Rafi (Allah be pleased with him) reported that Zuhair b. Rafi (who was his uncle) came to me and said:Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) forbade a practice which was useful for us. I said: What is this? (I believe) that whatrver Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) says is absolutely true. He (Zuhair) said that he (the Holy Prophet) asked me: What do you do with your cultivable lands? I said: Allah's Messenger, we rent those irrigated by canals for dry dates or barley. He said: Don't do that. Cultivate them or let them be cultivated (by others) or retain them yourself.
حَدَّثَنِي إِسْحَاقُ بْنُ مَنْصُورٍ، أَخْبَرَنَا أَبُو مُسْهِرٍ، حَدَّثَنِي يَحْيَى بْنُ حَمْزَةَ، حَدَّثَنِي أَبُو عَمْرٍو الأَوْزَاعِيُّ، عَنْ أَبِي النَّجَاشِيِّ، مَوْلَى رَافِعِ بْنِ خَدِيجٍ عَنْ رَافِعٍ، أَنَّ ظُهَيْرَ بْنَ رَافِعٍ، - وَهُوَ عَمُّهُ - قَالَ أَتَانِي ظُهَيْرٌ فَقَالَ لَقَدْ نَهَى رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم عَنْ أَمْرٍ كَانَ بِنَا رَافِقًا . فَقُلْتُ وَمَا ذَاكَ مَا قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَهُوَ حَقٌّ . قَالَ سَأَلَنِي كَيْفَ تَصْنَعُونَ بِمَحَاقِلِكُمْ فَقُلْتُ نُؤَاجِرُهَا يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ عَلَى الرَّبِيعِ أَوِ الأَوْسُقِ مِنَ التَّمْرِ أَوِ الشَّعِيرِ . قَالَ " فَلاَ تَفْعَلُوا ازْرَعُوهَا أَوْ أَزْرِعُوهَا أَوْ أَمْسِكُوهَا " .
Muslim
The Book of Transactions • Hadith 148