The Book of Commerce

فِي الرَّجُلِ يَكُونُ لَهُ الْأَرْضُ عَلَيْهَا خَرَاجٌ مَعْلُومٌ وَ رُبَّمَا زَادَ وَ رُبَّمَا نَقَصَ فَيَدْفَعُهَا إِلَى رَجُلٍ عَلَى أَنْ يَكْفِيَهُ خَرَاجَهَا وَ يُعْطِيَهُ مِائَتَيْ دِرْهَمٍ فِي السَّنَةِ قَالَ لَا بَأْسَ.

“About the case of a man who has a piece of land for which he pays a certain amount of tax that may increase or decrease; and he gives it to another man to pay its taxes and two hundred dirham every year. He (the Imam) said, ‘It is not unlawful.’”

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ ع- عَنْ إِجَارَةِ الْأَرْضِ بِالطَّعَامِ فَقَالَ إِنْ كَانَ مِنْ طَعَامِهَا فَلَا خَيْرَ فِيهِ.

“I once asked abu Ja‘far (a.s.), about renting land in exchange for foodstuff. He (the Imam) said, ‘If it is of the produce of the same land, there is nothing good in it.’”

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع- عَنْ رَجُلٍ اسْتَأْجَرَ مِنْ رَجُلٍ أَرْضاً فَقَالَ أُجْرَتُهَا[1] كَذَا وَ كَذَا عَلَى أَنْ أَزْرَعَهَا فَإِنْ لَمْ أَزْرَعْهَا أَعْطَيْتُكَ ذَلِكَ فَلَمْ يَزْرَعْهَا قَالَ لَهُ أَنْ يَأْخُذَ إِنْ شَاءَ تَرَكَهُ وَ إِنْ شَاءَ لَمْ يَتْرُكْهُ.

“This is concerning my question before abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of a man who rented a piece of land from another man saying, ‘I rent this piece of land to cultivate, and if I will not cultivate I will still pay you the rent’; and he does not cultivate it. He (the Imam) said, ‘He has the right to collect th

سَأَلْتُ الرِّضَا ع- عَنْ رَجُلٍ يَشْتَرِي مِنْ رَجُلٍ أَرْضاً جُرْبَاناً مَعْلُومَةً بِمِائَةِ كُرٍّ عَلَى أَنْ يُعْطِيَهُ مِنَ الْأَرْضِ فَقَالَ حَرَامٌ قَالَ قُلْتُ لَهُ فَمَا تَقُولُ جَعَلَنِيَ اللَّهُ فِدَاكَ إِنِ‌ اشْتَرَى مِنْهُ الْأَرْضَ بِكَيْلٍ مَعْلُومٍ وَ حِنْطَةٍ مِنْ غَيْرِهَا قَالَ لَا بَأْسَ.

“I once asked al-Rida’ (a.s.), about the case of a man who bought a certain piece of land from another man in exchange for one hundred Kur (a certain unit of measurement) to be paid from the land. He (the Imam) said, ‘It is unlawful.’ I then asked, ‘I pray to Allah to keep my soul in service for your cause, what do you

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا الْحَسَنِ مُوسَى ع عَنِ الرَّجُلِ يَزْرَعُ لَهُ الْحَرَّاثُ الزَّعْفَرَانَ وَ يَضْمَنُ لَهُ أَنْ يُعْطِيَهُ فِي كُلِّ جَرِيبِ أَرْضٍ يُمْسَحُ عَلَيْهِ وَزْنَ كَذَا وَ كَذَا دِرْهَماً فَرُبَّمَا نَقَصَ وَ غَرِمَ وَ رُبَّمَا اسْتَفْضَلَ وَ زَادَ قَالَ لَا بَأْسَ بِهِ إِذَا تَرَاضَيَا[1].

“I once asked abu al-Hassan (a.s.), about the case of a man for whom the farmers cultivate saffron and guarantee to give him a certain amount by the weight of dirham for every Jirib (a certain unit of measurement) that is cultivated and then it may produce less thus, he is in loss or may produce more, thus, he gains. H

سَأَلْتُهُ عَنْ رَجُلٍ يُزْرَعُ لَهُ الزَّعْفَرَانُ فَيَضْمَنُ لَهُ الْحَرَّاثُ عَلَى أَنْ يَدْفَعَ إِلَيْهِ مِنْ كُلِّ أَرْبَعِينَ مَنَا زَعْفَرَانٍ رَطْبٍ مَنًا وَ يُصَالِحُهُ عَلَى الْيَابِسِ وَ الْيَابِسُ إِذَا جُفِّفَ يَنْقُصُ ثَلَاثَةُ أَرْبَاعِهِ وَ يَبْقَى رُبُعُهُ وَ قَدْ جُرِّبَ قَالَ لَا يَصْلُحُ قُلْتُ وَ إِنْ كَانَ عَلَيْهِ أَمِينٌ يُحْفَظُ بِهِ لَمْ يَسْتَطِعْ حِفْظَهُ لِأَنَّهُ يُعَالِجُ بِاللَّيْلِ وَ

“This is concerning my question before abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of a man for whom saffron was cultivated and the farmers guaranteed to give him one Mann (a certain unit of weight) out of every forty Mann fresh saffron and made a settlement about the dried saffron. Dried saffron reduces by three-fourth from

أَنَّ أَبَاهُ ع حَدَّثَهُ‌ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ص أَعْطَى خَيْبَرَ بِالنِّصْفِ أَرْضَهَا وَ نَخْلَهَا فَلَمَّا أَدْرَكَتِ الثَّمَرَةُ بَعَثَ عَبْدَ اللَّهِ بْنَ رَوَاحَةَ فَقَوَّمَ عَلَيْهِمْ قِيمَةً فَقَالَ لَهُمْ إِمَّا أَنْ تَأْخُذُوهُ وَ تُعْطُونِي نِصْفَ الثَّمَنِ وَ إِمَّا أَنْ أُعْطِيَكُمْ نِصْفَ الثَّمَنِ وَ آخُذَهُ فَقَالُوا بِهَذَا[3] قَامَتِ السَّمَاوَاتُ وَ الْأَرْضُ.

“Abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), informed me that his father (a.s.), has narrated that the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, gave the land of Khaybar and its palm trees for half. When fruits ripened he (the Messenger of Allah) delegated ‘Abd Allah

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ‌ إِنَّ النَّبِيَّ ص لَمَّا افْتَتَحَ خَيْبَرَ تَرَكَهَا فِي أَيْدِيهِمْ عَلَى النِّصْفِ فَلَمَّا بَلَغَتِ الثَّمَرَةُ بَعَثَ عَبْدَ اللَّهِ بْنَ رَوَاحَةَ إِلَيْهِمْ فَخَرَصَ عَلَيْهِمْ فَجَاءُوا إِلَى النَّبِيِّ ص فَقَالُوا لَهُ إِنَّهُ قَدْ زَادَ عَلَيْنَا فَأَرْسَلَ إِلَى عَبْدِ اللَّهِ فَقَالَ مَا يَقُولُ هَؤُلَاءِ قَالَ قَدْ خَرَصْتُ عَلَيْهِمْ بِشَيْ‌ءٍ فَإِنْ شَاءُوا يَأ

‘When the Holy Prophet, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, liberated Khaybar he left it in their hand for half. When fruits ripened he (the Messenger of Allah) delegated ‘Abd Allah ibn Rawahah who estimated the value and they came to the Holy Prophet, and said

لَا تُقَبِّلِ الْأَرْضَ بِحِنْطَةٍ مُسَمَّاةٍ وَ لَكِنْ بِالنِّصْفِ وَ الثُّلُثِ وَ الرُّبُعِ وَ الْخُمُسِ لَا بَأْسَ بِهِ وَ قَالَ لَا بَأْسَ بِالْمُزَارَعَةِ بِالثُّلُثِ وَ الرُّبُعِ وَ الْخُمُسِ‌[1].

“Abu ‘Abd Allah, Alayhi al-Salam, has said, ‘Land cannot be accepted for specified wheat, however, it is accepted for one-half, one-third, one-fourth or one-fifth.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘Sharecropping for one-third, one for-fourth or one-fifth is not unlawful.’”

فِي الرَّجُلِ يُزَارِعُ فَيَزْرَعُ أَرْضَ غَيْرِهِ فَيَقُولُ ثُلُثٌ لِلْبَقَرِ وَ ثُلُثٌ لِلْبَذْرِ وَ ثُلُثٌ لِلْأَرْضِ قَالَ لَا يُسَمِّي شَيْئاً مِنَ الْحَبِّ وَ الْبَقَرِ وَ لَكِنْ يَقُولُ ازْرَعْ فِيهَا كَذَا وَ كَذَا إِنْ شِئْتَ نِصْفاً وَ إِنْ شِئْتَ ثُلُثاً.

“About the case of a man who works in sharecropping, cultivates the land of another man and says, ‘One third for the bulls, one-third for the seed and one-third for the land’, he (the Imam) Alayhi al- Salam, has said, ‘Things like bulls, seeds and so on must not be mentioned, instead he must say, “You must cultivate so

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع عَنِ الرَّجُلِ يَزْرَعُ أَرْضَ آخَرَ فَيَشْتَرِطُ عَلَيْهِ لِلْبَذْرِ ثُلُثاً وَ لِلْبَقَرِ ثُلُثاً قَالَ لَا يَنْبَغِي أَنْ يُسَمِّيَ بَذْراً وَ لَا بَقَراً فَإِنَّمَا يُحَرِّمُ الْكَلَامُ.

“This is concerning my question before abu ‘Abd Allah, Alayhi al-Salam, about the case of a man who cultivated the land of another man; if he could set the condition of one-third for the seed, one- third for the bull. He (the Imam) said, ‘It is not proper to mention seed or bull. It is statement that makes it unlawful.

سُئِلَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع- عَنِ الرَّجُلِ يَزْرَعُ الْأَرْضَ فَيَشْتَرِطُ لِلْبَذْرِ ثُلُثاً وَ لِلْبَقَرِ ثُلُثاً قَالَ لَا يَنْبَغِي أَنْ يُسَمِّيَ شَيْئاً فَإِنَّمَا يُحَرِّمُ الْكَلَامُ.

“Once abu ‘Abd Allah, Alayhi al-Salam, was asked about the case of a man who cultivated a land with the condition of one-third for the seed and one-third for the bull. He (the Imam) said, ‘It is not proper to designate anything, because it is statements that makes it unlawful.”’

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع أُشَارِكُ الْعِلْجَ‌[1] فَيَكُونُ مِنْ عِنْدِيَ الْأَرْضُ وَ الْبَذْرُ وَ الْبَقَرُ وَ يَكُونُ عَلَى الْعِلْجِ الْقِيَامُ وَ السَّقْيُ وَ الْعَمَلُ فِي الزَّرْعِ حَتَّى يَصِيرَ حِنْطَةً وَ شَعِيراً وَ يَكُونُ الْقِسْمَةُ فَيَأْخُذُ السُّلْطَانُ حَقَّهُ وَ يَبْقَى مَا بَقِيَ عَلَى أَنَّ لِلْعِلْجِ مِنْهُ الثُّلُثَ وَ لِيَ الْبَاقِيَ قَالَ لَا بَأْسَ بِذَلِكَ قُلْتُ فَلِي عَلَيْهِ أَنْ ي

1. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Sahl ibn Ziyad from al-Hassan ibn Mahbub from Ibrahim al-Karkhiy who has narrated the following: “I once said to abu ‘Abd Allah, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, ‘I become a partner of an al-‘ilj (a great non-Muslim person). I provide land, seed, and the bull. Al-‘i

سَأَلْتُهُ عَنِ الرَّجُلِ يَكُونُ لَهُ الْأَرْضُ مِنْ أَرْضِ الْخَرَاجِ فَيَدْفَعُهَا إِلَى الرَّجُلِ عَلَى أَنْ يَعْمُرَهَا وَ يُصْلِحَهَا وَ يُؤَدِّيَ خَرَاجَهَا وَ مَا كَانَ مِنْ فَضْلٍ فَهُوَ بَيْنَهُمَا قَالَ لَا بَأْسَ قَالَ وَ سَأَلْتُهُ عَنِ الرَّجُلِ يُعْطِي الرَّجُلَ أَرْضَهُ وَ فِيهَا رُمَّانٌ أَوْ نَخْلٌ أَوْ فَاكِهَةٌ فَيَقُولُ اسْقِ هَذَا مِنَ الْمَاءِ وَ اعْمُرْهُ وَ لَكَ نِصْفُ مَا أُخْرِجَ قَالَ لَا

“This is concerning my question before abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of a man who had a land of al-Kharaj (of government) which he had given to a man to develop, pay its taxes and the extra of its produce were to be shared by the two of them. He (the Imam) said, ‘It is not unlawful.’ I asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s

قَالَ: الْقَبَالَةُ أَنْ تَأْتِيَ الْأَرْضَ الْخَرِبَةَ فَتَقَبَّلَهَا مِنْ أَهْلِهَا عِشْرِينَ سَنَةً أَوْ أَقَلَّ مِنْ ذَلِكَ أَوْ أَكْثَرَ فَتَعْمُرَهَا وَ تُؤَدِّيَ مَا خَرَجَ عَلَيْهَا فَلَا بَأْسَ بِهِ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘In a land contract you can have it for twenty years or less from its people to develop it and pay its expenses; such contract is not unlawful.’”

سَأَلْتُهُ عَنْ مُزَارَعَةِ الْمُسْلِمِ الْمُشْرِكَ فَيَكُونُ مِنْ عِنْدِ الْمُسْلِمِ الْبَذْرُ وَ الْبَقَرُ وَ تَكُونُ الْأَرْضُ وَ الْمَاءُ وَ الْخَرَاجُ وَ الْعَمَلُ عَلَى الْعِلْجِ قَالَ لَا بَأْسَ بِهِ قَالَ وَ سَأَلْتُهُ عَنِ الْمُزَارَعَةِ قُلْتُ الرَّجُلُ يَبْذُرُ فِي الْأَرْضِ مِائَةَ جَرِيبٍ أَوْ أَقَلَّ أَوْ أَكْثَرَ طَعَاماً أَوْ غَيْرَهُ فَيَأْتِيهِ رَجُلٌ فَيَقُولُ خُذْ مِنِّي نِصْفَ ثَمَنِ هَذَا الْبَذ

“This is concerning my question before abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about sharecropping of a Muslim and a pagan in which the Muslim provides seed and bull, the land, water, taxes and work is by the al-‘ilj. He (the Imam) said, ‘It is not unlawful.’ I then asked about sharecropping saying that a man spreads seed on one hundre

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع- عَنْ رَجُلٍ كَانَتْ لَهُ قَرْيَةٌ عَظِيمَةٌ وَ لَهُ فِيهَا عُلُوجٌ ذِمِّيُّونَ يَأْخُذُ مِنْهُمُ السُّلْطَانُ الْجِزْيَةَ فَيُعْطِيهِمْ يُؤْخَذُ مِنْ أَحَدِهِمْ خَمْسُونَ وَ مِنْ بَعْضِهِمْ ثَلَاثُونَ وَ أَقَلُّ وَ أَكْثَرُ فَيُصَالِحُ عَنْهُمْ صَاحِبُ الْقَرْيَةِ السُّلْطَانَ ثُمَّ يَأْخُذُ هُوَ مِنْهُمْ أَكْثَرَ مِمَّا يُعْطِي السُّلْطَانَ قَالَ هَذَا حَرَامٌ.

“This is concerning my question before abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of a man who had a large town in which he had taxpayer infidels from whom al-Sultan collected taxes and they paid to him fifty or thirty or more or less, each one. The owner of the town reached a settlement for them with al-Sultan and he coll

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ مَا تَقُولُ فِي أَرْضٍ أَتَقَبَّلُهَا مِنَ السُّلْطَانِ ثُمَّ أُؤَاجِرُهَا أَكَرَتِي‌[1] عَلَى أَنَّ مَا أَخْرَجَ اللَّهُ مِنْهَا مِنْ شَيْ‌ءٍ كَانَ لِي مِنْ ذَلِكَ النِّصْفُ وَ الثُّلُثُ بَعْدَ حَقِّ السُّلْطَانِ قَالَ لَا بَأْسَ بِهِ كَذَلِكَ أُعَامِلُ أَكَرَتِي.

“This is concerning my question before abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), saying, ‘I pray to Allah to keep my soul in service for your cause, what do you say about a land that I rent from al-Sultan, then rent it to my tenants for, whatever Allah makes to grow, one-half or one-third after excluding the share of al-Sultan. He (the I

لَا بَأْسَ بِقَبَالَةِ الْأَرْضِ مِنْ أَهْلِهَا عِشْرِينَ سَنَةً وَ أَقَلَّ مِنْ ذَلِكَ وَ أَكْثَرَ فَيَعْمُرُهَا وَ يُؤَدِّي مَا خَرَجَ عَلَيْهَا وَ لَا يُدْخِلِ الْعُلُوجَ فِي شَيْ‌ءٍ مِنَ الْقَبَالَةِ لِأَنَّهُ لَا يَحِلُّ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘It is not unlawful to reach an agreement with the owners of the land for twenty years or less or more, then revive it and pay what he spends on it; but one must not include al-‘ilj (the infidels) in the agreement because it is not lawful.’”

سَأَلْتُهُ عَنِ الرَّجُلِ يَتَقَبَّلُ الْأَرْضَ بِطِيبَةِ نَفْسِ أَهْلِهَا عَلَى شَرْطٍ يُشَارِطُهُمْ عَلَيْهِ وَ إِنْ هُوَ رَمَّ فِيهَا مَرَمَّةً أَوْ جَدَّدَ فِيهَا بِنَاءً فَإِنَّ لَهُ أَجْرَ بُيُوتِهَا إِلَّا الَّذِي كَانَ فِي أَيْدِي دَهَاقِينِهَا أَوَّلًا قَالَ إِذَا كَانَ قَدْ دَخَلَ فِي قَبَالَةِ الْأَرْضِ عَلَى أَمْرٍ مَعْلُومٍ فَلَا يَعْرِضُ لِمَا فِي أَيْدِي دَهَاقِينِهَا إِلَّا أَنْ يَكُونَ قَدِ اشْتَرَطَ

“I once asked him (the Imam) (a.s.), about the case of a man who formed a contract for a land without compulsion on the owners, with the condition with them that if he did certain repairs or built a building, that he would have the rent of such homes except what was in the hands of the farmers from before. He (the Imam

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع- عَنْ قَرْيَةٍ لِأُنَاسٍ مِنْ أَهْلِ الذِّمَّةِ لَا أَدْرِي أَصْلُهَا لَهُمْ أَمْ لَا غَيْرَ أَنَّهَا فِي أَيْدِيهِمْ وَ عَلَيْهِمْ خَرَاجٌ فَاعْتَدَى عَلَيْهِمُ السُّلْطَانُ فَطَلَبُوا إِلَيَّ فَأَعْطَوْنِي أَرْضَهُمْ وَ قَرْيَتَهُمْ عَلَى أَنْ أَكْفِيَهُمُ السُّلْطَانَ بِمَا قَلَّ أَوْ كَثُرَ فَفَضَلَ لِي بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ فَضْلٌ بَعْدَ مَا قَبَضَ السُّلْطَانُ مَا قَبَضَ قَالَ لَا بَأْسَ

“This is concerning my question before abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about a town that belonged to non-Muslim taxpayers and I did not know if they were the original owners or not, except that it was in their hands and they paid Kharaj (taxes). Al-Sultan infringed on them and they asked me to take over their town and land to s

كَتَبْتُ إِلَى الرِّضَا ع أَسْأَلُهُ عَنْ رَجُلٍ تَقَبَّلَ مِنْ رَجُلٍ أَرْضاً أَوْ غَيْرَ ذَلِكَ سِنِينَ مُسَمَّاةً ثُمَّ إِنَّ الْمُقَبِّلَ أَرَادَ بَيْعَ أَرْضِهِ الَّتِي قَبَّلَهَا قَبْلَ انْقِضَاءِ السِّنِينَ الْمُسَمَّاةِ هَلْ لِلْمُتَقَبِّلِ أَنْ يَمْنَعَهُ مِنَ الْبَيْعِ قَبْلَ انْقِضَاءِ أَجَلِهِ الَّذِي تَقَبَّلَهَا مِنْهُ إِلَيْهِ وَ مَا يَلْزَمُ الْمُتَقَبِّلَ لَهُ قَالَ فَكَتَبَ لَهُ أَنْ يَبِيعَ إِذَا ا

’He can sell it if he sets a condition upon the buyer that requires him to allow the tenant to use his years according to the contract of tenancy.’”

كَتَبْتُ إِلَى أَبِي الْحَسَنِ ع وَ سَأَلْتُهُ عَنِ امْرَأَةٍ آجَرَتْ ضَيْعَتَهَا عَشْرَ سِنِينَ عَلَى أَنْ تُعْطَى الْأُجْرَةَ فِي كُلِّ سَنَةٍ عِنْدَ انْقِضَائِهَا لَا يُقَدَّمُ لَهَا شَيْ‌ءٌ مِنَ الْأُجْرَةِ مَا لَمْ يَمْضِ الْوَقْتُ فَمَاتَتْ قَبْلَ ثَلَاثِ سِنِينَ أَوْ بَعْدَهَا هَلْ يَجِبُ عَلَى وَرَثَتِهَا إِنْفَاذُ الْإِجَارَةِ إِلَى الْوَقْتِ أَمْ تَكُونُ‌ الْإِجَارَةُ مُنْتَقِضَةً بِمَوْتِ الْمَرْأَةِ فَكَت

“I once wrote to abu al-Hassan (a.s.), and asked about the case of a woman who had rented her asset for ten years, that the rent had to be paid at the end of every year and there would be no rent before the end of such time; but she died before three years or after it; if it was necessary for her heirs to continue with

كَتَبَ رَجُلٌ إِلَى أَبِي الْحَسَنِ الثَّالِثِ ع رَجُلٌ اسْتَأْجَرَ ضَيْعَةً مِنْ رَجُلٍ فَبَاعَ الْمُؤَاجِرُ تِلْكَ الضَّيْعَةَ الَّتِي آجَرَهَا بِحَضْرَةِ الْمُسْتَأْجِرِ وَ لَمْ يُنْكِرِ الْمُسْتَأْجِرُ الْبَيْعَ وَ كَانَ حَاضِراً لَهُ شَاهِداً عَلَيْهِ فَمَاتَ الْمُشْتَرِي وَ لَهُ وَرَثَةٌ أَ يَرْجِعُ ذَلِكَ فِي الْمِيرَاثِ أَوْ يَبْقَى فِي يَدِ الْمُسْتَأْجِرِ إِلَى أَنْ تَنْقَضِيَ إِجَارَتُهُ فَكَتَبَ ع إِلَى أ

“A man once wrote to abu al-Hassan, the third (a.s.), and asked about the case of a man who rented an asset from another man and the owner sold that asset in the presence of the tenant who did not raise any objection against the sale while he was present with witness and the buyer died; if the asset became of the legac

سَأَلْتُهُ عَنِ الرَّجُلِ يَتَقَبَّلُ الْأَرْضَ مِنَ الدَّهَاقِينِ‌[2] فَيُؤَاجِرُهَا بِأَكْثَرَ مِمَّا يَتَقَبَّلُهَا وَ يَقُومُ فِيهَا بِحَظِّ السُّلْطَانِ قَالَ لَا بَأْسَ بِهِ إِنَّ الْأَرْضَ لَيْسَتْ مِثْلَ الْأَجِيرِ وَ لَا مِثْلَ الْبَيْتِ إِنَّ فَضْلَ الْأَجِيرِ وَ الْبَيْتِ حَرَامٌ.

“This is concerning my question before abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of a man who contracted land from farmers, then rented it for more to others and undertook the share of al- Sultan. He (the Imam) said, ‘It is not unlawful because land is not like wages or a house. The increase of wages and house rent is unl

سَأَلْتُهُ عَنْ رَجُلٍ اسْتَأْجَرَ مِنَ السُّلْطَانِ مِنْ أَرْضِ الْخَرَاجِ بِدَرَاهِمَ مُسَمَّاةٍ أَوْ بِطَعَامٍ مُسَمًّى ثُمَّ آجَرَهَا وَ شَرَطَ لِمَنْ يَزْرَعُهَا أَنْ يُقَاسِمَهُ النِّصْفَ أَوْ أَقَلَّ مِنْ ذَلِكَ أَوْ أَكْثَرَ وَ لَهُ فِي الْأَرْضِ بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ فَضْلٌ أَ يَصْلُحُ لَهُ ذَلِكَ قَالَ نَعَمْ إِذَا حَفَرَ نَهَراً أَوْ عَمِلَ لَهُمْ شَيْئاً يُعِينُهُمْ بِذَلِكَ فَلَهُ ذَلِكَ قَالَ وَ سَأَلْتُهُ عَنِ

“This is concerning my question before abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of a man who leased from al-Sultan al-Kharaj (tax) land for a known amount of dirham or foodstuff of known amount, then rented to someone with the condition to cultivate it and to divide the produce in half and half or more or less and still s

لَا بَأْسَ إِنَّ هَذَا لَيْسَ كَالْحَانُوتِ وَ لَا الْأَجِيرِ إِنَّ فَضْلَ الْأَجِيرِ وَ الْحَانُوتِ حَرَامٌ.

“About the case of a man who leases a piece of land, then rents it to someone for more than what he has leased for, he (the Imam) (a.s.), said, ‘It is not unlawful because it is not like a shop or wages; increase of wages and rent of shop is not lawful.’”

لَوْ أَنَّ رَجُلًا اسْتَأْجَرَ دَاراً بِعَشَرَةِ دَرَاهِمَ فَسَكَنَ ثُلُثَيْهَا وَ آجَرَ ثُلُثَهَا بِعَشَرَةِ دَرَاهِمَ لَمْ يَكُنْ بِهِ بَأْسٌ وَ لَا يُؤَاجِرْهَا بِأَكْثَرَ مِمَّا اسْتَأْجَرَهَا إِلَّا أَنْ يُحْدِثَ فِيهَا شَيْئاً.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘If a man rents a house for ten dirham and lives in it, but uses only two-thirds and rents the other one-third for ten dirhams, it is not unlawful but he must not rent out for more than what has rented (which is ten dirham) unless he introduces something in it.’”

لَيْسَ بِهِ بَأْسٌ إِنَّ الْأَرْضَ لَيْسَتْ بِمَنْزِلَةِ الْبَيْتِ وَ الْأَجِيرِ إِنَّ فَضْلَ الْبَيْتِ حَرَامٌ وَ فَضْلَ الْأَجِيرِ حَرَامٌ.

“Ibrahim ibn al-Muthanna’ once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), this, when I was listening, ‘A man leases land, then rents to someone else for more than what he pays.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘It is not unlawful because land is not like a house or a worker on hire. Extra in the rent of a house is unlawful and extra in hiring i

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع أَتَقَبَّلُ الْأَرْضَ بِالثُّلُثِ أَوِ الرُّبُعِ فَأُقَبِّلُهَا بِالنِّصْفِ قَالَ لَا بَأْسَ بِهِ قُلْتُ فَأَتَقَبَّلُهَا بِأَلْفِ دِرْهَمٍ فَأُقَبِّلُهَا بِأَلْفَيْنِ قَالَ لَا يَجُوزُ قُلْتُ كَيْفَ جَازَ الْأَوَّلُ وَ لَمْ يَجُزِ الثَّانِي قَالَ لِأَنَّ هَذَا مَضْمُونٌ وَ ذَلِكَ غَيْرُ مَضْمُونٍ‌[1].

“This is concerning my question before abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), about leasing saying, ‘There is a piece of land and it leased for one-third or one-fourth, then to someone else for one-half.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘It is not unlawful.’ I then asked, ‘What happens if I lease for one thousand dirhams and then lease it to som

إِذَا تَقَبَّلْتَ أَرْضاً بِذَهَبٍ أَوْ فِضَّةٍ فَلَا تُقَبِّلْهَا بِأَكْثَرَ مِمَّا تَقَبَّلْتَهَا بِهِ وَ إِنْ تَقَبَّلْتَهَا بِالنِّصْفِ وَ الثُّلُثِ فَلَكَ أَنْ تُقَبِّلَهَا بِأَكْثَرَ مِمَّا تَقَبَّلْتَهَا بِهِ لِأَنَّ الذَّهَبَ وَ الْفِضَّةَ مَضْمُونَانِ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘If you lease a piece of land in exchange for gold or silver, then do not lease it to someone else for more than what you have leased; but if you lease it in exchange for one-half or one-third of the produce you can lease it to someone else for more, because gold and silver are guarant

لَا يَصْلُحُ ذَلِكَ إِلَّا أَنْ يُحْدِثَ فِيهَا شَيْئاً.

“About the case of a man who leases a house then rents to someone else for more than what he has rented for, abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘It is not valid unless he introduces something in it.’”

قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ إِنِّي لَأَكْرَهُ أَنْ أَسْتَأْجِرَ رَحًى وَحْدَهَا ثُمَّ أُؤَاجِرَهَا بِأَكْثَرَ مِمَّا اسْتَأْجَرْتُهَا بِهِ إِلَّا أَنْ يُحْدَثَ فِيهَا حَدَثٌ أَوْ تُغْرَمَ فِيهَا غَرَامَةٌ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘I dislike renting a grinding stone, then renting it out to someone else for more than what I has rented for, unless some improvement is made or loss has taken place.’”

سَأَلْتُهُ عَنْ رَجُلٍ اشْتَرَى مَرْعًى يَرْعَى فِيهِ بِخَمْسِينَ دِرْهَماً أَوْ أَقَلَّ أَوْ أَكْثَرَ فَأَرَادَ أَنْ يُدْخِلَ مَعَهُ مَنْ يَرْعَى فِيهِ وَ يَأْخُذَ مِنْهُمُ الثَّمَنَ قَالَ فَلْيُدْخِلْ مَعَهُ مَنْ شَاءَ بِبَعْضِ مَا أَعْطَى وَ إِنْ أَدْخَلَ مَعَهُ بِتِسْعَةٍ وَ أَرْبَعِينَ وَ كَانَتْ غَنَمُهُ بِدِرْهَمٍ فَلَا بَأْسَ وَ إِنْ هُوَ رَعَى فِيهِ قَبْلَ أَنْ يُدْخِلَهُ بِشَهْرٍ أَوْ شَهْرَيْنِ أَوْ أَكْثَ

“Upon asking him (the Imam) (a.s.), about the case of a man who buys a pasture for fifty dirham or less or more and he wants to allow entering the pasture whoever wants to enter so that he charges them for it. He (the Imam) said, ‘He can allow whomever he wants with a payment of part of what he has paid. If he enters t

لَا إِلَّا أَنْ يَكُونَ قَدْ عَمِلَ فِيهِ شَيْئاً[1].

“Upon my asking one of the two Imam, (abu Ja’far or abu ‘Abd Allah), ‘Alayhim al-Salam, about the case of a man who forms a contract for a certain work with another man but he does not do the work, instead he gives it to someone else and makes a certain amount of profit. He (the Imam) said, ‘No, he cannot do so unless

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع إِنِّي أَتَقَبَّلُ الثَّوْبَ بِدِرْهَمٍ وَ أُسَلِّمُهُ بِأَكْثَرَ مِنْ ذَلِكَ لَا أَزِيدُ عَلَى أَنْ أَشُقَّهُ قَالَ لَا بَأْسَ بِهِ ثُمَّ قَالَ لَا بَأْسَ فِيمَا تَقَبَّلْتَهُ مِنْ عَمَلٍ ثُمَّ اسْتَفْضَلْتَ فِيهِ.

“Upon my asking abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of a cloth (for tailoring) that I accept for a dirham and then give it to another person on credit for more than a dirham without doing anything more than cutting. He (the Imam) said, ‘It is not unlawful.’ He (the Imam) then said, ‘It is not unlawful if you accept a

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع إِنِّي أَتَقَبَّلُ الْعَمَلَ فِيهِ الصِّيَاغَةُ وَ فِيهِ النَّقْشُ فَأُشَارِطُ النَّقَّاشَ عَلَى شَرْطٍ فَإِذَا بَلَغَ الْحِسَابُ بَيْنِي وَ بَيْنَهُ اسْتَوْضَعْتُهُ مِنَ الشَّرْطِ قَالَ فَبِطِيبِ نَفْسٍ مِنْهُ قُلْتُ نَعَمْ قَالَ لَا بَأْسَ‌[2].

“Upon my asking abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about a goldsmith work in which there is engraving and I stipulate with an engraver; but when it is time to finalize our account, I ask him to reduce from what was stipulated. He (the Imam) asked, ‘Is it without compulsion on his part?’ I replied, ‘Yes, it is without compulsion.’

قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ لَا بَأْسَ بِأَنْ تَشْتَرِيَ زَرْعاً أَخْضَرَ ثُمَّ تَتْرُكَهُ حَتَّى تَحْصُدَهُ إِنْ شِئْتَ أَوْ تَعْلِفَهُ مِنْ قَبْلِ أَنْ يُسَنْبِلَ وَ هُوَ حَشِيشٌ وَ قَالَ لَا بَأْسَ أَيْضاً أَنْ تَشْتَرِيَ زَرْعاً قَدْ سَنْبَلَ وَ بَلَغَ بِحِنْطَةٍ.

“Abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘It is not unlawful to buy a plantation when it is green, then leave it until the harvest time, if you like or use it for animal feed before wheat ears appear when it is only grass.’ He (the Imam) has said, ‘It is not unlawful to buy plantations in which the ears have appeared and whe

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع أَ يَحِلُّ شِرَاءُ الزَّرْعِ أَخْضَرَ قَالَ نَعَمْ لَا بَأْسَ بِهِ.

“Upon my asking abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about buying a plantation when it only is green, he (the Imam) said, ‘It is not unlawful.’”

لَا بَأْسَ بِأَنْ تَشْتَرِيَ الزَّرْعَ أَوِ الْقَصِيلَ أَخْضَرَ ثُمَّ تَتْرُكَهُ إِنْ شِئْتَ حَتَّى يُسَنْبِلَ ثُمَّ تَحْصُدَهُ وَ إِنْ شِئْتَ أَنْ تَعْلِفَ دَابَّتَكَ قَصِيلًا فَلَا بَأْسَ بِهِ قَبْلَ أَنْ يُسَنْبِلَ فَأَمَّا إِذَا سَنْبَلَ فَلَا تَعْلِفْهُ رَأْساً[3] فَإِنَّهُ فَسَادٌ.

“He (the Imam) (a.s.), has said, ‘It is not unlawful to buy a plantation or greenery, then leave it, if you like, until the ears appear, then harvest, or if you like use it as animal feed as grass and it is not unlawful before ears appear, and when the ears appear then do not use it (ears) as animal feed because it is

لَا بَأْسَ إِذَا قَالَ أَبْتَاعُ مِنْكَ مَا يَخْرُجُ مِنْ هَذَا الزَّرْعِ فَإِذَا اشْتَرَاهُ وَ هُوَ حَشِيشٌ فَإِنْ شَاءَ أَعْفَاهُ‌[1] وَ إِنْ شَاءَ تَرَبَّصَ بِهِ.

“I buy from you what comes out of this plantation.” If he buys it when it is only grass he can use it or if he likes he can wait (until harvest time).”’

نَهَى رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص عَنِ الْمُحَاقَلَةِ وَ الْمُزَابَنَةِ[2] قُلْتُ وَ مَا هُوَ قَالَ أَنْ تَشْتَرِيَ حَمْلَ النَّخْلِ بِالتَّمْرِ وَ الزَّرْعَ بِالْحِنْطَةِ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, prohibited al- Muhaqalah and al-Muzabanah .’ I then asked, ‘What are they?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘It is selling what a palm tree has just conceived in exchange for

سَأَلْتُهُ عَنْ شِرَاءِ الْقَصِيلِ يَشْتَرِيهِ الرَّجُلُ فَلَا يَقْصِلُهُ وَ يَبْدُو لَهُ فِي تَرْكِهِ حَتَّى يَخْرُجَ سُنْبُلُهُ شَعِيراً أَوْ حِنْطَةً وَ قَدِ اشْتَرَاهُ مِنْ أَصْلِهِ عَلَى أَنَّ مَا بِهِ مِنْ خَرَاجٍ عَلَى الْعِلْجِ فَقَالَ إِنْ كَانَ اشْتَرَطَ حِينَ اشْتَرَاهُ إِنْ شَاءَ قَطَعَهُ وَ إِنْ شَاءَ تَرَكَهُ كَمَا هُوَ حَتَّى يَكُونَ سُنْبُلًا وَ إِلَّا فَلَا يَنْبَغِي لَهُ أَنْ يَتْرُكَهُ حَتَّى يَكُو

“Upon my asking abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about a man who buys green plantation, then he decides to leave it until ears appear as barley or wheat when basically he had purchased as such that the tax is on the infidel to pay. He (the Imam) said, ‘If he has bought it with the condition at the time of purchase that if he lik

‌ نَحْوَهُ وَ زَادَ فِيهِ فَإِنْ فَعَلَ فَإِنَّ عَلَيْهِ طَسْقَهُ وَ نَفَقَتَهُ وَ لَهُ مَا خَرَجَ مِنْهُ‌[3]

“Sama‘ah has narrated a similar Hadith from abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), with this addition, ‘If he leaves it until ears appear, he is responsible for its maintenance and expenses and he can have whatever comes out thereof.”’

سَأَلْتُهُ عَنْ رَجُلٍ زَرَعَ زَرْعاً مُسْلِماً كَانَ أَوْ مُعَاهَداً فَأَنْفَقَ فِيهِ نَفَقَةً ثُمَّ بَدَا لَهُ فِي بَيْعِهِ لِنَقْلِهِ يَنْتَقِلُ مِنْ مَكَانِهِ أَوْ لِحَاجَةٍ قَالَ يَشْتَرِيهِ بِالْوَرِقِ فَإِنَّ أَصْلَهُ طَعَامٌ.

‘He can buy it (with al-warzq, as leaves not as grains) because its origin is from foodstuff.’”

رَخَّصَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص فِي الْعَرَايَا بِأَنْ تُشْتَرَى بِخِرْصِهَا تَمْراً وَ قَالَ الْعَرَايَا جَمْعُ عَرِيَّةٍ وَ هِيَ النَّخْلَةُ تَكُونُ لِلرَّجُلِ فِي دَارِ رَجُلٍ آخَرَ فَيَجُوزُ لَهُ أَنْ يَبِيعَهَا بِخِرْصِهَا تَمْراً وَ لَا يَجُوزُ ذَلِكَ فِي غَيْرِهِ.

Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, granted permission for the sale of al-‘Ara’ya ’ by estimating it as dates. Al-‘Ara’ya’ is a palm tree that belongs to someone but it is in other person’s house, in

سَأَلْتُهُ عَنِ الرَّجُلِ الْمُسْلِمِ تَكُونُ لَهُ الضَّيْعَةُ فِيهَا جَبَلٌ مِمَّا يُبَاعُ يَأْتِيهِ أَخُوهُ الْمُسْلِمُ وَ لَهُ غَنَمٌ قَدِ احْتَاجَ إِلَى جَبَلٍ يَحِلُّ لَهُ أَنْ يَبِيعَهُ الْجَبَلَ كَمَا يَبِيعُ مِنْ غَيْرِهِ أَوْ يَمْنَعَهُ مِنَ الْجَبَلِ إِنْ طَلَبَهُ بِغَيْرِ ثَمَنٍ وَ كَيْفَ حَالُهُ فِيهِ وَ مَا يَأْخُذُهُ قَالَ لَا يَجُوزُ لَهُ بَيْعُ جَبَلِهِ مِنْ أَخِيهِ لِأَنَّ الْجَبَلَ لَيْسَ جَبَلَهُ إ

“Regarding my question before abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of a man who is Muslim and has an asset in the mountains which is sold and his Muslim brother comes who has sheep and needs a mountain, if it is lawful to sell the mountain as he sells to others or deny him use of the mountain if he asks without payme

سَأَلْتُهُ وَ قُلْتُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ إِنَّ لَنَا ضِيَاعاً وَ لَهَا حُدُودٌ وَ فِيهَا مَرَاعِي وَ لِلرَّجُلِ مِنَّا غَنَمٌ وَ إِبِلٌ وَ يَحْتَاجُ إِلَى تِلْكَ الْمَرَاعِي لِإِبِلِهِ وَ غَنَمِهِ أَ يَحِلُّ لَهُ أَنْ يَحْمِيَ الْمَرَاعِيَ لِحَاجَتِهِ إِلَيْهَا فَقَالَ إِذَا كَانَتِ الْأَرْضُ أَرْضَهُ فَلَهُ أَنْ يَحْمِيَ وَ يُصَيِّرَ ذَلِكَ إِلَى مَا يَحْتَاجُ إِلَيْهِ قَالَ وَ قُلْتُ لَهُ الرَّجُلُ يَبِيعُ الْمَرَاعِي

“Regarding my question before abu al-Hassan (a.s.), - after saying, ‘I pray to Allah to keep my soul in service for your cause, we have a property that has boundaries and a pasture - about a man from us who has sheep and camel. He needs those pastures for his camel and sheep if it is permissible for him to preserve and

سَأَلْتُ الرِّضَا ع- عَنِ الرَّجُلِ تَكُونُ لَهُ الضَّيْعَةُ وَ تَكُونُ لَهَا حُدُودٌ تَبْلُغُ حُدُودُهَا عِشْرِينَ مِيلًا وَ أَقَلَّ وَ أَكْثَرَ يَأْتِيهِ الرَّجُلُ فَيَقُولُ لَهُ أَعْطِنِي مِنْ مَرَاعِي ضَيْعَتِكَ وَ أُعْطِيَكَ كَذَا وَ كَذَا دِرْهَماً فَقَالَ إِذَا كَانَتِ الضَّيْعَةُ لَهُ فَلَا بَأْسَ.

‘If you give to me from your pastures I will give you so and so amount of dirham. He (the Imam) said, ‘If the property is his property it is not unlawful.’”

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع- عَنْ بَيْعِ الْكَلَإِ إِذَا كَانَ سَيْحاً فَيَعْمِدُ الرَّجُلُ إِلَى مَائِهِ فَيَسُوقُهُ إِلَى الْأَرْضِ فَيَسْقِيهِ الْحَشِيشَ وَ هُوَ الَّذِي حَفَرَ النَّهَرَ وَ لَهُ الْمَاءُ يَزْرَعُ بِهِ مَا شَاءَ فَقَالَ إِذَا كَانَ الْمَاءُ لَهُ فَلْيَزْرَعْ بِهِ مَا شَاءَ وَ يَبِيعُهُ بِمَا أَحَبَّ- قَالَ وَ سَأَلْتُهُ عَنْ بَيْعِ حَصَائِدِ الْحِنْطَةِ وَ الشَّعِيرِ وَ سَائِرِ الْحَصَائِدِ فَق

“This is concerning my question before abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about a man’s selling pastures which needs watering. He works to provide water for its grass and he is the one who has dug the well and canal and he has water for the plantation of whatever he likes to cultivate. He (the Imam) said, ‘If water belongs to him