The Messenger of Allah (saws) forbade muhaqalah and muzabanah. Those who cultivate land are three: a man who has (his own) land and he tills it: a man who has been lent land and he tills the one lent to him; a man who employs another man to till land against gold (dinars) or silver (dirhams).

Rafi' bin Khadij and Sahl bin Abi Hathmah narrated to him that the Messenger of Allah (saws) prohibited Al-Muzabanah sales, (buying) fruits with dried dates, except for those who practice Al-'Araya - for he permitted it for them - and from buying grapes with raisins, and from every fruit by its estimation.

[Abu 'Eisa said:] This Hadith is Hasan Sahih Gharib from this route.

Yahya related to me from Malik from Rabia ibn Abd ar-Rahman from Handhala ibn Qays az-Zuraqi from Rafi ibn Khadij that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, forbade renting out fields.

Handhala said, "I asked Rafi ibn Khadij, about paying in gold and silver, and he said, 'There is no harm in it.' "

Allah's Apostle forbade the sale of Muzabana, i.e. selling of fruits for fruits, except in the case of 'Araya; he allowed the owners of 'Araya such kind of sale.

Salim bin `Abdullah told me that Rafi` bin Khadij told `Abdullah bin `Umar that his two paternal uncles who had fought in the battle of Badr informed him that Allah's Apostle forbade the renting of fields. I said to Salim, "Do you rent your land?" He said, "Yes, for Rafi` is mistaken."

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.

Ibn `Umar used to rent his farms in the time of Abu Bakr, `Umar, `Uthman, and in the early days of Muawiya. Then he was told the narration of Rafi` 'bin Khadij that the Prophet had forbidden the renting of farms. Ibn `Umar went to Rafi` and I accompanied him. He asked Rafi` who replied that the Prophet had forbidden the renting of farms. Ibn `Umar said, "You know that we used to rent our farms in the lifetime of Allah's Apostle for the yield of the banks of the water streams (rivers) and for certain amount of figs.

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 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 forbade it." I said to Rafi`, "What about renting the land for Dinars and Dirhams?" He replied, "There is no harm in renting for Dinars- Dirhams. Al-Laith said, "If those who have discernment for distinguishing what is legal from what is illegal looked into what has been forbidden concerning this matter they would not permit it, for it is surrounded with dangers."