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Sahih al-BukhariBook 37

Hiring

كتاب الإجارة

25 hadith in this book; 25 translated into English.

Chapter 1Chapter: To hire a pious man

Chapter introduction

The Statement of Allah تعالى: “… Verily, the best of men for you to hire is the strong, the trustworthy.” (V.28:26)

(And what is said about) the honest treasurer, and the person who does not employ the one who is in an earnest pursuit of a job (position).

Chapter 2Chapter: To shepherd sheep for Qirat

Authentic No. 2262

Allah did not send a prophet except that he tended sheep

Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Allah did not send a prophet except that he tended sheep." His Companions said: "And you?" He said: "Yes, I used to tend sheep for the people of Makkah in return for some Qirāts."

مَا بَعَثَ اللَّهُ نَبِيًّا إِلاَّ رَعَى الْغَنَمَ ‏"‏‏.‏ فَقَالَ أَصْحَابُهُ وَأَنْتَ فَقَالَ ‏"‏ نَعَمْ كُنْتُ أَرْعَاهَا عَلَى قَرَارِيطَ لأَهْلِ مَكَّةَ ‏"

Narrated by Abu Hurayrah + 3 other versions Explained

Chapter 3Chapter: The employment of Mushrikun (by Muslims)

Chapter introduction

And the Prophet ﷺ employed the Jews of Khaibar (for the purpose of irrigating the land).

Authentic No. 2263

The Prophet (ﷺ) and Abu Bakr employed a (pagan) man from the tribe of Bani Ad-Dail and the tribe of Bani 'Abu bin `Adi as a guide. He was an expert guide and he broke the oath contract which he had to abide by with the tribe of Al-`Asi bin Wail and he was on the religion of Quraish pagans. The…

وَاسْتَأْجَرَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَأَبُو بَكْرٍ رَجُلاً مِنْ بَنِي الدِّيلِ ثُمَّ مِنْ بَنِي عَبْدِ بْنِ عَدِيٍّ هَادِيًا خِرِّيتًا ـ الْخِرِّيتُ الْمَاهِرُ بِالْهِدَايَةِ ـ قَدْ غَمَسَ يَمِينَ حِلْفٍ فِي آلِ…

Narrated by Ā’ishah + 1 other version

Chapter 4Chapter: It is legal if somebody hires someone to work for him after three days, or after one month or after a year. When that period elapses they should carry out their contract

Authentic No. 2264

(the wife of the Prophet) Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) and Abu Bakr hired a man from the tribe of Bani-Ad-Dil as an expert guide who was a pagan (follower of the religion of the pagans of Quraish). The Prophet (ﷺ) and Abu Bakr gave him their two riding camels and took a promise from him to bring their…

وَاسْتَأْجَرَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَأَبُو بَكْرٍ رَجُلاً مِنْ بَنِي الدِّيلِ، هَادِيًا خِرِّيتًا وَهْوَ عَلَى دِينِ كُفَّارِ قُرَيْشٍ، فَدَفَعَا إِلَيْهِ رَاحِلَتَيْهِمَا، وَوَاعَدَاهُ غَارَ ثَوْرٍ بَعْدَ…

Narrated by Ā’ishah + 1 other version

Chapter 5Chapter: Employing labourers for services in holy battles

Authentic No. 2265

I fought in Jaish-al-Usra (Ghazwa of Tabuk) along with the Prophet (ﷺ) and in my opinion that was the best of my deeds. Then I had an employee, who quarrel led with someone and one of the them bit and cut the other's finger and caused his own tooth to fall out. He then went to the Prophet (with a…

غَزَوْتُ مَعَ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم جَيْشَ الْعُسْرَةِ فَكَانَ مِنْ أَوْثَقِ أَعْمَالِي فِي نَفْسِي، فَكَانَ لِي أَجِيرٌ، فَقَاتَلَ إِنْسَانًا، فَعَضَّ أَحَدُهُمَا إِصْبَعَ صَاحِبِهِ، فَانْتَزَعَ إِصْبَعَهُ…

Narrated by Ya‘lā ibn Umayya + 5 other versions

Chapter 7Chapter: To employ someone to repair a wall which is about to collapse

Authentic Muttafaq ‘alayh (Bukhari and Muslim) No. 2267

Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "Both of them (Moses and Al-Khadir) proceeded on till they reached a wall which was about to fall." Sa`d said [?? or Sa`id], "(Al-Khadir pointed) with his hands (towards the wall) and then raised his hands and the wall became straightened up." Ya`la said, "I think Sa`id…

فَانْطَلَقَا فَوَجَدَا جِدَارًا يُرِيدُ أَنْ يَنْقَضَّ ‏"‏‏.‏ قَالَ سَعِيدٌ بِيَدِهِ هَكَذَا، وَرَفَعَ يَدَيْهِ فَاسْتَقَامَ، قَالَ يَعْلَى حَسِبْتُ أَنَّ سَعِيدًا قَالَ‏.‏ فَمَسَحَهُ بِيَدِهِ فَاسْتَقَامَ ‏{‏قَالَ‏}‏…

Narrated by ’Ubayy ibn Ka‘b + 20 other versions

Chapter 8Chapter: Employment up to midday

Authentic No. 2268

The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Your example and the example of the people of the two Scriptures (i.e. Jews and Christians) is like the example of a man who employed some laborers and asked them, 'Who will work for me from morning till midday for one Qirat?' The Jews accepted and carried out the work. He…

مَثَلُكُمْ وَمَثَلُ أَهْلِ الْكِتَابَيْنِ كَمَثَلِ رَجُلٍ اسْتَأْجَرَ أُجَرَاءَ فَقَالَ مَنْ يَعْمَلُ لِي مِنْ غُدْوَةَ إِلَى نِصْفِ النَّهَارِ عَلَى قِيرَاطٍ فَعَمِلَتِ الْيَهُودُ، ثُمَّ قَالَ مَنْ يَعْمَلُ لِي مِنْ…

Narrated by Abdullāh ibn ‘Umar + 7 other versions

Chapter 9Chapter: Employment up to the Asr

Authentic No. 2269

Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "Your example and the example of Jews and Christians is like the example of a man who employed some laborers to whom he said, 'Who will work for me up to midday for one Qirat each?' The Jews carried out the work for one Qirat each; and then the Christians carried out the…

مَنْ يَعْمَلُ لِي إِلَى نِصْفِ النَّهَارِ عَلَى قِيرَاطٍ قِيرَاطٍ فَعَمِلَتِ الْيَهُودُ عَلَى قِيرَاطٍ قِيرَاطٍ، ثُمَّ عَمِلَتِ النَّصَارَى عَلَى قِيرَاطٍ قِيرَاطٍ، ثُمَّ أَنْتُمُ الَّذِينَ تَعْمَلُونَ مِنْ صَلاَةِ…

Narrated by Abdullāh ibn ‘Umar + 7 other versions

Chapter 10Chapter: The sin of him who withholds the wages of employee

Authentic No. 2270

Allah Almighty said: There are three I will be hostile to them on the Day of Judgment

"Allah Almighty said: There are three I will be hostile to them on the Day of Judgment: a man who gave a promise in My Name and then broke it; a man who sold a free person as a slave and devoured his price; and a man who hired a worker and took the full work from him, but did not pay him his wages."

ثَلاَثَةٌ أَنَا خَصْمُهُمْ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ رَجُلٌ أَعْطَى بِي ثُمَّ غَدَرَ، وَرَجُلٌ بَاعَ حُرًّا فَأَكَلَ ثَمَنَهُ، وَرَجُلٌ اسْتَأْجَرَ أَجِيرًا فَاسْتَوْفَى مِنْهُ وَلَمْ يُعْطِهِ أَجْرَهُ

Narrated by Abu Hurayrah + 7 other versions Explained

Chapter 11Chapter: Employment from Asr till night

Authentic No. 2271

The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "The example of Muslims, Jews and Christians is like the example of a man who employed laborers to work for him from morning till night for specific wages. They worked till midday and then said, 'We do not need your money which you have fixed for us and let whatever we have…

مَثَلُ الْمُسْلِمِينَ وَالْيَهُودِ وَالنَّصَارَى كَمَثَلِ رَجُلٍ اسْتَأْجَرَ قَوْمًا يَعْمَلُونَ لَهُ عَمَلاً يَوْمًا إِلَى اللَّيْلِ عَلَى أَجْرٍ مَعْلُومٍ، فَعَمِلُوا لَهُ إِلَى نِصْفِ النَّهَارِ فَقَالُوا لاَ حَاجَةَ…

Narrated by Abu Mūsa al-Ash‘ari + 1 other version

Chapter 12Chapter: Whosoever employed a labourer (and after completing the work) the labourer left the wages and went away. The employer invested that money in some way and increased it thereby, or whoever invested somebody else’s money in business and increased it thereby.

Authentic No. 2272

I heard Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) saying, "Three men from among those who were before you, set out together till they reached a cave at night and entered it. A big rock rolled down the mountain and closed the mouth of the cave. They said (to each other), Nothing could save you from this rock but to…

انْطَلَقَ ثَلاَثَةُ رَهْطٍ مِمَّنْ كَانَ قَبْلَكُمْ حَتَّى أَوَوُا الْمَبِيتَ إِلَى غَارٍ فَدَخَلُوهُ، فَانْحَدَرَتْ صَخْرَةٌ مِنَ الْجَبَلِ فَسَدَّتْ عَلَيْهِمُ الْغَارَ فَقَالُوا إِنَّهُ لاَ يُنْجِيكُمْ مِنْ هَذِهِ…

Narrated by Abdullāh ibn ‘Umar + 1 other version

Chapter 13Chapter: One who employs himself to carry loads on his back and then gives in charity from his wages, and (what is said about) the wages of porters

Authentic No. 2273

Whenever Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) ordered us to give in charity we would go to the market and work as porters to earn a Mudd (two handfuls) (of foodstuff) but now some of us have one-hundred thousand Dirhams or Diners. (The sub-narrator) Shaqiq said, "I think Abu Mas`ud meant himself by saying (some…

بِالصَّدَقَةِ انْطَلَقَ أَحَدُنَا إِلَى السُّوقِ فَيُحَامِلُ فَيُصِيبُ الْمُدَّ، وَإِنَّ لِبَعْضِهِمْ لَمِائَةَ أَلْفٍ، قَالَ مَا نُرَاهُ إِلاَّ نَفْسَهُ‏.‏

Narrated by Abu Mas‘ūd al-Badrī + 1 other version

Chapter 14Chapter: Wages of a broker

Chapter introduction

Ibn Sirin, ‘Ata’, Ibrahim and Al-Hasan did not see any harm in them. Ibn ‘Abbas said, “There is no harm if one says (to a broker), ‘Sell this garment for such a price and whatever more you get, is for you.’”

Ibn Sirin said, “If one says to a broker, ‘Sell it for such a price and if you get more, the profit will be for you or divided between us,’ there is no harm in it.”

The Prophet ﷺ said, “Muslims should abide by their conditions.”

Authentic Muttafaq ‘alayh (Bukhari and Muslim) No. 2274

Ibn `Abbas said, "The Prophet (ﷺ) forbade the meeting of caravans (on the way) and ordained that no townsman is permitted to sell things on behalf of a bedouin." I asked Ibn `Abbas, "What is the meaning of his saying, 'No townsman is permitted to sell things on behalf of a bedouin.' " He replied…

يُتَلَقَّى الرُّكْبَانُ، وَلاَ يَبِيعَ حَاضِرٌ لِبَادٍ‏.‏

Narrated by Ibn ‘Abbās + 5 other versions

Chapter 15Chapter: To work as an employee for Mushrikum

Authentic Muttafaq ‘alayh (Bukhari and Muslim) No. 2275

I was a blacksmith and did some work for Al-`As bin Wail. When he owed me some money for my work, I went to him to ask for that amount. He said, "I will not pay you unless you disbelieve in Muhammad." I said, "By Allah! I will never do that till you die and be resurrected." He said, "Will I be dead…

كُنْتُ رَجُلاً قَيْنًا فَعَمِلْتُ لِلْعَاصِ بْنِ وَائِلٍ فَاجْتَمَعَ لِي عِنْدَهُ فَأَتَيْتُهُ أَتَقَاضَاهُ فَقَالَ لاَ وَاللَّهِ لاَ أَقْضِيكَ حَتَّى تَكْفُرَ بِمُحَمَّدٍ‏.‏ فَقُلْتُ أَمَا وَاللَّهِ حَتَّى تَمُوتَ…

Narrated by Khabbāb ibn al-Aratti + 9 other versions

Chapter 16Chapter: What is paid for Ruqya

Chapter introduction

وَقَالَ ابْنُ عَبَّاسٍ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «أَحَقُّ مَا أَخَذْتُمْ عَلَيْهِ أَجْرًا كِتَابُ اللَّهِ».

وَقَالَ الشَّعْبِيُّ لاَ يَشْتَرِطُ الْمُعَلِّمُ إِلاَّ أَنْ يُعْطَى شَيْئًا فَلْيَقْبَلْهُ وَقَالَ الْحَكَمُ لَمْ أَسْمَعْ أَحَدًا كَرِهَ أَجْرَ الْمُعَلِّمِ. وَأَعْطَى الْحَسَنُ دَرَاهِمَ عَشَرَةً. وَلَمْ يَرَ ابْنُ سِيرِينَ بِأَجْرِ الْقَسَّامِ بَأْسًا.

وَقَالَ كَانَ يُقَالُ السُّحْتُ الرِّشْوَةُ فِي الْحُكْمِ. وَكَانُوا يُعْطَوْنَ عَلَى الْخَرْصِ.

Authentic No. 2276

Some of the companions of the Prophet (ﷺ) went on a journey till they reached some of the 'Arab tribes (at night). They asked the latter to treat them as their guests but they refused. The chief of that tribe was then bitten by a snake (or stung by a scorpion) and they tried their best to cure him…

انْطَلَقَ نَفَرٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فِي سَفْرَةٍ سَافَرُوهَا حَتَّى نَزَلُوا عَلَى حَىٍّ مِنْ أَحْيَاءِ الْعَرَبِ فَاسْتَضَافُوهُمْ، فَأَبَوْا أَنْ يُضَيِّفُوهُمْ، فَلُدِغَ سَيِّدُ ذَلِكَ…

Narrated by Abu Sa‘īd al-Khudri + 1 other version

Chapter 17Chapter: The taxes imposed on the slaves by their masters

Authentic No. 2277

When Abu Taiba cupped the Prophet (ﷺ) and the Prophet (ﷺ) ordered that he be paid one or two Sas of foodstuff and he interceded with his masters to reduce his taxes.

حَجَمَ أَبُو طَيْبَةَ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم، فَأَمَرَ لَهُ بِصَاعٍ أَوْ صَاعَيْنِ مِنْ طَعَامٍ، وَكَلَّمَ مَوَالِيَهُ فَخَفَّفَ عَنْ غَلَّتِهِ أَوْ ضَرِيبَتِهِ‏.‏

Narrated by Anas ibn Mālik

Chapter 18Chapter: The wages of one who has the profession of cupping

Chapter 19Chapter: Whoever appealed to the masters to reduce his taxes

Authentic Muttafaq ‘alayh (Bukhari and Muslim) No. 2281

The Prophet (ﷺ) sent for a slave who had the profession of cupping, and he cupped him. The Prophet (ﷺ) ordered that he be paid one or two Sas, or one or two Mudds of foodstuff, and appealed to his masters to reduce his taxes:

دَعَا النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم غُلاَمًا حَجَّامًا فَحَجَمَهُ، وَأَمَرَ لَهُ بِصَاعٍ أَوْ صَاعَيْنِ، أَوْ مُدٍّ أَوْ مُدَّيْنِ، وَكَلَّمَ فِيهِ فَخُفِّفَ مِنْ ضَرِيبَتِهِ‏.‏

Narrated by Anas ibn Mālik + 1 other version

Chapter 20Chapter: The earnings of prostitutes and female-slaves

Chapter introduction

Ibrahim hated the earnings of female wailers and female singers.

The Statement of Allah تعالى: “…And force not your maids to prostitution, if they desire chastity, in order that you may make a gain in the (perishable) goods of this worldly life. But if anyone compels them (to prostitution) then after such compulsion, Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful (to those women i.e., He will forgive them because they have been forced to do this evil action unwillingly)” (V.24:33).

Chapter 21Chapter: (Charging for) the semen of a male animal

Chapter 22Chapter: If somebody rents land and he or the owner of the land dies (will the contract be cancelled)?

Chapter introduction

According to Ibn Sirin the inheritors have no right to expel the tenant before the term of the contract has elapsed.

Al-Hakam, Al-Hasan and Ayas bin Mu‘awiya said, “The contract remains valid till the end of the term.”

Ibn ‘Umar said, “The Prophet ﷺ rented the land of Khaibar on the terms that half the yield would be his share. That contract continued during the lifetime of the Prophet ﷺ, Abu Bakr, and the early part of ‘Umar’s caliphate.” It was not mentioned that Abu Bakr renewed the contract after the death of the Prophet ﷺ.

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