Hadith 3895

أَخْبَرَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْمُثَنَّى ، قَالَ : حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدٌ ، قَالَ : حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ ، عَنْ مَنْصُورٍ ، سَمِعْتُ مُجَاهِدًا يُحَدِّثُ ، عَنْ أُسَيْدِ بْنِ ظُهَيْرٍ ، قَالَ : أَتَانَا رَافِعُ بْنُ خَدِيجٍ ، فَقَالَ : نَهَانَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ عَنْ أَمْرٍ كَانَ لَنَا نَافِعًا وَطَاعَةُ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ خَيْرٌ لَكُمْ ، نَهَاكُمْ عَنِ الْحَقْلِ ، وَقَالَ : " مَنْ كَانَتْ لَهُ أَرْضٌ فَلْيَمْنَحْهَا , أَوْ لِيَدَعْهَا " , وَنَهَى عَنِ الْمُزَابَنَةِ , وَالْمُزَابَنَةُ : الرَّجُلُ يَكُونُ لَهُ الْمَالُ الْعَظِيمُ ، مِنَ النَّخْلِ فَيَجِيءُ الرَّجُلُ فَيَأْخُذُهَا بِكَذَا وَكَذَا وَسْقًا مِنْ تَمْرٍ .
´It was narrated that Usaid bin Zuhair said:` "Rafi' bin Khadij came to us and said: 'The Messenger of Allah has forbidden something that was beneficial for us, but obedience to the Messenger of Allah is better for you. He has forbidden Al-Haql (renting land in return for one-third or one-quarter of the produce) to you, and says: Whoever has land, let him give it (to someone else to cultivate it) or leave it. And he has forbidden Al-Muzabanah. Al-Muzabanah means when a man has a lot of date-palm trees and another man comes and takes it in return for a certain number of Wasqs of dried dates.'"
Hadith Reference سنن نسائي / كتاب المزارعة / 3895
Hadith Grading الألبانی: صحيح  |  زبیر علی زئی: حسن
Hadith Takhrij «انظر ماقبلہ (صحیح)»
Related hadith on this topic
Explanation & Benefits
Hafiz Muhammad Ameen
However, this form of muzabanah is permissible for poor people in small quantities (up to fifteen or twenty mann) for eating and drinking, because this is their necessity and the Shari‘ah takes necessities into consideration. But it is not permissible in large quantities on a commercial basis.
Source: Sunan Nasa'i: Translation and Benefits by Shaykh Hafiz Muhammad Amin Hafizullah, Page: 3895
Shaykh Umar Farooq Saeedi
Benefits and Issues:

Allamah Shawkani writes in Nayl al-Awtar that this hadith has been narrated in a concise form. In the detailed narration, the words of Usayd bin Zuhayr are as follows: When any one of us did not wish to cultivate his land himself, or he was in need, he would give it on sharecropping for half, a third, or a quarter of the produce. And three conditions would be stipulated: the cultivation along the water channels, after the grain was harvested, whatever remained below; and those plots that were irrigated by the channels (would belong to the owner), etc. (Nayl al-Awtar: 5/312, Chapter: The invalidity of the contract if one of them stipulates for himself the straw or a specific plot, and the like)


Even in the case of leaving the land uncultivated, there are many benefits. The grass that grows on this land is grazed by animals. Natural plants and the small and large animals that live among them maintain the balance of the environment.
Source: Sunan Abu Dawood – Commentary by Shaykh Umar Farooq Saeedi, Page: 3398
Maulana Ataullah Sajid
Benefits and Issues:


From this hadith, it is understood that the condition regarding half or a quarter of the yield that is prohibited is such that the produce from a specific portion of the land is stipulated for the owner of the land.
The owner would usually select a portion that was located near a water channel or irrigation ditch, etc., because there was an expectation of greater yield from it.


It is permissible to stipulate a condition for half, one-third, or one-quarter of the total yield of the field.


Instead of sharecropping (batai), it is preferable to give the land on loan (ariyah).


Obeying the command of the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) is more important than apparent worldly benefit, because in following the Prophetic instruction lies benefit for the Hereafter.
Source: Commentary on Sunan Ibn Mājah by Mawlānā ‘Atā’ullāh Sājid, Page: 2460