while also holding crop-sharing to be permissible has contradicted the consensus of the Muslims. Muslim practice in the lands of Syria recognizes the permissibility of sharecropping, in accordance with the established Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) and that of his rightly guided caliphs. This applies whether the seed is supplied by the landowner or the farmer. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) made an agreement with the people of Khaybar for half of its yield of fruit and crops, on condition that they cultivate it at their own expense. Thus, they supplied the seed. This is what the Companions agreed upon, and it has been the practice of Muslims throughout most Muslim lands from the time of their Prophet until today.

Anyone who enters into a sharecropping arrangement must pay zakat on their share. Anyone who follows the opinion that such sharecropping is invalid, and holds that he is entitled to none of the crop, that the farmer owes him only rent, and that taking a share of the crop without the farmer’s willing consent would make him an oppressor consuming unlawful wealth, must hand the crop over to the farmer and inform him that he is entitled only to the customary rent. If, after this, the farmer willingly agrees to share the crop with him and pay the zakat, the farmer is then freely doing him a favor. It is well known that, if farmers knew this, most of them would not willingly agree to it. This is the true position on this issue according to the views of both groups. And Allah knows best.