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Today, it is a delight to share selections from Chapter 23 and Chapter 25 of “A Manual of Hadith,” by Maulana Muhammad Ali. In these chapters, the Hadith reveals examples and guidance on transactions and social relations between Muslims, known as Muamalah. The goal is to attain Allah’s pleasure through all forms of interactions and transactions in social life in order to attain reward, blessings, and peace. Chapter 23 Cultivation of Land (Al-harth wa-l-muzāra'ah) “[…] The Holy Qur’an draws attention to the necessity of turning wasteland into gardens by making arrangements for watering it, and growing good crops. Hadīth speaks of it as an act of great merit, but it gives a warning at the same time that people who give themselves up entirely to agriculture, neglecting other lines of their development are not capable of great and glorious deeds. Impetus is given to the cultivation of wasteland. It is allowed to let to another person land for cultivation for a part of the produce, or for money, but it is at the same time recommended that a person who can afford it should give land rent-free to his poor brother. A person having his land on a water channel is entitled to water his fields but he must allow the water to pass on to others when his need is satisfied. The digging of a well is an act of great merit. A neighbor’s right to land must be respected very scrupulously. Anas said, The Messenger of Allāh, peace and blessings of Allāh be on Him, said ‘There is no Muslim who plants a tree or cultivates land, then there eat of it birds or a man or an animal, but it is a charity for him.’ […]Ibn ‘Umar said, The Prophet, peace and blessings of Allāh be on Him, said: Whoever takes any part of land without having a right to it, he shall be, as a punishment for it, sunk down into earth on the day of resurrection to the depth of seven earths.’” Chapter 25 Debts and Mortgage “‘When you deal with each other in contracting a debt for a fixed time, write it down and let him who owes the debt dictate.’ ‘And if you are upon a journey and you do not find a scribe, then a security may be taken into possession.’ ‘Allāh has allowed trading and forbidden usury (an unjust increase on a loan or exchange).’ ‘And if the debtor is in straitness, then let there be postponement until he is in ease; and if you remit it as alms it is better for you, if you knew.’”
