Mukhtasar Muslim

Sayyiduna Rafi’ bin Khadij (may Allah be pleased with him) says: We used to practice Muhaqalah during the time of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). We would rent out land for a third, a quarter of the produce, or for a specified amount of grain. One day, one of my uncles came to us and said: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) has forbidden us from this practice in which we had benefit, but in pleasing Allah and His Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) there is greater benefit for us. We have been prohibited from Muhaqalah, that is, from renting out land for a third or a quarter of the produce or for a specified amount. And he (peace and blessings be upon him) commanded that the owner of the land should cultivate it himself or give it to someone else for cultivation, and the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) considered it disliked to give it on rent or in any other such manner.