Those Who Saw No Harm in Sharecropping by Half, Third, or Quarter

Hazrat Ibrahim bin Muhajir (may Allah have mercy on him) says that I asked Hazrat Musa bin Talha about sharecropping (muzara’ah). He told me that Hazrat Uthman (may Allah be pleased with him) gave his land to Hazrat Khabbab, Hazrat Abdullah, Hazrat Sa’d, and Hazrat Suhaib (may Allah be pleased with them), and I saw that he gave the land under the terms of one-third and one-fourth sharecropping.

It is narrated from Hazrat Abu Ja'far, may Allah have mercy on him, that the Noble Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, gave his land of Khyber for sharecropping on the condition of half the produce.

Hazrat Sa’d (may Allah be pleased with him) and Hazrat Ibn Mas’ud (may Allah be pleased with him) used to practice sharecropping for a third and for a quarter.

Hazrat Tawoos narrates that Hazrat Mu'adh (may Allah be pleased with him) came to us; we used to give our lands for sharecropping on the basis of one-third and one-fourth. He did not reproach us for this.

It is narrated in the same manner from Hazrat Tawus.

It is narrated from Hazrat Abu Ja'far, may Allah have mercy on him, that the Noble Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, gave the land of Khaybar to its people on a half-share basis for sharecropping. Then Hazrat Abu Bakr Siddiq, Hazrat Umar, may Allah be pleased with him, Hazrat Uthman, may Allah be pleased with him, and Hazrat Ali, may Allah be pleased with him, and then their families, have continued sharecropping on a third and a quarter share up to this day.

Hazrat Abu Ja'far, may Allah have mercy on him, was asked about giving land for sharecropping on the basis of a third or a quarter. He replied that if you look at the family of Hazrat Abu Bakr, may Allah be pleased with him, Hazrat Umar, may Allah be pleased with him, and Hazrat Ali, may Allah be pleased with him, you will find them doing it in this manner.

Hazrat Kulayb bin Wa'il narrates that I asked Hazrat Ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with them) that a person has his own land and water but he does not have seeds and oxen. He gave his land to me on the basis of sharecropping for half the produce. I cultivated the land with my own seeds and oxen, and whatever was produced, we divided it equally. (Is this permissible?) He replied, "It is very good."

Hazrat Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) did not consider there to be any harm in sharecropping on a fifty-fifty basis.

Hazrat Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that my land and my camel are equal.

Hazrat Amr, may Allah have mercy on him, says that I heard Hazrat Salim, may Allah have mercy on him, saying: Ibn Khudayj, may Allah be pleased with him, wanted to impose excess upon himself. By Allah, I will surely and certainly take the rent of the camel from him.

Hazrat Tawus says that there is no harm in conducting sharecropping on the basis of half, one-third, or one-fourth.

Hazrat Ibn al-Aswad used to engage in sharecropping with the villagers during the lifetime of his respected father.

Hazrat Ibn al-Aswad (may Allah have mercy on him) says that I used to do sharecropping for a third and a quarter. I asked Hazrat Alqamah and Hazrat al-Aswad (may Allah have mercy on them) about this. (I informed them about it.) So if they had considered there to be any objection in it, they would certainly have forbidden me from it.

Hazrat Umar bin Abdul Aziz had ordered that lands be given for sharecropping on the basis of one-third and one-fourth shares.

Hazrat Umar bin Abdul Aziz (may Allah have mercy on him) wrote a letter to Hazrat Adi (may Allah have mercy on him) instructing him to do sharecropping on the basis of one-third and one-fourth.

Hazrat Qasim and Hazrat Ibn Sirin did not consider it objectionable for a person to give his land to another for sharecropping on the basis of one-third, one-fourth, or one-tenth, and nothing is obligatory upon him regarding expenses.

Hazrat Hisham (may Allah have mercy on him) says that my father did not see any harm in giving land on rent (for sharecropping).

Hazrat Saeed says that I asked Hazrat Salim (may Allah have mercy on him)? He replied, "There is no harm in it."

Hazrat Zaid bin Thabit (may Allah be pleased with him) says that may Allah forgive Hazrat Rafi’ bin Khadij (may Allah be pleased with him). By Allah, I know this hadith better than him. Two people came to the service of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) while disputing. The Holy Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: If this is your condition, then do not give land on rent (muzara’ah). Hazrat Rafi’ (may Allah be pleased with him) only heard the last statement of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him): "Do not give land on muzara’ah."

Hazrat Abu Ja'far, may Allah have mercy on him, says that in Madinah Munawwarah, there was no house of the Muhajireen that did not give their lands for sharecropping on the basis of one-third or one-fourth.

Hazrat Ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with both of them) used to give his land for sharecropping on the basis of one-third (of the produce).

Hazrat Ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both) said: "My land and my camel (in terms of being given on rent) are equal."

It is narrated from Hazrat Ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both) that the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) gave the land of Khaybar to its people on the basis of sharecropping for half the produce.

Hazrat Abdullah bin Isa narrates that Hazrat Abdur Rahman bin Abi Laila had land at the place of Fawwarah, which he had given on sharecropping for one-third and one-fourth of the produce. He had sent me to distribute it among those people.