35b/45: Chapter
Sunan an-Nasai 3872 — Prophetic Guidance for Unused Land
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
Prophetic Guidance on Land: Cultivate, Leave, or Give It
Sunan an-Nasai : 3872
Sunan an-NasaiHadith Number 3872
أَخْبَرَنَا عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنُ خَالِدٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا حَجَّاجٌ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي شُعْبَةُ، عَنْ عَبْدِ الْمَلِكِ، عَنْ عَطَاءٍ، وَطَاوُسٍ، وَمُجَاهِدٍ، عَنْ رَافِعِ بْنِ خَدِيجٍ، قَالَ خَرَجَ إِلَيْنَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَنَهَانَا عَنْ أَمْرٍ كَانَ لَنَا نَافِعًا وَأَمْرُ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم خَيْرٌ لَنَا قَالَ " مَنْ كَانَ لَهُ أَرْضٌ فَلْيَزْرَعْهَا أَوْ لِيَذَرْهَا أَوْ لِيَمْنَحْهَا ". وَمِمَّا يَدُلُّ عَلَى أَنَّ طَاوُسًا لَمْ يَسْمَعْ هَذَا الْحَدِيثَ
Rafi' bin Khadij Narrated from:
The Messenger of Allah came out to us and forbade something for us that had been beneficial for us, but the command of Messenger of Allah is better for us. He said: 'Whoever has land, let him cultivate it or leave it or give it (to someone else to cultivate).'
Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 3872In-book reference : Book 35b, Hadith 16English translation : Vol. 4, Book 35, Hadith 3903
Summary of Sunan an-Nasai Hadith 3872
This narration repeats a clear instruction for people who own land. Rafi bin Khadij says the Messenger of Allah forbade a practice that had brought benefit, but the Messenger’s command was better for them. The owner is then given three options: cultivate the land, leave it, or give it to someone else. The hadith about unused land does not attach a crop share or rental charge to the act of giving it. Its wording keeps the choices simple. It also places obedience above the appeal of a familiar gain. Readers should note that the report includes a comment about Tawus not hearing this hadith, but the core quoted instruction remains the three choices given to the landowner.
What we learn from this hadith
- The command of the Messenger of Allah is valued above a prior material benefit.
- A landowner may cultivate the land.
- The owner may leave the land or give it to another person.
- The quoted instruction does not state a rent or crop-share condition.
