35b/45: Chapter
Sunan an-Nasai 3862 — Cultivate Land or Give It to a Brother
Mentioning The Differing Hadiths Regarding The Prohibition Of Leasing Out Land In Return For One Third, Or One Quarter Of The Harvest And The Different Wordings Reported By The Narrators
Hadith About Leasing Land: Cultivate It or Give It to Your Brother
Sunan an-Nasai : 3862
Sunan an-NasaiHadith Number 3862
أَخْبَرَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، قَالَ أَنْبَأَنَا خَالِدٌ، - هُوَ ابْنُ الْحَارِثِ - قَالَ قَرَأْتُ عَلَى عَبْدِ الْحَمِيدِ بْنِ جَعْفَرٍ أَخْبَرَنِي أَبِي، عَنْ رَافِعِ بْنِ أُسَيْدِ بْنِ ظُهَيْرٍ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، أُسَيْدِ بْنِ ظُهَيْرٍ أَنَّهُ خَرَجَ إِلَى قَوْمِهِ إِلَى بَنِي حَارِثَةَ فَقَالَ يَا بَنِي حَارِثَةَ لَقَدْ دَخَلَتْ عَلَيْكُمْ مُصِيبَةٌ. قَالُوا مَا هِيَ قَالَ نَهَى رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم عَنْ كِرَاءِ الأَرْضِ. قُلْنَا يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِذًا نُكْرِيهَا بِشَىْءٍ مِنَ الْحَبِّ. قَالَ " لاَ ". قَالَ وَكُنَّا نُكْرِيهَا بِالتِّبْنِ فَقَالَ " لاَ ". وَكُنَّا نُكْرِيهَا بِمَا عَلَى الرَّبِيعِ السَّاقِي قَالَ " لاَ ازْرَعْهَا أَوِ امْنَحْهَا أَخَاكَ ". خَالَفَهُ مُجَاهِدٌ.
Usaid bin Zuhair Narrated from:
It was narrated from Usaid bin Zuhair that he went out to his people, Banu Harithah, and said: "O Banu Harithah, a calamity has befallen you." They said: "What is it?" He said: "The Messenger of Allah has forbidden leasing land." We said: "O Messenger of Allah, what if we lease it in return for some of the grain?" He said, "No." He said: "We used to lease it in return for straw." He said: "No." "We used to lease it in return for what is planted on the banks of a stream that is used for irrigation." He said: "No. Cultivate it (yourself) or give it to your brother."
Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 3862In-book reference : Book 35b, Hadith 6English translation : Vol. 4, Book 35, Hadith 3893
Summary of Sunan an-Nasai Hadith 3862
This hadith about leasing land records a direct prohibition given to Banu Harithah. Usaid bin Zuhair tells his people that the Messenger of Allah forbade leasing land. They ask about several forms of payment: some grain, straw, and crops growing beside an irrigation stream. Each proposal is rejected. The final direction is simple: the owner should cultivate the land or give it to his brother. The text keeps the focus on these named produce-based rental arrangements. It also points toward helping another person use the land without taking the stated forms of rent. The teaching should be read as the hadith presents it, without mixing it with other contracts or conditions not mentioned in this narration.
What we learn from this hadith
- The named forms of leasing land for grain, straw, or streamside crops were rejected.
- A landowner is directed to cultivate the land personally when able.
- The land may instead be given to a brother to cultivate.
- Business arrangements should follow the limits stated by the Messenger of Allah.
