the land and the trees.” In sales, this is analogous to the leasing arrangement under discussion, for buying land is equivalent to purchasing it. Purchasing date palms, with fruit not yet safe from damage included in the sale as an accessory to the trees, is comparable to including the fruit of date palms and grapevines as an accessory to a lease.

Both groups base their prohibition on the established reports that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, prohibited selling future years’ fruit and selling fruit before its soundness becomes apparent. Thus, both al-Bukhārī and Muslim relate in their Sahīhs from Ibn ʿUmar:

“The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, prohibited selling fruit before its soundness becomes apparent. He forbade both the seller and the buyer.”

They also relate from Jābir ibn ʿAbd Allāh, may Allah be pleased with them both, who said:

“The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, prohibited selling fruit until it ripens.” He was asked, “What does ‘ripens’ mean?” He replied, “It turns red or yellow and becomes edible.”

A narration recorded by Muslim states that this explanation was given by Saʿīd ibn al-Muthannā, who transmitted the report from Jābir.

Both Sahīhs also relate that Jābir said:

“The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, prohibited exchanging standing grain for harvested grain, exchanging dates on the palms for dried dates, selling future years’ crops (muʿāwama), and sharecropping.”

In another narration recorded by both, “and selling fruit for future years” appears in place of “muʿāwama.”

They also relate through Zayd ibn Abī Unaysa, from ʿAtāʾ, from Jābir:

“The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, prohibited exchanging standing grain for harvested grain, exchanging dates on the palms for dried dates, and sharecropping, as well as purchasing dates on the palms before they ripen. Ripening means: