Islam regulates the interactions and transactions between people, and ensures that they are based on the principles of cooperation, (fostering) rapport, affection, love, and avoiding conflict, discord, and deceit. In this hadeeth, Raafi’ ibn Khadeej narrated on the authority of his uncle Zhuhayr ibn Raafi’ (may Allah be pleased with them) that the Prophet ﷺ forbade them from a matter that was beneficial for them. The version recorded in Saheeh Muslim reads: “He ﷺ forbade us from something of benefit to us, but our obedience to Allah, Exalted is He, and His Messenger ﷺ is of greater benefit!” His statement means that the Prophet ﷺ forbade them from doing what was apparently beneficial for them, but their compliance with the Prophet’s command was more beneficial and better for their religious and worldly affairs. Raafi‘ asked his uncle about that act from which he ﷺ forbade them, “Whatever Allah's Messengerﷺ said was right.” His uncle informed him that the Prophet ﷺsent for him and asked, 'What are you doing with your farms?' Zhuhayr replied that they rented out their farms in return for one-fourth of the yield or some Wasqs of barley and dates.' A Wasq equaled 60 Saa‘s, approximately 130 kg. A version of the hadeeth narrated by Al-Buhaaree reads: “We used to rent the land at the yield of a specific delimited portion of it to be given to the landlord. Sometimes the vegetation of that portion was affected by blights etc., while the rest remained safe and vice versa, so the Prophet ﷺ forbade this practice.” The version recorded in Saheeh Muslim reads: “People used to rent out their lands during the lifetime of Allah's Messenger ﷺ for what grew by the river-beds, and the edges of the brooks/streams, or for a portion of the crop. However, sometimes this portion of the crop would be destroyed or go bad while the other remained safe, or vice versa. Thus, there would be no fee to be paid to the landowners except the portion which produced a crop.” These versions clarified that his saying “one-fourth of the yield,” means a fixed share of the yield produced by a specific part of the land, and not one-fourth of the yield of the whole land. The Prophet ﷺ gave them three options: to cultivate the land themselves, lend it to someone to cultivate it for free, which reflected the enjoined solidarity, or keep it uncultivated. Raafi‘ (may Allah be pleased with him) complied with the command of the Prophet ﷺ and said: “We hear and obey.” This hadeeth indicates that the business transaction that was deemed forbidden by the Prophet ﷺ was the unjust Muzaara‘ah transaction that was evidently corrupt, warranting forbidding it. However, if there is a guarantee for the capital in the Muzaara‘ah transaction, there is no harm in that, as reported in other hadeeths and narrations. It is noteworthy that this does not contradict the fact that the Prophet ﷺ concluded an agreement with the Jews of Khaybar to cultivate the lands in return for half the yield while the other half would be given to the Prophet ﷺ. This agreement remained in force until the death of the Prophet ﷺ, and continued to be in force during the reigns of the rightly guided Caliphs. Muzaara‘ah transactions may be concluded in return for a share of the total yield, rather than renting out one’s land for cultivation in return for the yield of a specific delimited portion of it. The hadeeth highlights the virtues of Raafi’ ibn Khadeej (may Allah be pleased with him) and his obedience, and compliance with the command of the Prophet ﷺ..