This excerpt is taken from Dr. Yusuf al-Qaradawi's book Halal and Haram in Islam, translated into Urdu by Muhammad Tahir Naqqash.
Earning a livelihood through agriculture:
Allah Almighty has mentioned His grace and favor upon man in the Holy Quran and has stated the fundamental principles necessary for the establishment of agriculture. Allah has created the earth in such a way that it serves the purpose of growing and producing. He has made it a surface (floor) which is also a blessing for the creation. It is very important to remember this blessing and to value it.
وَاللَّهُ جَعَلَ لَكُمُ الْأَرْضَ بِسَاطًا 19 لِّتَسْلُكُوا مِنْهَا سُبُلًا فِجَاجًا
“Allah has made the earth a surface for you so that you may walk on its open paths.”
Reference: (Noah: 19-20)
وَالْأَرْضَ وَضَعَهَا لِلْأَنَامِ 10 فِيهَا فَاكِهَةٌ وَالنَّخْلُ ذَاتُ الْأَكْمَامِ 11 وَالْحَبُّ ذُو الْعَصْفِ وَالرَّيْحَانُ 12 فَبِأَيِّ آلَاءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ
“And He has made the earth for creatures. In it are fruits, date palms with sheaths, grain with husks, and fragrant flowers. Then which of the favors of your Lord will you deny?”
Reference: (Ar-Rahman: 10-13)
And Allah Almighty sent down water in the form of rain and caused its rivers to flow. Through it, He gives life to dead lands:
وَهُوَ الَّذِي أَنْزَلَ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ مَاءً فَأَخْرَجْنَا بِهِ نَبَاتَ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ فَأَخْرَجْنَا مِنْهُ خَضِرًا نُخْرِجُ مِنْهُ حَبًّا مُتَرَاكِبًا
“He it is Who sends down water from the sky, and with it We bring forth vegetation of all kinds, then We bring forth green foliage, from which We bring forth clustered grain.”
Reference: (Al-An'am: 99)
And Allah sends the winds as bringers of glad tidings, which cause the clouds to move and the plants to bear fruit:
وَالْأَرْضَ مَدَدْنَاهَا وَأَلْقَيْنَا فِيهَا رَوَاسِيَ وَأَنبَتْنَا فِيهَا مِن كُلِّ شَيْءٍ مَّوْزُونٍ 19وَجَعَلْنَا لَكُمْ فِيهَا مَعَايِشَ وَمَن لَّسْتُمْ لَهُ بِرَازِقِينَ 20 وَإِن مِّن شَيْءٍ إِلَّا عِندَنَا خَزَائِنُهُ وَمَا نُنَزِّلُهُ إِلَّا بِقَدَرٍ مَّعْلُومٍ 21 وَأَرْسَلْنَا الرِّيَاحَ لَوَاقِحَ فَأَنزَلْنَا مِنَ السَّمَاءِ مَاءً فَأَسْقَيْنَاكُمُوهُ وَمَا أَنتُمْ لَهُ بِخَازِنِينَ
“And the earth We have spread out, and placed firm mountains therein, and caused to grow therein all kinds of things in due proportion, and provided therein for your livelihood and for those whom you do not sustain. And all the treasures are with Us, and We send them down in a measured amount. And We send the winds fertilizing, then We send down water from the sky, and you are given drink from it, and you cannot store it.”
Reference: (Al-Hijr: 19-22)
In all these verses, Allah Almighty has drawn human attention to the blessing of agriculture and its easily accessible means, and the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said:
ما من مسلم يغرس غرسا أو يزرع زرعا فيأكل منه طير أو إنسان إلا كان له به صدقة
“Any Muslim who plants a tree or cultivates a field, and from it birds or humans eat, it is a charity for him.”
Reference: Bukhari, Book of Agriculture, Chapter on the Virtue of Planting and Sowing, Hadith: 232; Muslim, Book of Travel, Chapter on the Virtue of Planting and Sowing, Hadith: 1553
The meaning of the hadith is that its reward continues as long as the plant or crop is benefiting others, even if the planter or farmer has died or ownership has transferred to someone else.
Scholars say that by Allah’s generosity, it is not unlikely that He continues to reward a person after death, just as He rewarded him during his life, in six matters: one is ongoing charity, two is knowledge from which benefit is derived, three is righteous offspring who pray for their parents, four is a plant, five is cultivation, and six is guarding the borders against enemies.
It is narrated that a man passed by Sayyiduna Abu Darda (may Allah be pleased with him) while he was planting a walnut tree. The man said: You are planting a walnut tree in old age! It takes many years to bear fruit. Abu Darda (may Allah be pleased with him) replied: What harm is there if I earn reward and others eat from it?
Reference: Musnad Ahmad (6/444)
And it is narrated from a companion that I heard the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) with both my ears say:
من نصب شجرة فصبر على حفظها والقيام عليها حتى تثمر فإن له فى كل شيء يصاب من ثمرها صدقة عند الله عزوجل
“Whoever plants a tree and then guards and watches over it until it bears fruit, then whatever harm comes to its fruits, Allah Almighty will reward him for it.”
Reference: Musnad Ahmad (5/374) (chain weak)
From these hadiths and others of this kind, some scholars have deduced that agriculture is better than other means of earning. But other scholars say that industry and craftsmanship are superior, and some scholars consider trade to be the best.
Some researchers say that in different circumstances, different things may be superior. For example, when food is urgently needed, agriculture is better because its benefit is general. When goods are scarce in markets due to robbery, trade is better. And when products are needed, industry is better.
Reference: (See: Sharh al-Qastalani on Bukhari)
In conclusion, the detailed explanation given is in harmony with contemporary economic knowledge.
Forbidden Cultivation:
Any plant that Islam has declared forbidden to consume or whose use is harmful, its cultivation is also forbidden, for example: ganja, etc.
The same ruling applies to tobacco. If, according to us, smoking tobacco is forbidden, and the prevailing opinion is indeed so, then its cultivation will also be forbidden. And if, according to us, it is disliked, then its cultivation will also be disliked.
It is not permissible for a Muslim cultivator to grow forbidden things just because ultimately they will be sold to non-Muslims. A Muslim never promotes forbidden things; therefore, it is not permissible for him to raise pigs in order to sell them to Christians. And previously, we have stated that Islam has declared it forbidden to sell lawful grapes to a person known to make wine from them.
