُوِّ فَإِنَّهُ إِذَا اشْتَغَلَ بِالْحَرْثِ لَا يَشْتَغِلُ بِالْفُرُوسِيَّةِ فَيَتَأَسَّدُ عَلَيْهِ الْعَدُوُّ فَحَقُّهُمْ أَنْ يَشْتَغِلُوا بِالْفُرُوسِيَّةِ وَعَلَى غَيْرِهِمْ إِمْدَادُهُمْ بِمَا يَحْتَاجُونَ إِلَيْهِ (Fath al-Bari)

That is, this hadith is among those reports of the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam regarding the unseen, which observation has proven to be absolutely true.
Because it has always been the case that most of the oppression is suffered by farmers, and Imam al-Bukhari rahimahullah, through the chapter heading, has indicated the reconciliation between the hadith of Abu Umamah and the previous hadith regarding the virtue of agriculture and gardening, and this is in one of two matters:

➊ Firstly, that the censure mentioned is to be understood as referring to its consequence—if, as a result, one becomes so engrossed that he neglects what he has been commanded to safeguard (i.e., religious obligations).

➋ Secondly, that even if he does not neglect the obligations, but he exceeds the bounds of moderation in it, then this occupation is not good.

And it is apparent that the hadith of Abu Umamah applies to a person who himself becomes engrossed in it and exceeds the bounds of moderation.
As for one who has workers who do the work for him, and he keeps the mentioned agricultural tools in his house for their protection, then such a person is not intended by the censure.

The hadith of censure can also be understood in a general sense, that sometimes farmers, in order to pay taxes, have to face humiliation before the authorities.
And al-Dawudi said that this censure is for those who are close to the enemy, for if they become occupied with farming, they will not engage in horsemanship (military training), and thus the enemy will overpower them.
Therefore, it is necessary for them to remain engaged in horsemanship, and others should assist them with what they need.

Agriculture and gardening are among the best crafts.
Many prophets, saints, and scholars have been engaged in agriculture.
It is the work of these farmers and gardeners to extract the blessings that Allah has hidden in the earth in the form of crops and fruits.
And for the living creatures, the provision of grains and fodder is, by Allah’s help, the work of the farmer.

In the Noble Qur’an, these crafts are mentioned from various aspects.
In Surah al-Baqarah, there is mention of the ox that ploughs the field.

In summary, there is no doubt about the nobility of this craft, but it has been observed that farming communities are mostly afflicted with poverty, destitution, and humiliation.
Then, the burden of taxes upon them is so dangerous that it often humiliates them.
This is the aspect mentioned in the hadiths of censure.
If this were not the case, then this craft would be highly praiseworthy and a means of elevation in both worlds.

In today’s era, the importance of this craft has greatly increased, as the issue of food has become one of the most important economic issues for humanity.
Every government is paying more and more attention to this craft.

By “humiliation” is meant that the authorities, in extracting money from them, inflict various forms of oppression upon them.
Hafiz (Ibn Hajar) said that what the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam foretold has come to pass: most of those who suffer oppression are the farmers.
Some have said that by “humiliation” is meant that when they become occupied day and night in farming, they forget military skills and arts of war, and the enemy overcomes them.

Imam Nawawi, under the hadiths of agriculture, says:

فِي هَذِهِ الْأَحَادِيثِ فَضِيلَةُ الْغَرْسِ وَفَضِيلَةُ الزَّرْعِ وَأَنَّ أجر فاعلى ذلك مستمر مادام الْغِرَاسُ وَالزَّرْعُ وَمَا تَوَلَّدَ مِنْهُ إِلَى يَوْمِ الْقِيَامَةِ وَقَدِ اخْتَلَفَ الْعُلَمَاءُ فِي أَطْيَبِ الْمَكَاسِبِ وَأَفْضَلِهَا فَقِيلَ التِّجَارَةُ وَقِيلَ الصَّنْعَةُ بِالْيَدِ وَقِيلَ الزِّرَاعَةُ وَهُوَ الصَّحِيحُ وَقَدْ بَسَطْتُ إِيضَاحَهُ فِي آخِرِ بَابِ الْأَطْعِمَةِ مِنْ شَرْحِ الْمُهَذَّبِ وَفِي هَذِهِ الْأَحَادِيثِ أَيْضًا أَنَّ الثَّوَابَ وَالْأَجْرَ فِي الْآخِرَةِ مُخْتَصٌّ بِالْمُسْلِمِينَ وَأَنَّ الْإِنْسَانَ يُثَابُ عَلَى مَا سُرِقَ مِنْ مَالِهِ أَوْ أَتْلَفَتْهُ دَابَّةٌ أَوْ طَائِرٌ وَنَحْوُهُمَا (Nawawi)

That is, in these hadiths, the virtue of planting trees and cultivating crops is mentioned, and that the reward for the farmer and gardener continues as long as his crop or tree remains.
This chain of reward can continue until the Day of Resurrection.

The scholars have differed regarding which earning is the best.
It has been said that trade is best, and it has also been said that handicraft is the best earning, and it has been said that the best earning is farming, and this is correct.
I have explained this in detail at the end of the chapter on foods in the commentary of al-Muhadhdhab.

And in these hadiths, it is also mentioned that the reward in the Hereafter is specific to the Muslims, and also that if something from the farmer’s crop is stolen, or an animal or bird causes some loss, then the farmer receives reward for all of that.

O Allah! Make me and my children among those who are included in the meaning of these hadiths, as our ancestral occupation is farming.
And O Allah! Always bless us with Your blessings, and protect us from every kind of humiliation, calamity, distress, and hardship. Ameen, thumma ameen.

Hadith Commentary:
The humiliation and disgrace mentioned in the hadith will occur because when a person becomes occupied day and night with farming, becomes heedless of jihad and its requirements, then the dominance of the enemy becomes certain, as is evident from the noble statement of the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam):

“When you engage in ‘inah sale, hold onto the tails of cattle, become engrossed in agriculture, and neglect jihad, Allah will impose humiliation upon you, and He will not remove that humiliation from you until you return to your religion.” (Al-Sunan al-Kubra lil-Bayhaqi: 5/316)

In short, by abandoning jihad and becoming preoccupied with agriculture, the enemy will prevail and make them subjugated, which is nothing but humiliation and disgrace. Therefore, excessive interest and involvement in agriculture and similar pursuits is not appropriate.

One should safeguard oneself from the harms and dangers associated with this.