Muwatta Imam Malik (Riwayat Yahya)

Hazrat Zaid bin Aslam narrated from his father that Sayyiduna Abdullah and Sayyiduna Ubaidullah, may Allah be pleased with them, the sons of Sayyiduna Umar bin Khattab, may Allah be pleased with him, set out with an army for jihad towards Iraq. When they returned, they went to Sayyiduna Abu Musa Ash’ari, may Allah be pleased with him, who was the governor of Basra. He said: “Welcome and ease!” Then he said: “I wish I could benefit you with something, I would have done so. I have some money of Allah’s which I want to send to Sayyiduna Umar, may Allah be pleased with him, so I will lend you that money. Buy goods from Iraq with it, then sell that merchandise in Madinah, and give the principal amount to Sayyiduna Umar, may Allah be pleased with him, and you may keep the profit.” They said: “We also desire this.” Sayyiduna Abu Musa, may Allah be pleased with him, did so and also wrote to Sayyiduna Umar, may Allah be pleased with him, that he should collect the principal amount from both of them. When both of them came to Madinah, they sold the goods and made a profit, then took the principal amount to Sayyiduna Umar, may Allah be pleased with him. Sayyiduna Umar, may Allah be pleased with him, asked: “Did Sayyiduna Abu Musa, may Allah be pleased with him, lend this amount to all the people of the army?” They said: “No.” Sayyiduna Umar, may Allah be pleased with him, said: “Then he must have given you this money because you are the sons of the Commander of the Faithful. Return both the principal and the profit.” Sayyiduna Abdullah, may Allah be pleased with him, remained silent, and Sayyiduna Ubaidullah, may Allah be pleased with him, said: “O Commander of the Faithful! You should not do this. If the wealth had been lost or there had been a loss, we would have guaranteed it.” Sayyiduna Umar, may Allah be pleased with him, said: “No, return it.” Sayyiduna Abdullah, may Allah be pleased with him, remained silent. Sayyiduna Ubaidullah, may Allah be pleased with him, replied again. Meanwhile, one of the companions of Sayyiduna Umar, may Allah be pleased with him (Sayyiduna Abdur Rahman bin Auf, may Allah be pleased with him) spoke: “O Commander of the Faithful! If you make it a partnership (mudarabah), it would be better.” Sayyiduna Umar, may Allah be pleased with him, said: “I have done so.” Then Sayyiduna Umar, may Allah be pleased with him, took the principal and half the profit, and Sayyiduna Abdullah and Sayyiduna Ubaidullah, may Allah be pleased with them both, took half the profit.

Sayyiduna Uthman bin Affan (may Allah be pleased with him) gave wealth to Yaqub as a mudarabah so that Yaqub would work and share in the profit.