Amr bin Dinar said: I heard Abu al-Minhal say: I heard from Iyas bin Abd al-Muzani (may Allah be pleased with him) that: I saw a man who was selling water, and I said: "Do not sell water, for I heard the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him); he (peace and blessings be upon him) used to forbid the selling of water." Imam al-Shafi'i (may Allah have mercy on him) said: The meaning of this hadith is that where Allah Almighty has made a spring of water flow, if that water is sold there, it is unlawful. An example of this is that a man brings his animals to that spring and the owner of the spring gives him that water for money, although that water is surplus to his own need. the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) forbade this. However, if he carries the water on his back, there is no harm, because he is taking the reward for his labour.
Hadith Referenceالسنن الكبرى للبيهقي / كتاب البيوع / 11057
Hadith Gradingمحدثین:مسند عبدالرزاق، رقم 14495، مسند حميدي، رقم 836
Hadith Takhrij«مسند عبدالرزاق، رقم 14495، مسند حميدي، رقم 836»