35b/45: Chapter
Sunan an-Nasai 3890 — Three Ways to Cultivate 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
Three Permitted Ways of Cultivating Land in the Hadith
Sunan an-Nasai : 3890
Sunan an-NasaiHadith Number 3890
أَخْبَرَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو الأَحْوَصِ، عَنْ طَارِقٍ، عَنْ سَعِيدِ بْنِ الْمُسَيَّبِ، عَنْ رَافِعِ بْنِ خَدِيجٍ، قَالَ نَهَى رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم عَنِ الْمُحَاقَلَةِ وَالْمُزَابَنَةِ وَقَالَ " إِنَّمَا يَزْرَعُ ثَلاَثَةٌ رَجُلٌ لَهُ أَرْضٌ فَهُوَ يَزْرَعُهَا أَوْ رَجُلٌ مُنِحَ أَرْضًا فَهُوَ يَزْرَعُ مَا مُنِحَ أَوْ رَجُلٌ اسْتَكْرَى أَرْضًا بِذَهَبٍ أَوْ فِضَّةٍ ". مَيَّزَهُ إِسْرَائِيلُ عَنْ طَارِقٍ فَأَرْسَلَ الْكَلاَمَ الأَوَّلَ وَجَعَلَ الأَخِيرَ مِنْ قَوْلِ سَعِيدٍ
Rafi' bin Khadij Narrated from:
The Messenger of Allah forbade Al-Muhaqalah and Al-Muzabanah, and said: 'Only three may cultivate: A man who has land which he cultivates; a man who was given some land and cultivates what he was given; and a man who takes land on lease for gold or silver.'
Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 3890In-book reference : Book 35b, Hadith 34English translation : Vol. 4, Book 35, Hadith 3921
Summary of Sunan an-Nasai Hadith 3890
This narration first reports the prohibition of Al-Muhaqalah and Al-Muzabanah. It then lists three people who may cultivate land: a person farming land he owns, a person farming land that was given to him, and a person who rents land for gold or silver. This makes the hadith highly relevant to searches about renting agricultural land in Islam. The wording gives clear examples built around ownership, a grant, or a known monetary rent. It does not mention every possible contract, so the explanation should not expand the list beyond the text. The main point is that the basis for cultivation should be clear. A farmer should know whether the land is owned, granted, or rented for a stated payment in gold or silver, while avoiding the prohibited practices named at the start.
What we learn from this hadith
- A person may cultivate land that he owns.
- A person may cultivate land that has been granted to him.
- The narration mentions renting land for gold or silver.
- Al-Muhaqalah and Al-Muzabanah are named as forbidden practices.
