35b/45: Chapter
Sunan an-Nasai 3894 — Lease Farmland for Gold or Silver
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 on Leasing Farmland for Gold or Silver
Sunan an-Nasai : 3894
Sunan an-NasaiHadith Number 3894
أَخْبَرَنَا عُبَيْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ سَعْدِ بْنِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي عَمِّي، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا أَبِي، عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِكْرِمَةَ، عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ لَبِيبَةَ، عَنْ سَعِيدِ بْنِ الْمُسَيَّبِ، عَنْ سَعْدِ بْنِ أَبِي وَقَّاصٍ، قَالَ كَانَ أَصْحَابُ الْمَزَارِعِ يُكْرُونَ فِي زَمَانِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم مَزَارِعَهُمْ بِمَا يَكُونُ عَلَى السَّاقِي مِنَ الزَّرْعِ فَجَاءُوا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَاخْتَصَمُوا فِي بَعْضِ ذَلِكَ فَنَهَاهُمْ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَنْ يُكْرُوا بِذَلِكَ وَقَالَ " أَكْرُوا بِالذَّهَبِ وَالْفِضَّةِ ". وَقَدْ رَوَى هَذَا الْحَدِيثَ سُلَيْمَانُ عَنْ رَافِعٍ فَقَالَ عَنْ رَجُلٍ مِنْ عُمُومَتِهِ.
Sa'd b. Abu Waqqas Narrated from:
At the time of the Messenger of Allah landowners used to lease their arable land in return for whatever grew on the banks of the streams for irrigation. They came to the Messenger of Allah and referred a dispute concerning such matters to him, and the Messenger of Allah forbade them to lease land on such terms, and said: 'Lease it for gold or silver.'
Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 3894In-book reference : Book 35b, Hadith 38English translation : Vol. 4, Book 35, Hadith 3925
Summary of Sunan an-Nasai Hadith 3894
This hadith explains a disputed form of farmland rental. Landowners used to lease fields in return for the crop growing along irrigation channels. When a dispute arose, the matter was brought to the Messenger of Allah. He forbade leasing land on those terms and said to lease it for gold or silver. The main lesson for searches about land leasing in Islam is the move from an uncertain crop location to a known monetary payment. The narration does not say that every crop-related arrangement is identical, so the explanation should stay with the exact condition described. A rental tied to what happened to grow on particular stream banks led to disagreement. The stated alternative was a lease for gold or silver, giving the parties a clearer return.
What we learn from this hadith
- Leasing land for crops growing on irrigation banks was forbidden in this case.
- The disputed rental terms were brought to the Messenger of Allah.
- The Prophet directed them to lease for gold or silver.
- Clear payment terms can help prevent the kind of dispute described.
