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Sahih al-BukhariBook 41

Agriculture

كتاب المزارعة

28 hadith in this book; 28 translated into English.

Chapter 1Chapter: Sowing seeds and planting trees

Chapter introduction

The Statement of Allah تعالى: “Then tell Me about the seed that you sow in the ground, is it you that make it to grow, or are We the grower? Were it Our Will, We could crumble it to dry pieces...” (V.56:63-65)

Authentic Muttafaq ‘alayh (Bukhari and Muslim) No. 2320

Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "There is none amongst the Muslims who plants a tree or sows seeds, and then a bird, or a person or an animal eats from it, but is regarded as a charitable gift for him."

مَا مِنْ مُسْلِمٍ يَغْرِسُ غَرْسًا، أَوْ يَزْرَعُ زَرْعًا، فَيَأْكُلُ مِنْهُ طَيْرٌ أَوْ إِنْسَانٌ أَوْ بَهِيمَةٌ، إِلاَّ كَانَ لَهُ بِهِ صَدَقَةٌ ‏"

Narrated by Anas ibn Mālik + 7 other versions

Chapter 2Chapter: The results of indulging in agricultural equipment

Chapter 3Chapter: Keeping a watchdog for the farm

Authentic Muttafaq ‘alayh (Bukhari and Muslim) No. 2322

Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "Whoever keeps a dog, one Qirat of the reward of his good deeds is deducted daily, unless the dog is used for guarding a farm or cattle." Abu Huraira (in another narration) said from the Prophet, "unless it is used for guarding sheep or farms, or for hunting." Narrated…

مَنْ أَمْسَكَ كَلْبًا فَإِنَّهُ يَنْقُصُ كُلَّ يَوْمٍ مِنْ عَمَلِهِ قِيرَاطٌ، إِلاَّ كَلْبَ حَرْثٍ أَوْ مَاشِيَةٍ ‏"

Narrated by Abu Hurayrah + 20 other versions

Authentic Muttafaq ‘alayh (Bukhari and Muslim) No. 2323

Abu Sufyan bin Abu Zuhair, a man from Azd Shanu'a and one of the companions of the Prophet (ﷺ) said, "I heard Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) saying, 'If one keeps a dog which is meant for guarding neither a farm nor cattle, one Qirat of the reward of his good deeds is deducted daily." I said, "Did you hear…

مَنِ اقْتَنَى كَلْبًا لاَ يُغْنِي عَنْهُ زَرْعًا وَلاَ ضَرْعًا، نَقَصَ كُلَّ يَوْمٍ مِنْ عَمَلِهِ قِيرَاطٌ ‏"

Narrated by Sufyān ibn Abu Zuhayr + 8 other versions

Chapter 4Chapter: Employing oxen for ploughing

Authentic No. 2324

The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "While a man was riding a cow, it turned towards him and said, 'I have not been created for this purpose (i.e. carrying), I have been created for ploughing." The Prophet (ﷺ) added, "I, Abu Bakr and `Umar believe in the story." The Prophet (ﷺ) went on, "A wolf caught a sheep…

بَيْنَمَا رَجُلٌ رَاكِبٌ عَلَى بَقَرَةٍ الْتَفَتَتْ إِلَيْهِ‏.‏ فَقَالَتْ لَمْ أُخْلَقْ لِهَذَا، خُلِقْتُ لِلْحِرَاثَةِ، قَالَ آمَنْتُ بِهِ أَنَا وَأَبُو بَكْرٍ وَعُمَرُ، وَأَخَذَ الذِّئْبُ شَاةً فَتَبِعَهَا الرَّاعِي…

Narrated by Abu Hurayrah + 1 other version

Chapter 5Chapter: To say to another, "Look after my date-palm trees...

Authentic No. 2325

The Ansar said to the Prophet (ﷺ) "Distribute the date palm trees between us and our emigrant brothers." He replied, "No." The Ansar said (to the emigrants), "Look after the trees (water and watch them) and share the fruits with us." The emigrants said, "We listen and obey."

اقْسِمْ بَيْنَنَا وَبَيْنَ إِخْوَانِنَا النَّخِيلَ‏.‏ قَالَ ‏"‏ لاَ ‏"‏‏.‏ فَقَالُوا تَكْفُونَا الْمَئُونَةَ وَنُشْرِكُكُمْ فِي الثَّمَرَةِ‏.‏ قَالُوا سَمِعْنَا وَأَطَعْنَا‏.‏

Narrated by Abu Hurayrah + 4 other versions

Chapter 6Chapter: The cutting of trees and date-palm trees

Chapter introduction

Anas said, “The Prophet ﷺ ordered that the date-palm trees be cut down and they were cut down.”

Chapter 7باب

Authentic No. 2327

We worked on farms more than anybody else in Medina. We used to rent the land at the yield of specific delimited portion of it to be given to the landlord. Sometimes the vegetation of that portion was affected by blights etc., while the rest remained safe and vice versa, so the Prophet (ﷺ) forbade…

كُنَّا أَكْثَرَ أَهْلِ الْمَدِينَةِ مُزْدَرَعًا، كُنَّا نُكْرِي الأَرْضَ بِالنَّاحِيَةِ مِنْهَا مُسَمًّى لِسَيِّدِ الأَرْضِ، قَالَ فَمِمَّا يُصَابُ ذَلِكَ وَتَسْلَمُ الأَرْضُ، وَمِمَّا يُصَابُ الأَرْضُ وَيَسْلَمُ…

Narrated by Rāfi‘ ibn Khadīj

Chapter 8Chapter: Temporary share-cropping contract

Chapter introduction

Narrated Abu Ja‘far: All the emigrants in Al-Madina used to cultivate the land (for the Ansar) on the condition of having one-third or one-fourth of the yield. ‘Ali, Sa‘d bin Malik, ‘Abdullah bin Mas‘ud, ‘Umar bin ‘Abdul ‘Aziz, Al-Qasim, ‘Urwa and the families of Abu Bakr, of ‘Umar and of ‘Ali, and Ibn Sirin cultivated the land of ‘Abdur-Rahman bin Yazid on the basis of taking a portion of the yield. ‘Umar made a deal with the people that if he provided the seeds, he would get half of the yield, and if they provided the seeds, they would get so-and-so much. Al-Hasan said, “There is no harm if the land belongs to one, but both spend on it and the yield is divided between them.” Az-Zuhri had the same opinion. Al-Hasan said, “There is no harm if cotton is picked on the condition of having half the yield.” Ibrahim, Ibn Sirin, ‘Ata, Al-Hakam, Az-Zuhri and Qatada said, “There is no harm in giving the yarn to the weaver to weave into cloth on the basis that one-third of the cloth is given to the weaver for his labour.” Ma‘mar said, “There is no harm in hiring animals for a definite (fixed) period on the basis that one-third or one-fourth of the products carried by the animals is given to the owner of the animals.”

Authentic Muttafaq ‘alayh (Bukhari and Muslim) No. 2328

The Prophet (ﷺ) concluded a contract with the people of Khaibar to utilize the land on the condition that half the products of fruits or vegetation would be their share. The Prophet (ﷺ) used to give his wives one hundred Wasqs each, eighty Wasqs of dates and twenty Wasqs of barley. (When `Umar…

عَامَلَ خَيْبَرَ بِشَطْرِ مَا يَخْرُجُ مِنْهَا مِنْ ثَمَرٍ أَوْ زَرْعٍ، فَكَانَ يُعْطِي أَزْوَاجَهُ مِائَةَ وَسْقٍ ثَمَانُونَ وَسْقَ تَمْرٍ وَعِشْرُونَ وَسْقَ شَعِيرٍ

Narrated by Abdullāh ibn ‘Umar + 7 other versions

Chapter 9Chapter: The contract of share-cropping

Chapter 10باب

Authentic Muttafaq ‘alayh (Bukhari and Muslim) No. 2330

I said to Tawus, "I wish you would give up Mukhabara (Sharecropping), for the people say that the Prophet forbade it." On that Tawus replied, "O `Amr! I give the land to sharecroppers and help them. No doubt; the most learned man, namely Ibn `Abbas told me that the Prophet (ﷺ) had not forbidden it…

أَنْ يَمْنَحَ أَحَدُكُمْ أَخَاهُ خَيْرٌ لَهُ مِنْ أَنْ يَأْخُذَ عَلَيْهِ خَرْجًا مَعْلُومًا ‏"

Narrated by Ibn ‘Abbās + 11 other versions

Chapter 11Chapter: Share-cropping with the Jews

Chapter 12Chapter: What conditions are disliked in share-cropping

Authentic No. 2332

We worked on farms more than anybody else in Medina. We used to rent the land and say to the owner, "The yield of this portion is for us and the yield of that portion is for you (as the rent)." One of those portions might yield something and the other might not. So, the Prophet (ﷺ) forbade us to do…

كُنَّا أَكْثَرَ أَهْلِ الْمَدِينَةِ حَقْلاً، وَكَانَ أَحَدُنَا يُكْرِي أَرْضَهُ، فَيَقُولُ هَذِهِ الْقِطْعَةُ لِي وَهَذِهِ لَكَ، فَرُبَّمَا أَخْرَجَتْ ذِهِ وَلَمْ تُخْرِجْ ذِهِ، فَنَهَاهُمُ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه…

Narrated by Rāfi‘ ibn Khadīj + 1 other version

Chapter 13Chapter: If a person invests the money of someone else in cultivation

Authentic Muttafaq ‘alayh (Bukhari and Muslim) No. 2333

The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "While three men were walking, It started raining and they took shelter (refuge) in a cave in a mountain. A big rock rolled down from the mountain and closed the mouth of the cave. They said to each other, "Think of good deeds which you did for Allah's sake only, and invoke…

بَيْنَمَا ثَلاَثَةُ نَفَرٍ يَمْشُونَ أَخَذَهُمُ الْمَطَرُ، فَأَوَوْا إِلَى غَارٍ فِي جَبَلٍ، فَانْحَطَّتْ عَلَى فَمِ غَارِهِمْ صَخْرَةٌ مِنَ الْجَبَلِ فَانْطَبَقَتْ عَلَيْهِمْ، فَقَالَ بَعْضُهُمْ لِبَعْضٍ انْظُرُوا…

Narrated by Abdullāh ibn ‘Umar + 2 other versions

Chapter 14Chapter: The Auqaf, Kharaj, share-cropping and other agreements

Chapter introduction

The Prophet ﷺ said to ‘Umar, “Give those trees as a whole in charity (as Waqf) so that those might not be sold but their fruits can be spent and given in charity.” So, ‘Umar gave those trees in charity.

Authentic No. 2334

`Umar said, "But for the future Muslim generations, I would have distributed the land of the villages I conquer among the soldiers as the Prophet (ﷺ) distributed the land of Khaibar."

لَوْلاَ آخِرُ الْمُسْلِمِينَ مَا فَتَحْتُ قَرْيَةً إِلاَّ قَسَمْتُهَا بَيْنَ أَهْلِهَا كَمَا قَسَمَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم خَيْبَرَ‏.‏

Narrated by Umar ibn al-Khattāb + 5 other versions

Chapter 15Chapter: Cultivating the neglected land

Chapter introduction

‘Ali رضي الله عنه had the same opinion concerning such land in Kufa. ‘Umar said, “Whoever cultivates uncultivated land (belonging to nobody) will possess it.” ‘Umar and Ibn ‘Auf narrated the same from the Prophet ﷺ adding, “… provided that the land does not belong to any Muslim; otherwise one has no right to plant anything in it oppressively.”

Chapter 16باب

Authentic Muttafaq ‘alayh (Bukhari and Muslim) No. 2336

While the Prophet (ﷺ) was passing the night at his place of rest in Dhul-Hulaifa in the bottom of the valley (of Aqiq), he saw a dream and it was said to him, "You are in a blessed valley." Musa said, "Salim let our camels kneel at the place where `Abdullah used to make his camel kneel, seeking the…

أُرِيَ وَهْوَ فِي مُعَرَّسِهِ مِنْ ذِي الْحُلَيْفَةِ فِي بَطْنِ الْوَادِي، فَقِيلَ لَهُ إِنَّكَ بِبَطْحَاءَ مُبَارَكَةٍ‏

Narrated by Abdullāh ibn ‘Umar + 8 other versions

Authentic No. 2337

While the Prophet (ﷺ) was in Al-`Aqiq he said, "Someone (meaning Gabriel) came to me from my Lord tonight (in my dream) and said, 'Offer the prayer in this blessed valley and say (I intend to perform) `Umra along with Hajj (together).' "

اللَّيْلَةَ أَتَانِي آتٍ مِنْ رَبِّي وَهْوَ بِالْعَقِيقِ أَنْ صَلِّ فِي هَذَا الْوَادِي الْمُبَارَكِ وَقُلْ عُمْرَةٌ فِي حَجَّةٍ ‏"

Narrated by Umar ibn al-Khattāb + 5 other versions

Chapter 17Chapter: The lease can be continued according to the approval of both the parties

Authentic Muttafaq ‘alayh (Bukhari and Muslim) No. 2338

`Umar expelled the Jews and the Christians from Hijaz. When Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) had conquered Khaibar, he wanted to expel the Jews from it as its land became the property of Allah, His Apostle, and the Muslims. Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) intended to expel the Jews but they requested him to let them…

ـ أَجْلَى الْيَهُودَ وَالنَّصَارَى مِنْ أَرْضِ الْحِجَازِ، وَكَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم لَمَّا ظَهَرَ عَلَى خَيْبَرَ أَرَادَ إِخْرَاجَ الْيَهُودِ مِنْهَا، وَكَانَتِ الأَرْضُ حِينَ ظَهَرَ عَلَيْهَا لِلَّهِ…

Narrated by Abdullāh ibn ‘Umar + 3 other versions

Chapter 18Chapter: To share the yields and fruits

Authentic Muttafaq ‘alayh (Bukhari and Muslim) No. 2339

My uncle Zuhair said, "Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) forbade us to do a thing which was a source of help to us." I said, "Whatever Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said was right." He said, "Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) sent for me and asked, 'What are you doing with your farms?' I replied, 'We give our farms on rent on the…

مَا تَصْنَعُونَ بِمَحَاقِلِكُمْ ‏"‏‏.‏ قُلْتُ نُؤَاجِرُهَا عَلَى الرُّبُعِ وَعَلَى الأَوْسُقِ مِنَ التَّمْرِ وَالشَّعِيرِ‏.‏ قَالَ ‏"‏ لا تَفْعَلُوا ازْرَعُوهَا أَوْ أَزْرِعُوهَا أَوْ أَمْسِكُوهَا ‏"

Narrated by Zuhayr ibn Rāfi + 1 other version

Authentic Muttafaq ‘alayh (Bukhari and Muslim) No. 2340

The people used to rent their land for cultivation for one-third, one-fourth or half its yield. The Prophet said, "Whoever has land should cultivate it himself or give it to his (Muslim) brother gratis; otherwise keep it uncultivated." Narrated Abu Huraira: Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "Whoever has…

مَنْ كَانَتْ لَهُ أَرْضٌ فَلْيَزْرَعْهَا أَوْ لِيَمْنَحْهَا، فَإِنْ لَمْ يَفْعَلْ فَلْيُمْسِكْ أَرْضَهُ ‏"

Narrated by Jābir ibn ‘Abdullāh + 19 other versions

Authentic Muttafaq ‘alayh (Bukhari and Muslim) No. 2342

When I mentioned it (i.e. the narration of Rafi` 'bin Khadij: no. 532) to Tawus, he said, "It is permissible to rent the land for cultivation, for Ibn `Abbas said, 'The Prophet (ﷺ) did not forbid that, but said: One had better give the land to one's brother gratis rather than charge a certain…

أَنْ يَمْنَحَ أَحَدُكُمْ أَخَاهُ خَيْرٌ لَهُ مِنْ أَنْ يَأْخُذَ شَيْئًا مَعْلُومًا ‏"

Narrated by Ibn ‘Abbās + 11 other versions

Authentic No. 2345

`Abdullah bin `Umar said, "I knew that the land was rented for cultivation in the lifetime of Allah's Apostle ." Later on Ibn `Umar was afraid that the Prophet (ﷺ) had forbidden it, and he had no knowledge of it, so he gave up renting his land.

كُنْتُ أَعْلَمُ فِي عَهْدِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَنَّ الأَرْضَ تُكْرَى‏.‏ ثُمَّ خَشِيَ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ أَنْ يَكُونَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَدْ أَحْدَثَ فِي ذَلِكَ شَيْئًا لَمْ يَكُنْ يَعْلَمُهُ…

Narrated by Abdullāh ibn ‘Umar

Chapter 19Chapter: To rent the land for gold and silver

Chapter introduction

Ibn ‘Abbās said, “The best thing to do is to take the uncultivated land on a yearly rental basis.”

Authentic No. 2346

Rafi` bin Khadij said, "My two uncles told me that they (i.e. the companions of the Prophet) used to rent the land in the lifetime of the Prophet (ﷺ) for the yield on the banks of water streams (rivers) or for a portion of the yield stipulated by the owner of the land. The Prophet (ﷺ) forbade it."…

أَنَّهُمْ كَانُوا يُكْرُونَ الأَرْضَ عَلَى عَهْدِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم بِمَا يَنْبُتُ عَلَى الأَرْبِعَاءِ أَوْ شَىْءٍ يَسْتَثْنِيهِ صَاحِبُ الأَرْضِ فَنَهَى النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم عَنْ ذَلِكَ

Narrated by Zuhayr ibn Rāfi + 2 other versions

Chapter 20باب

Authentic No. 2348

Once the Prophet (ﷺ) was narrating (a story), while a bedouin was sitting with him. "One of the inhabitants of Paradise will ask Allah to allow him to cultivate the land. Allah will ask him, 'Are you not living in the pleasures you like?' He will say, 'Yes, but I like to cultivate the land.' " The…

يُحَدِّثُ وَعِنْدَهُ رَجُلٌ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْبَادِيَةِ ‏"‏ أَنَّ رَجُلاً مِنْ أَهْلِ الْجَنَّةِ اسْتَأْذَنَ رَبَّهُ فِي الزَّرْعِ فَقَالَ لَهُ أَلَسْتَ فِيمَا شِئْتَ قَالَ بَلَى وَلَكِنِّي أُحِبُّ أَنْ أَزْرَعَ‏.‏ قَالَ…

Narrated by Abu Hurayrah + 3 other versions

Chapter 21Chapter: What is said about planting trees

Authentic No. 2349

We used to be very happy on Friday as an old lady used to cut some roots of the Silq, which we used to plant on the banks of our small water streams, and cook them in a pot of her's, adding to them, some grains of barley. (Ya'qub, the sub-narrator said, "I think the narrator mentioned that the food…

إِنَّا كُنَّا نَفْرَحُ بِيَوْمِ الْجُمُعَةِ، كَانَتْ لَنَا عَجُوزٌ تَأْخُذُ مِنْ أُصُولِ سِلْقٍ لَنَا كُنَّا نَغْرِسُهُ فِي أَرْبِعَائِنَا فَتَجْعَلُهُ فِي قِدْرٍ لَهَا فَتَجْعَلُ فِيهِ حَبَّاتٍ مِنْ شَعِيرٍ لاَ…

Narrated by Sahl ibn Sa‘d + 1 other version

Authentic No. 2350

The people say that Abu Huraira narrates too many narrations. In fact Allah knows whether I say the truth or not. They also ask, "Why do the emigrants and the Ansar not narrate as he does?" In fact, my emigrant brethren were busy trading in the markets, and my Ansar brethren were busy with their…

يَوْمًا ‏"‏ لَنْ يَبْسُطَ أَحَدٌ مِنْكُمْ ثَوْبَهُ حَتَّى أَقْضِيَ مَقَالَتِي هَذِهِ، ثُمَّ يَجْمَعَهُ إِلَى صَدْرِهِ، فَيَنْسَى مِنْ مَقَالَتِي شَيْئًا أَبَدًا ‏"‏‏.‏ فَبَسَطْتُ نَمِرَةً لَيْسَ عَلَىَّ ثَوْبٌ…

Narrated by Abu Hurayrah + 1 other version

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