Honesty in commercial dealings is more strictly enjoined by Islam than by any other religion. It is because Islam is a religion which regulates and directs life in all its departments. It is not to be regarded, like the modern man's religion. As a personal, private affair, which has nothing to do with his economic and political life. It is not merely a body of dogmas or a bundle of rites and rituals; it is a practical code which governs life in all its spheres. Its laws are as effectively operative in our commerce and politics as in our domestic life and social relations.

Islam censures political chicanery and economic exploitation as strongly as social excesses and individual dishonesty. Indeed, a true Islamic society is based upon honesty, justice and fraternity, and is absolutely intolerant of dishonesty in all its various forms. That is the reason why perfect honesty in business and truthfulness in trade are much emphasised by the Holy Prophet (may peace be upon him).

It will not be an exaggeration to say that absolute honesty in business and commerce is really an Islamic concept. The Hindus and Jews were (and still, are) worshippers of the Mammon. Both of them have been mercenary nations, notorious for their greed. The pre-Islamic Christians. too, did not possess any high standard of business morality. It was Prophet Muhammad (may peace be upon him) who, on the one hand, urged his followers to adopt trade as their profession, and, on the other band, exhorted them to observe truthfulness and honesty in their business transactions.

Islam lays the greatest emphasis on Qat Haldl (food earned through lawful means). The pious among us believe that just as nasty food spolis our physical health, similarly. food earned through unlawful means spoils our spiritual and moral health.

A man who liver on income derived through illicit means and fraudulent practices cannot be morally advanced and spiritually elevated. If we try to comprehend the exact, implications of the term Haram (unlawful) we can form an idea of the high standard of morality on which Islam wants us to conduct our business.

And, if business is conducted strictly in accordance with the Islamic principles of commerce, there can be absolutely no scope for any kind of commercial dishonesty varying from the simplest and most glaring type of business fraud to the most cunning and subtle type of profiteering which is often masked under a semblance of honesty.

According to Imam Ghazali, a Muslim who makes up his mind to adopt trade as a profession or to set up his own business should first acquire a thorough understanding of the rules of business transactions codified in the Islamic Shari'ah. Without such understanding he will go astray and fail into serious lapses making his earning unlawful.

No people in the world have ever attached so much importance to lawful trading as did the early Muslims, nor has any other nation evinced such a dread of unlawful trading as they did. That is why al-Ghazali said stress on a clear understanding of the rules and laws governing business transactions as a necessary prerequisite to adopting trade or business as a profession.

The Holy Qur'an has stressed the importance of fairness in business: "And, O my people, give full measure and weight justly, and defraud not men of their things, and act not corruptly in the land making mischief. What remains with Allah is better for you, if you are believers" (xi. 85-86). In these words addressed by Hadrat Shu'aib to his people, the Holy Qur'an enunciates the fundamental principles of commerce as follows

1.To give just measure and weight.
2.Not to withhold from the people the things that are their due.
3.Not to commit evil on the earth with the intent of doing mischief.
4.To be contented with the profit that is left with us by God after we have paid other people their due.

We are told in these verses that commerce can flourish under conditions of peace and security. The people are, therefore, warned not to disturb the peace of the land so that there is a free and untrammelled trade between different parts of the world. In commercial relations we are expected to be absolutely just and honest, liberally giving other people their due.

We are not to be guilty of selfish greed and not to indulge in profiteering; and we are told that the lawful profit which has God's blessings is the one that we are able to make through perfectly honest dealings with others. The injunctions contained in these Qur'anic verses and found elsewhere in the Holy Book close the door of all dishonest and unjust transactions. We should not forget that justice is a master virtue. If we give others just measure and just weight that tantamounts to saying that we should be fair and just in our dealings.

A careful study of "Kitab al-Buyu`" (the book pertaining to business transactions) will reveal the fact that the Holy Prophet (may peace be upon him) based business dealings strictly on truth and justice. He has strongly disapproved all transactions which involve any kind of injustice or hardship to the buyer or the seller. He wanted that both, the buyer and the seller, should be truly sympathetic and considerate towards each other.

One should not take undue advantage of the simplicity or ignorance of the other. The seller should not think that he has unrestricted liberty to extort as much as possible from the buyer. He has to be just; he should take his own due and give the buyer what is his. Islam, which condemns every kind of injustice and exploitation in human relations, wants its followers to conduct business in a sublime spirit of justice tempered with human kindness. The conduct of the seller in a transaction should be characterised not only by Insaf (justice), but also by Ihsan (magnanimity). "God will forgive the sins of a Muslim who absolves a fellow-Muslim from a sale-contract not liked by the latter," says the Holy Prophet (may peace be upon him).

All transactions should be based on the fundamental principle of "Ta'auanu ala birri wa't-taqwa" (mutual co-operation for the cause of goodness or piety).

A transaction not based upon this sound principle is not lawful.

Unlawful transactions are motivated by lust for money and an ignoble desire to build up prestige. Islam strikes at the root of the passion for money and suggests a different yardstick to measure the prestige of a person.

The Holy Qur'an, on the one hand, condemns hoarding and the excessive love for wealth, and, on the other, declares virtue and piety to be the criterion for determining a person's worth.

"Inna akramakum `ind-Allahi atqakum" (The noblest in the eyes of God is the most pious among you).

Thus does Islam minimise in every possible way the temptation to illegal trade and traffic. Let us now take note of the forms of business transactions which have been prohibited in Islam. The Holy Prophet (may peace be upon him) has not only disapproved of certain forms of business transactions, but has also laid down some basic conditions that should be fulfilled in every transaction if it is to be lawful.

The following are some of these basic conditions:

1.Things sold and money offered as their price to be lawfully acquired. The things sold and the money to be offered as their price should both be lawfully acquired and clearly specified. This condition demands that the goods sold should have been lawfully obtained. One has no business to sell goods which one has stolen or which one has acquired in a fraudulent manner.

nor should one purchase anything with the money which one has accepted as illegal gratification or has aceuired in some other deceitful way. This condition holds the buyer and the seller responsible for lawful possession of the goods on the partof one and of the money on the part of other.

2.Goods not to be sold before obtaining their possession. The Holy Prophet (may peace be upon him) has warned the Muslims against indulging in forward transactions which means selling goods before obtaining their possession. "Whoever buys cereals shall not tell them until he has obtained their possession," says the Holy Prophet (may peace be upon him).

According to Ibn 'Abbas, what applies to cereals also applies to other categories of goods. On another occasion the Holy Prophet (may peace be upon him) has said: "Bargain not about that which is not with you."

3.Goods to be bought in the open market. Goods and commodities for sale should go into the open market, and the seller or his agents must be aware of the state of the market before proposals are made for the purchase by the buyers. The seller should not be taken unawares lest the buyers should take undue advantage of his ignorance of the conditions and prices prevailing in the market.

4.No trade and traffic in things, the use of which is prohibited by Islam. A Muslim can trade in those goods and commodities only the use of which has been declared to be Halal (lawful). There can be no trade and traffic in things the use of which is proliibited by Islam. For example, there can be no trade in wine, swine, dead bodies of animals and idols. A devout Muslim merchant would not even traffic in thin and transparent stuff for ladies because the use of such stuff by ladies is unlawful. One cannot sell the carcass of an animal. He can, however, flay its skin which can be used for making shoes and which can therefore, be sold, but not the flesh of the dead animal. What is true of the usable skin of animals is also true of the tusks of an elephant.

Prohibited forms of Business

1.Monopoly business. As monopoly means concentration of supply in one hand, it leads to exploitation of the consumers and the workers, it has, therefore, been declared unlawful by the Holy Prophet (may peace be upon him). Gigantic trusts. cartels and monopolies should not exist in the Islamic society. The monopoly-dominated economic order betrays lack of harmony between private and social good and is, thus, a negation of the principle of maximum social advantage which the Islamic society sets out to achieve.

Speculative business basd on selfish interest. Speculation means buying something cheap in bulk at a time and selling it dear at another and, thus, controlling the whole market to achieve personal gains. A close observation will reveal that speculators are primarily interested in private gains regardless of the larger interest of the society. These speculators try to create artificial scarcity of goods and commodities and thereby create an inflationary pressure on the economy. As the poor masses have to pay for this. Islam has condemned such speculative business.

Interest transactions. All transactions involving interest are forbidden in Islam. Some people find it hard to submit to the injunction prohibiting interest, because they think interest and profit earned in trade are similar.

Capital invested in trade brings an excess called profit; invested in banking it brings interest. Why should one excess be considered lawful and the other unlawful? They fail to take note of the basic difference between the two. Trade involves risk of loss.

Also in its case, it is not only the capital invested that brings profit which is equally the result of initiative, enterprise and efficiency of the entrepreneur. Hence its rate cannot be predetermined and fixed. Moreover, trade is productive.

A person reaps a benefit after undergoing labour and hardship. It creates conditions of full employment and economic growth. It will also be noted that trade acts as one of the dominant factors in the process of building up civilisation through co-operation and mutual exchange of ideas.

The spread of Islam and Islamic civilisation In the Far East has been mostly due to the efforts of Muslim traders. Interest has no redeeming feature at all.

The fixed rate of profit which a person gets from a financial investment without any risk of loss and without augmenting it with human labour creates in man the undesirable weakness of miserliness and Shylockian selfishness and lack of sympathy.

In the economic sphere it initiates and aggravates crisis. Rightly, therefore, has Islam strictly prohibited all transactions based on it or involving it in some form or other.

Advancing money on interest, keeping deposits in a bank for the sake of earning interest, or getting concessions in rates of goods or commodities against advance payments of price, mortgaging and utilising an income-yielding property against a certain sum,to be returned in full when the property is redeemed and investing money in a trade against a predetermined and fixed rate of profit-are all unlawfnl business transactions because they involve Riba (interest) in some form or the other.

Transactions similar (in nature) to gambling. The Arabic equivalent to gambling is Maisir which literarily means "getting something too easily", "getting a profit without working for it". The literal meaning of the term explains the principle on account of which gambling is prohibited in Islam.

Any monetary gain which cornes too easily, so much so that one does not have to work for it, is unlawful. The most familiar form of gambling amang the Arabs in the days of the Holy Prophet (may peace be upon him) was gambling by casting of lots by means of arrows drawn from a bag. Some were blank and those who drew them got nothing.

Others indicated prizes-big or small ones. Whether one got anything or nothing depended on pure luck. unless there was fraud on the part of someone concerned.

The principle on which objection to gambling is based is that you gain what you have not earned, or lose on a mere chance. Dice, lottery, prize bonds and betting on horse races are to be held within the definition of gambling.

Munabadha and Mulamasa. Islam recognises barter trade subject to the injunctions of the Qur'an and the Sunnah. In fact, Islam has closed all doors of dishonesty and deceit in business dealings. It has prohibited all forms of transactions which admit of fraud in the least degree. It has impressed on the traders that defective and worthless goods should not be given in exchange for good ones, and if there is a defect in the goods sold it must be pointed out and made manifest to the purchaser.

The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) said: "The buyer and the seller have the option of cancelling the contract as long as they have not separated; then. if they both speak the truth and make manifest, their transaction shall be blessed, and it they conceal and tell lies, the blessing of their transaction shall be obliterated".

Besides issuing the instructions which govern all forms of trade, particularly barter trade, Islam has banned two forms of sale contract that were prevalent before Islam. These were Munabadha and Mulamasa. In neither of these was the purchaser offered an opportunity to examine the thing purchased. Munabadha means that the seller should throw the cloth to the buyer before he has carefully examined it.

The very act of throwing the cloth will mean that the bargain has been struck. Mulamasa means touching the cloth without examining it, ie. the buyer was just supposed to touch the cloth to strike the bargain. Both these forms of transaction were prohibited because in either case the purchaser got no opportunity to examine the things sold to him, and the bargain was likely to prove unduly disadvantageous to one side.

In fact, Islam demanlds that goods and commodities for we should go to the open market and the seller or his agents must be aware of the state of the market before proposals are made for the purchase of goods or communities in bulk.

He should not be taken unawares lest advantage be taken of his ignorance of the state of the market, and the prevailing prices. All this is ver clearly laid down by the Prophet (may peace he upon him). As mentioned above, Islam tries to be fair to both parties to a transaction. Any step on the part of one, that is advantageous to him and disadvantageous to the other, is not permissible.

The seller is expected to make the defects (if any) in the goods manifest to the buyer, nor is the buyer expected to take undue advantage of the ignorance of the seller. Mozabana. It is the exchange of fresh fruits for dry ones in a way that the quantity of the dry fruit is actually measured and fixed, but the quantity of the fresh fruit to be given in exchange is guessed while it is still on the trees (Mishkat, 2710). The Holy Prophet (may peace be upon him) has forbidden this exchange because the quantity of the fruit on the trees cannot be definitely Determined and the transaction is just a leap into the dark.

Mu'awama. It consists in selling the fruit on the trees for a period of one, two or three years even before it has made its appearance. It is prohibited because like Muzabana it is also a leap into the dark. Such transactions may result in bitterness and frustration.

Bai' al-Gharar. It is to sell a thing which one doesn't have in one's possession, nor expects to bring it under one's control, e g. fish in the river, or birds in the air. Possession is one of the basic conditions of a sale. One cannot sell a thing which is not in one's possession.

Bai' al-'Uryan. It is getting a thing against a nominal advance on the condition that if the bargain is struck, the advance will be adjusted and if the bargain is cancelled, the seller will riot return the advance. The advance being nominal, the buyer has practically no liability. He will abide by the contract if he finds it advantageous to him and will withdraw himself from it otherwise.

Bai' al-Mudtar. It is to buy a thing forcibly or to purchase a thing when its owner is compelled under stress of want to dispose it of. Instead of purchasing the thing, and taking undue advantage of the seller's helplessness, one should help him. Bai' alal-Bai' (sale over and above the sale of another). When one person has sold goods to another, a third Person should not upset the bargain trying to sell his own goods to the latter, offering them at lower rates or pointing out the defect in the goods already sold to him by the former.

"A Muslim should not purchase in opposition to his brother, nor should he send a marriage proposal over and above the proposal of another." Bai' al-Hast (i.e. sale by means of pebbles). The purchaser will tell the seller that when he will throw a pebble on his goods, the sale contract will be confirmed or the seller tell the purchaser that on whatever thing a pebble thrown by him falls will be sold to him.

Sale contract is a serious matter and it should not be accomplished by such hit-and-miss methods like throwing the pebbles on the goods.

A sale completed in this way may lead to injustice and hardship to one side and is consequently prohibited.

Sale of unripe fruit and unripe corn. The Holy Prophet (may peace be upon him), according to Hadrat Anas (Allah be pleased with him), has prohibited the sale of grapes before they become dark and that of the corn before it ripens. Similarly, he has forbidden the sale of raw dates. The fruit of the date palms should not be sold until it becomes red or yellow.

Here is a brief account of the sale transactions prohibited by Islam. If one ponders over these forms of transaction described above and described in greater detail in "Kitab al-Buyu," one can arrive at the following conclusions: Islam insists upon absolute justice and fairplay in business dealings. According to Islam, a person who sacrifices his faith, and loses the good pleasure of his Lord to make a monetary gain has not made a good bargain. A Muslim will not go in for such a bad bargain.

A Muslim merchant is not a worshipper of the Mammon with an inordinate love for money. He prizes faith, piety and righteousness above all.

Islam does not believe in the view that all is fair in business and that every kind of cleverness and deceit is justifiable in business transactions. Islam regards business or commerce as an economic activity to be carried on in a spirit of humanity. tarianism and justice.

It does not approve of the cut-throat competition. Indeed, the very concept is un-Islamic.

Islam expects the buyer and the seller to look upon each other as Muslim brethren or fellow human beings, each trying to go all his way to help and serve the other. It the seller happens to overcharge the buyer, he, instead of feeling proud of his cleverness in doing so, should somehow compensate him for the excessive payment received.

All bargains that are clenched without giving the purchaser a fair chance of examining the things are prohibited because this amounts to denying him a right that was his due.

Forcible transactions or transactions in which the buyer takes undue. advantage of the helplessness or misery of the seller are also discouraged. Islam has prohibited traffic in wine, swine, dead bodies of animals and other goods the use of which has been declared to be Haram (unlawful). It has also forbidden trading in things that have a debasing or vitiating influence on the Muslim society.

Chapter 1 : PROHIBITION OF BAI' MULAMASA AND BAI' MUNABAZA Book 10, Number 3608: Abu Huraira (Allah be pleased with him) reported that Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) forbade (two types of transactions) Mulamasa and Munabadha Book 10, Number 3609: Abu Huraira (Allah be pletsed with him) reported like this from Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him). Book 10, Number 3610: Abu Huraira reported from Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) a hadith like this through another chain cf transmitters. Book 10, Number 3611: A hadith like this has been narrated on the authority of Abu Huraira (Allah be pleased with him) through another chain of transmitters. Book 10, Number 3612: Abu Huraira (Allah be pleased with him) reported : Two types of trarisactions have been forbidden (by the Holy Prophet), al-Mlulamasa and al-Munabadha. As far as Mulamasa transaction is concerned, it is that every one of them (the parties entering into transaction) should touch the garment of the other without careful consideration, and al-Munabadha is that every one of them should throw his cloth to the other and one of them should not see the cloth of his friend.

Book 10, Number 3613: Abu Sa'id al-Khudri (Allah be pleased with him) reported: Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) forbade us (from),two types of business transactions and two ways of dressing. He forbade Mulamasa and Munabadha in transactions.Mulamasa means the touching of another's garment with his hand, whether at night or by day, without turning it over except this much. Munabadha means that a man throws his garment to another and the other throws his garment, and thus confirming their contract without the inspection of mutual agreement. This hadith has been narrated on the authority of Ibn Shihab through the same chain of transmitters.

Chapter 2 : INVALIDITY OF A TRANSACTION BY THROWING A STONE

Book 10, Number 3614:

Abu Huraira (Allah be pleased with him) reported that Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) forbade a transaction determined by throwing stones, and the type which involves some uncertainty.

Chapter 3 : PROHIBITION OF HABAL AL-HABALA TRANSACTION

Book 10, Number 3615: 'Abdullah (b.'Umar) (Allah be pleased with him) said that Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) forbade the transaction called habal al-habala.

Book 10, Number 3616:

Ibn 'Umar (Allah be pleased with them) reported that the people of pre-Islamic days used to sell the meat of the slaughtered camel up to habal al-habala. And habal al-habala implies that a she-camel should give birth and then the (born one should grow young) and become pregnant. Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) forbade them that (this transaction).

Chapter 4 :

IT IS FORBIDDEN THAT ONE SHOULD ENTER INTO A TRANSACTION ON WHICH ONE'S BROTHER HAS ALREADY BEEN NEGOTIATING, OR ONE SHOULD PURCHASE (IN OPPOSITION) TO ONE'S BROTHER, OR ONE SHOULD CHEAT AND RETAIN MILK IN THE UDDER (IN ORDER TO DECEIVE THE PURCHASER)

Book 10, Number 3617:

Ibn 'Umar (Allah be pleased with them) reported Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) as having said this: One amongst you should not enter into a transaction when another is bargaining.

Book 10, Number 3618:

Ibn 'Umar (Allah be pleased with them) reported Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying: A person should not enter into a transaction when his brother is already making a transaction and he should not make a proposal of marriage when his brother has already made a proposal except when lie gives permission.

Book 10, Number 3619:

Abu Huraira reported Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying: A Muslim should not purchase (in opposition) to his brother. This hadith has been narrated on the authority of Abu Huraira through another chain of transmitters but with a slight change of words.

Book 10, Number 3620:

Abu Huraira reported Allah's Messenger (may peace'be upon him) as saying: Do not go out to meet riders to enter into transaction with them; none of you must buy in opposition to another, nor must you bid against one another; a townsman must not sell for a man from the desert, and do not tie up udders of carnels and sheep, and he who buys them after that has been done has two courses open to him: after he has milked them he may keep them if he is pleased with them, or he may return them along with a sit of dates if he is displeased with them.

Book 10, Number 3621:

Abu Huraira (Allah be pleased with him) reported that Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) forbade the (people) meeting the caravan (for entering into business transaction with them), and the selling of goods by a townsman on behalf of a man of the desert, and seeking by a woman the divorce of her sister (from her husband), and outbidding (against one another), and tying up the udders (of animals), and buying of (things) in opposition to one's brother. This hadith has been narrated through another chain of transmitters.

Book 10, Number 3622:

Ibn Umar (Allah be pleased with them) reported that Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) forbade the outbidding (against another).

Chapter 5 :

IT IS FORBIDDEN TO MEET THE TRADERS IN THE WAY FOR GETTING UNDUE ADVANTAGE

Book 10, Number 3623:

Ibn 'Umar (Allah be pleased with them) reported Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying: Do not go out to meet merchandise in the way, (wait)until it is brought into the market. This hadith has been reported on the authority of Ibn Numair but with a slight change of words.

Book 10, Number 3624:

This hadith has been reported on the authority of 'Ubaidullah.

Book 10, Number 3625:

Abdullah (Allah be pleased with him) reported Allah's Apostle (may peace be upon him) as saying: Do not meet the traders (in the way).

Book 10, Number 3626:

Abu Huraira (Allah be pleased with him) reported Allah's Messenger (may peace he upon him) as saying: Do not meet the merchandise (in the way).

Book 10, Number 3627:

Abu Huraira (Allah be pleased with him) reported Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying: Do not meet the merchant in the way and enter into business transaction with him, and whoever meets him and buys from him (and in case it is done, see) that when the owner of (merchandise) comes into the market (and finds that he has been paid less price) he has the option (to declare the transaction null and void).

Chapter 6 :

IT IS FORBIDDEN FOR THE TOWNSMAN TO SELL ON BEHALF OF THE MAN OF THE DESERT

Book 10, Number 3628:

Abu Huraira (Allah be pleased with him) reported it directly from Allah's Apostle (may peace be upon him): The townsman'should not sell for a man from the desert (with a view to taking advantage of his ignorance of the market conditions of the city). And Zuhair reported from the Holy Prophet (may peace be upon him) that he forbade the townsman to sell on behalf of the man from the desert.

Book 10, Number 3629:

Ibn 'Abbas (Allah be pleased with them) reported Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying: The riders (carrying merchandise) should not be met in the way, and townsman should not sell for a man of the desert. The narrator reported. I said to Ibn 'Abbas: What do these words really imply-"The townsman for the man of the desert"? He said: That he should work as a broker on his behalf.

Book 10, Number 3630:

Jabir (Allah be pleased with him) reported Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying: The townsman should not sell for a man from the desert, leave the people alone, Allah will give them provision from one another. Yahya reported it with a slight change of words.

Book 10, Number 3631:

Jabir (Allah be pleased with him) reported a similar hadith from Allah's Apostle (may peace be upon him) through another chain of transmitters.

Book 10, Number 3632:

Anas b. Malik (Allah be pleased with him) reported: We were forbidden that a townsman should sell for a man of the desert, even if he is his brother or father.

Book 10, Number 3633:

Anas b. Malik (Allah be pleased with him) said: We were forbidden that a townsman should sell for a man of the desert.

Chapter 7 :

COMMAND PERTAINING TO THE SELLING OF ANIMAL WHOSE UDDER IS TIED UP

Book 10, Number 3634:

Abu Huraira (Allah be pleased with him) reported Allah's Messenger (may peace be'upon him) as saying: He who bought a goat having its udder tied up should go back with it, milk it, and, if he is satisfied with its milk, he should retair it, otherwise he should return it along with a sa' of dates.

Book 10, Number 3635:

Abu Huraira (Allah be pleased with him) reported Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying: He who buys a goat with its udder tied up has the option to retain the goat if he so desires or return it within three days, and in case he returns it he should do so along with a sa' of dates.

Book 10, Number 3636:

Abu Huraira (Allah be pleased with him) reported Allah's Apostle (may peace be upon him) as saying: lie who buys a goat having its udder tied up has the option to return it within three days. If he returns it he should pay a sa' of dates. Wheat is not essential.

Book 10, Number 3637:

Abu Huraira (Allah be pleased with him) reported Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying: He who buys a goat having its udder tied up has two courses left for him. He may retain it, and if he desires may return it along with a sa' of dates and not wheat.

Book 10, Number 3638:

Ayyub narrated with the same chain of transmitters but with this change of words: "He who buys a goat has the option. . . ."

Book 10, Number 3639:

Hammam b. Munabbih said: Out of the ahadith which Abu Huraira (Allah be pleased with him) reported to us from Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) one is this that Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) said: If one among you buys a she-camel having its udder tied up he has the two options for him after milking it either (to retain it) or return it with a sa' of dates.

Chapter 8:

IT IS INVALID TO SELL THE COMMODITY BEFORE TAKING POSSESSION OF IT

Book 10, Number 3640:

Ibn Abbas (Allah be pleased with them) reported Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying: He who buys foodgrain should not sell it until he has taken possession of it.

Book 10, Number 3641:

A hadith like this has been narrated through the same chain of transmitters.

Book 10, Number 3642:

Ibn Abbas (Allah be pleased with them) reported Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying: He who buys food-rain should not sell it until he has taken possession of it. Ibn Abbas (Allah be pleased with them) said: I regard everything like food (so far as this principle is concerned).

Book 10, Number 3643:

Ibn Abbas (Allah be pleased with them) reported Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying: He who buys foodgrain should not sell it, until he has weighed it (and then taken possession of it). I (Tawus) said to Ibn Abbas (Allah be pleased with them): Why is it so? Thereupon he said: Don't you see that they (the people) sell foodgrains against gold for the stipulated time. Abu Kuraib did not make any mention of the stipulated time.

Book 10, Number 3644:

Ibn 'Umar (Allah be pleased with them) reported Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying: He who buys foodgrain should not sell it until he has taken full possession of it.

Book 10, Number 3645:

Ibn Umar (Allah be pleased with them) reported: We used to buy foodgrains during the lifetime of Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him). He (the Holy Prophet) would then send to us one who commanded us to take them (the foodgrains) to a place other than the one where we had bought them before we sold it.

Book 10, Number 3646:

Ibn Umar (Allah be pleased with them) reported Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying: He who buys foodgrain should not sell that before taking possession of it. He (the narrator) said: We used to buy foodgrain from the caravans in bulk, but Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) forbade us to re-sell that until we had shifted it to some other place.

Book 10, Number 3647:

Ibn 'Umar (Allah be pleased with them) reported Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying: He who bought foodgrain should not sell it until he had taken full possession of it (after measuring it).

Book 10, Number 3648:

Ibn 'Umar (Allah be pleased with them) reported Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying,: He who bought foodgrain should not sell it until he had taken possession of it.

Book 10, Number 3649:

Ibn 'Umar (Allah be pleased with them) reported that they were beaten during the lifetime of Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) if they had bought foodgrains in bulk and then sold them in the spot without shifting them (to some other place).

Book 10, Number 3650:

Salim b.'Abdullah (Allah be pleased with them) reported his father havingsaid this: I saw people being beaten during the lifetime of Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) in case they bought the foodgrain in bulk, and then sold them at that spot before taking it to their places. This hadith is narrated on the authority of 'Ubaidullah b. Abdullah b. 'Umar through another chain of transmitters (and the words are): "His father (Ibn 'Umar) used to buy foodgrains in bulk and then carried them to his people."

Book 10, Number 3651:

Abu Huraira (Allah be pleased with him) reported Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying: He who bought foodgrain should not sell it until he had measured it. In the narration of Abu Bakr there the word is Ibta' instead of Ishtara.

Book 10, Number 3652:

Abu Huraira (Allah be please with him) is reported to have said to Marwan: Have you made lawful the transactions involving interest? Thereupon Marwan said: I have not done that. Thereupon Abu Huraira (may peace be upon him) said: You have made lawful the transactions with the help of documents only, whereas Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) forbade the transaction of foodgrains until full possession is taken of them. Marwan then addressed the people and forbade them to enter into such transactions (as are done with the help of documents). Sulaiman said: I saw the sentinels snatching (these documents) from the people.

Book 10, Number 3653:

Jabir b. Abdullah (Allah be pleased with them) reported Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying: When you purchase foodgrains, do not sell them until you have taken possession of them.

Chapter 9:

IT IS FORBIDDEN TO SELL THE REAP OF DATES THE WEIGHT OF WHICH IS UNKNOWN

Book 10, Number 3654:

Jabir b. Abdullah (Allah be pleased with them) is reported to have said that Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) forbade the sale of a heap of dates the weight of which is unknown in accordance with the known weight of dates.

Book 10, Number 3655:

This hadith is narrated on the authority of Jabir b. Abdullah (Allah be pleased with them) but with this variation that no mention is made of the dates(which one finds) at the end of the previous hadith.

Chapter 10:

BOTH THE BUYERS AND THE SELLERS HAVE THE OPTION TO WITHDRAW THE TRANSACTION BEFORE LEAVING THE MEETING (WHERE THE BARGAIN IS STRUCK)

Book 10, Number 3656:

Ibn 'Umar (Allah be pleased with them) reported Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying : Both parties in a business transaction have the right to annul it so long as they have not separated; except in transactions which have been made subject to the right of parties to annul them.

Book 10, Number 3657:

This hadith has been narrated on the authority of Ibn 'Umar (Allah be pleased with them) through another chain of transmitters.

Book 10, Number 3658:

Ibn 'Umar (Allah be pleased with thcm) reported Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying : When two persons enter into a transaction, each of them has the right to annul it so long as they are not separated and are together (at the place of transaction); or if one gives the other the right (to annul the transaction) But if one gives the other the option, the transaction is made on this condition (i.e. one has the right to annul the transaction), it becomes binding. And if they are separated after they have made the bargain and none of them annulled it, even then the transaction is binding.

Book 10, Number 3659:

Abdullah b. 'Umar (Allah be pleased with them) reported Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying: When two persons enter into a transac.tion, each one of them has the right to annul it so long as they are not separated, or their transaction gives one another (as a condition) the right of annulling, and if their transaction,has the right of annulling it the transaction becomes binding. Ibn Abi Umar made this addition that whenever he (Ibn Umar) entered into a transaction with a person with the intention of not breaking it, he walked a while and then returned to him.

Book 10, Number 3660:

Ibn Umar reported Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying: There is no transaction between two persons entering a transaction until they separate, but only when there is an option to annul it.

Chapter 11: TRUTHFULNESS IN TRANSACITION AND DESCRIPTION (OF THE DEFECT IN THE COMMODITY)

Book 10, Number 3661:

Hakim b. Hazim (Allah be pleased with him) reported Allah's Messenger(may peace be upon him) as saying : Both parties in a business transaction have the right to annul it so long as they have not separated; and if they speak the truth and make everything clear they will be blessed in their transaction; but if they tell a lie and conceal anything the blessing on their transaction will be blotted out.

Book 10, Number 3662:

A hadith like this has been transmitted on the authority of Hakim b. Hizam (Imam Muslim) said : Hakim b. Hizam was born inside the Ka'ba and lived for one hundred and twenty years.

Chapter 12: HE WHO DECEIVES IN BUSINESS TRANSACTION

Book 10, Number 3663:

Abdullah b. Dinar narrated that he heard Ibn 'Umar (Allah be pleased with them) saying : A man mentioned to the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) that he was deceived in a business transaction, whereupon Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) said : When you enter into a transaction, say : There should be no attempt to deceive.

Book 10, Number 3664:

This hadith has been narrated on the authority of 'Abdullah b. Dinar with the same chain of transmitters but these words are not found in it . "When he buys he should say: There should be no attempt to deceive."

Chapter 13: PROHIBITION OF THE SALE OF FRUITS UNTIL THEY ARE CLEARLY IN GOOD CONDITION

Book 10, Number 3665:

Ibn 'Umar (Allah be pleased with them) reported that Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) forbade the sale of fruits until they were clearly in good condition, he forbade it both to the seller and to the buyer.

Book 10, Number 3666:

Ibn 'Umar (Allah be pleased with them) reported that Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) forbade the sale of palm-trees (i.e. their trults) until the dates began to ripen, and ears of corn until they were white and were safe from blight. He forbade the seller and the buyer.

Book 10, Number 3667:

Ibn Umar (Allah be pleased with them) reported Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying: Do not buy fruit until its good condition becomes clear, and (the danger) of blight is no more. He said: Its good condition becoming clear implies that it becomes red or yellow.

Book 10, Number 3668:

This hadith is reported or the authority of Yahya with the same chain of transmitters up to "until its good condition becomes clear," but lie did not mention what follows (these words).

Book 10, Number 3669:

This hadith has been narrated on the authority of Ibn 'Umar through another chain of transmitters.

Book 10, Number 3670:

Nafi, reported on the authority of Ibn Umar (Allah be pleased with them) a hadith like that narrated before.

Book 10, Number 3671: Ibn Umar (Allah be pleased with them) reported Allah's Messenger'(may peace be upon him) as saying: Do not buy fruits (on the trees) until their good condition becomes clear. In the hadith transmitted on the authority of Shu'ba it was stated that Ibn Umar (Allah be pleased with them) was asked what good condition implied. He said: When (the danger of) blight is no more. Book 10, Number 3672: Jabir (Allah be pleased with him) reported that Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) forbade (or forbade us) the sale of fruits until they are ripe in a good condition.
Book 10, Number 3673:
Jabir b. Abdullah (Allah be pleased with them) reported Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) forbidding the sale of fruit until its good condition is obvious.

Book 10, Number 3674:
Abu Bakhtari reported: I asked Ibn 'Abbas (Allah be pleased with them) about the sale of dates. He said: Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) forbade the sale of dates of the trees until one eats them or they are eaten (i.e. they are fit to be eaten) or until they are weighed (or measured). I said: What does it imply: "Until it is weighed"? Thereupon a person who was with him (Ibn Abbas) said: Until he is able to keep it with him (after plucking them).

Book 10, Number 3675:
Abu Huraira (Allah be pleased with him) reported Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying: Do not sell the fruits until their good condition becomes evident."
Chapter 14 : IT IS FORBIDDEN TO SELL FRESH DATES AGAINST DRY DATES, EXCEPT IN CASE OF AL-ARAYA

Book 10, Number 3676:
Ibn Umar (Allah be pleased with them) reported Allah's Apostle (may peace be upon him) forbidding the sale of fruits until their good condition becomes evident and the purchase of dates for dates. Zaid b. Thabit (Allah be pleased with him) said that Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) gave a concession in case of the sale known as al-araya, there is an addition of the word an tuba'a in the hadith transmitted by Ibn Numair.

Book 10, Number 3677:
Abu Huraira (Allah be pleased with him) reported Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying: Do not buy the fruit until their condition is clear, and do not buy the fresh dates. A hadith like this has been reported by Ibn 'Umar through another chain of transmitters.

Book 10, Number 3678:
Sa'id b. al-Musayyib said that Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) forbade the transaction of Af Muzabana and Muhaqala. Muzabana means that fresh dates on the trees should be sold against dry dates. Muhaqala implies that the wheat in the ear should be sold against the wheat and getting the land on rent for the wheat (produced in it). He (the narrator) said that the Holy Prophet (may peace be upon him) had aid: Do not sell fresh fruits on the trees until their good condition becomes manifest, and do not sell fresh dates on the trees against dry dates. Salim said: Abdullah informed me on the authority of Zaid b. Thabit, Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) having given concession afterwards in case of ariyya transactions by which dry dates can be exchanged with fresh dates, but he did not permit it in other cases.

Book 10, Number 3679:
Zaid b. Thabit (Allah be pleased with him) reported Allah's Messenger (may peace he upon him) having given concession in case of 'ariyya for selling dry dates (with) fresh dates after measuring them out.

Book 10, Number 3680:
Zaid b. Thabit reported that Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) give concession in case of 'ariyya transactions according to which the members of the household give dry dates according to a measure and then eat fresh dates (in exchange for it)

Book 10, Number 3681:
A hadith like this has been narrated on the authority of Nafi' with the same chain of transmitters.

Book 10, Number 3682:
Yahya b. Sa'id reported this hadith with the same chain of transmitters but with this change: 'Ariyya implies that date-palm trees should be donated to the people and then they sell it with a measure of dry dates.

Book 10, Number 3683:
Zaid b Thabit (Allah be pleased with him) reported that Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) gave concession in case of al-'ariyya transactions (for exchanging dates) for dates with measure. Yahya said: 'Ariyya implies that a person should buy fresh dates on the tree for his family to eat against a measure of dry dates.

Book 10, Number 3684:
Zaid b. Thabit (Allah be pleased with him) reported Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) granting concession in case of 'ariyya transactions and that implies selling of (dry dates for fresh dates) according to a measure.

Book 10, Number 3685:
Ubaidullah reported this hadith with a slight change of words on the same authority (as quoted above).

Book 10, Number 3686:
Nafi, reported this hadith with the same chain of transmitters stating that Allah's Messengtr (may peace be upon him) granted concession in case of 'ariyya transactions (for exchange of the same commodity) with measure.

Book 10, Number 3687:
Bashair b. Yasir reported on the authority of some of the Companions of Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) among the members of his family among whom one was Sahl b. Abu Hathma that Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) forbade buying of fresh dates against dry dates and that it is Riba and this is Muzabana, but he made an exemption of 'ariyya (donations) of a tree or two in which case the members of a family sell dry dates and buy fresh dates for eating them.

Book 10, Number 3688:
Bushair b. Yasar reported on the authority of some of the Companion of Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) that he exempted the transactions, of 'ariyya (from the direct exchange of one kind) after measuring the dry dates (in exchange for fresh dates).

Book 10, Number 3689:
Bushair b. Yasir reported on the authority of some of the Companions of Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon hinn) from among the members of his family that he forbade (the direct exchange of a commodity having different qualities) but with the change that Ishaq and Ibn al-Muthanna used the word Zabn in place ot Riba and Ibn Abu 'Umar used the word Riba (interest).

Book 10, Number 3690:
A hadith like this has been narrated on the authority of Sahl b. Abu Hathma.

Book 10, Number 3691:
Sahl b. Abu Hathma reported Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) having forbidden Muzabana, i.e. exchange of fresh dates with dry dates. except in case of those to whom donations of some trees have been made. It is for them that concession has been given.

Book 10, Number 3692:
Abu Huraira (Allah be pleased with him) reported Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) having given exemption of 'ariyya transactions measuring less than five wasqs or up to five wasqs (the narrator Dawud is in doubt whether it was five or less than five).

Book 10, Number 3693:
Ibn Umar (Allah be pleased them) reported Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) having forbidden Muzabana, and Muzabana implies the selling of fresh dates for dry dates by measuring them out and the selling of raisins by measure for grapes.

Book 10, Number 3694:
'Abdullah (b. Umar) reported that Allah's Apostle (may peace be upon him) forbade Muzabana, i.e. buying of fresh dates (on) the trees for dry dates by measure, and the buying of grapes for raisins by measure and the selling of field of corn for corn by measure.

Book 10, Number 3695:
A hadith like this has been narrated on the authority of 'Ubaidullah with the same chain of transmitters.

Book 10, Number 3696:
Ibn 'Umar (Allah be pleased with them) reported Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) having forbidden Muzabana, and Muzabana is the selling of dry dates by measure for fresh dates and the selling of raisins by measure for grapes and selling of all Ports of fruits on the basis of calculation.

Book 10, Number 3697:
Ibn 'Umar (Allah be pleased with them) reported Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) having forbidden Muzabana, and Muzabana implies the selling of dry dates for fresh dates on the tree with a definite measure (making it clear) that in case it increases, it belongs to me and if it is less, it is my responsibility.

Book 10, Number 3698:
A hadith like this has been transmitted on the authority of Ayyub.

Book 10, Number 3699:
Abdullah (b. Umar) (Allah be pleased with them) reported Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) having forbidden Mazabana, and it implies that one should sell the fresh fruits of his orchard (for dry fruits) or, if it is fresh dates, for dry dates with a measure, or if it is grapes for raisins or if it is corn in the field for dry corn with a measure He (the Holy Prophet) in fact forbade all such transactions.Qutaiba has narrated it with a slight variation of words.This hadith has been narrated on the authority of Nafi with another chain of transmitters.
Chapter 15 : PERTAINING TO ONE WHO SELLS DATE-PALM TREE WITH DATES HANGING ON ITS BRANCHES

Book 10, Number 3700:
Ibn Umar (Allah be pleased with them) reported Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying: If anyone buys palm-trees after they have been fecundated the fruit belongs to the seller unless the buyer makes a proviso.

Book 10, Number 3701:
Nafi reported on the authority of Ibn Umar (Allah be pleased with them) that the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) said: Whichever tree is bought with its roots, and if it is fecundatedits fruit would belong to one who has grafted it except when the provision is laid down by the buyer.

Book 10, Number 3702:
Ibn Umar (Allah be pleased with them) reported Allah's Apostle (may peace be upon him) as saying: Whosoever grafts the tree and then sells its roots, its fruit will belong to one who grafts it except when provision is laid down by the buyer.

Book 10, Number 3703:
This hadith has been narrated on the authority of Nafi, with the same chain of transmitters.

Book 10, Number 3704:
Abdullah b. Umar (Allah be pleased with them) reported Allah's Massenger (may peace be upon him) as saying: He who buys a tree after it has been fecundated, its fruit belongs to one who sells it except when the provision has been laid down by the buyer (that it will belong to him), and he who buys a slave, his property belongs to one who sells him except when a provision has been laid down by the buyer (that it will be transferred to him with the slave).

Book 10, Number 3705:
A hadith like this has been narrated on the authority of al Zuhri.

Book 10, Number 3706:
Ibn Umar reported on the authority of his father as Allah's Apostle (may peace be upon him) saying so.
Chapter 16 : FORBIDDANCE OF AL-MUHAQALA, AND AL MUZABANA, AND AL- MUKHABARA, AND THE SALE OF FRUITS BEFORE THEIR GOOD CONDITION IS CLEAR, AND AL-MU'AWAMA. I.E. THE SALE FOR SOME YEARS

Book 10, Number 3707:
Jabir b. Abdullah (Allah be pleased with them) reported that Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) had forbidden Muhaqala. and Muzabana, Mukhibara and the sale of fruits until their good condition becomes clear, and (he commanded) that (commodities) should not be sold but for the dinar and dirham except in case of araya.

Book 10, Number 3708:
Jabir b. 'Abdullah (Allah be pleased with them) reported that Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) forbade the types of sales as described before.

Book 10, Number 3709:
Jabir b. 'Abdullah (Allah be pleased with them) reported that Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) forbade Mukhabara and Muhaqala, and Muzabana, and the sale of the fruit until it is fit for eating, and its sale but with dirham and dinar. Exception is made in case of 'araya. Ata' said: Jabir explained (these terms) for us. As for Mukhabara it is this that a wasteland is given by a person to another and he makes an investment in it and then gets a share in the produce. According to him (Jabir), Muzabana is the sell of fresh dates on the tree for dry dates with a measure, and Muhaqala in agriculture implies that one should sell the standing crop for grains with a measure.

Book 10, Number 3710:
Jabir b. Abdullah (Allah be pleased with them) reported Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) forbidding Muhaqala, and Muzabana, and Mukhabara, and the buying of date-palm until its fruit is ripened (ripening means that its colour becomes red or yellow, or it is fit for being eaten). And Muhaqala implies that crops in the field are bought for grains according to a customary measure. Muzabana implies that date-palm should be sold for dry dates by measuring them with wisqs, and al-Mukhabara is (a share), maybe one-third or one-fourth (in produce) or something like it. Zaid (one of the narrators) said to Ata' b. Abu Rabah (the other narrator): Did You bear Jabir b. Abdullah (Allah be pleased with them) making a mention of it that he had heard it directly from Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him)? He said: Yes.

Book 10, Number 3711:
Jabir b. Abdullah (Allah be pleased with them) reported Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) forbidding Muzabana and Muhaqala, and Mukhabara, and the sale of fruits until they are ripe. I (the narrator) said to Sa'id (the other narrator): What does ripening imply? He said: It meant that they become red or become yellow and are fit for eating.

Book 10, Number 3712:
Jabir b. Abdullah (Allah be pleased with them) reported Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) forbidding Muhaqala and Muzabana and Mu'awama and Mukhabara. (One of the narrators)'said: Sale years ahead is Mu'awama, and making exceptional but he made an exemption of arraya.

Book 10, Number 3713:
A hadith like this has been narrated on the authority of Jabir (Allah be pleased with him) from Allah's Apostle (may peace be upon him). but he made no mention of transactions years (ahead) implying Mu'awama.

Chapter 17 : LEASING OUT LAND

Book 10, Number 3714:
Jabir b. Abdullah (Allah be pleased with them) reported that Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) forbade leasing of land, and selling ahead for years and selling of fruits before they become ripe.

Book 10, Number 3715:
Jabir b. Abdullah (Allah be pleased with them) reported Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) having forbidden the renting of land.

Book 10, Number 3716:
Jabir b. Abdullah (Allah be pleased with them) reported Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying: He who has land should cultivate it himself, but if he does not cultivate it himself, then he should let his brother cultivate it.

Book 10, Number 3717:
Jabir b. Abdullah (Allah be pleased with them) reported some of the Companions of Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) had surplus of land. Thereupon Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) said: He,who has surplus land (in his possession) should cultivate it, or he should lend it to his brother for benefit, but if he refuses to accept it, he should retnai it.

Book 10, Number 3718:
Jabir b. Abdullah (Allah be pleased with them) reported Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) having forbidden taking of rent or share of land.

Book 10, Number 3719:
Jabir (Allah be pleased with him) reported Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying: He who has land should cultivate it, but if he does not find it possible to cultivate it, or finds himself helpless to do so, he should lend it to his Muslim brother, but he should not accept rent from him.

Book 10, Number 3720:
Sulaiman b. Musa asked Ata': Did Jabir b. 'Abdullah (Allah be pleased with them) reported Allah's Apostle (may peace be upon him) as saying: "He who has land should cultivate it himself, or let his brother cultivate it, and should not give on rent"? He said: Yes.

Book 10, Number 3721:
Jabir (Allah be pleased with him) reported Allah's Apostle (may peace be upon him) having forbidden Mukhabara.

Book 10, Number 3722:
Jabir b. Abdullah (Allah be pleased with them) heard Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) say: He who has surplus of land should either cultivate it himself, or let his brother cultivate it, an should not sell it. I (the narrator) said to Sa'id: What does his statement "do not sell it" mean? Does it imply "rent"? He said: Yes.

Book 10, Number 3723:
Jabir b. 'Abdullah reported: We used to cultivate land on rent during the lifetime of Allah's Apostle (may peace be upon him) and we got a share out of the grain left in the ears after threshing them and something unspecified. Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) said: He who has land should cultivate it or let his brother till it, otherwise he should leave it.

Book 10, Number 3724:
Jabir b. Abdullah (Allah be pleased with them) reported: We used to get land (on rent) during the lifetime of Allah's Messeuge, (may peace be upon him) with a share of one-third or one-fourth (of the produce from the land irrigated) with the help of canals. Thereupon Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) stood up (to address) and said: HRe who has land should cultivate it, and if he does not cultivate it, he should lend it to his brother, and if he does not lend it to his brother, he should then retain it.

Book 10, Number 3725:
Jabir (Allah he pleased with him) reported: I heard Allah's Apostle (may peace be upon him) as saying: He who has (surplus) land should donate it (to others), or lend it. This hadith has been narrated on the authority of A'mash with the same chain of transmitters, but with a slight change of words.

Book 10, Number 3727:
Jabir (Allah be pleased with him) reported Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) forbidding the selling (renting of) uncultivated land for two years or three.