Sell Property or Land only for its replacement

Summary:

Earth nourishes us like a mother. We must respect it as well as the land and the property which are a source of income, one must not sell a land/property, except to purchase another one. The monies acquired through the sale of properties are prone to waste as these are not covered by the Blessings of Allah^-azwj as is the land.

قال: و قال أبو جعفر عليه السلام: في التوراة مكتوب‏: من باع أرضا و ماء و لم يضع ثمنه في أرض و ماء ذهب ثمنه محقا.

He said, ‘And Abu Ja’far^-asws, may the greeting be upon him^-as, said: ‘It is written in the Torah: “One who sells land and water and does not place its price in a land and water, its price will be obliterated!’^[1]

Sell Property/Land only for its replacement

مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنْ مُعَمَّرِ بْنِ خَلَّادٍ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا الْحَسَنِ ع يَقُولُ إِنَّ رَجُلًا أَتَى جَعْفَراً ص شَبِيهاً بِالْمُسْتَنْصِحِ لَهُ فَقَالَ لَهُ يَا أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ كَيْفَ صِرْتَ اتَّخَذْتَ الْأَمْوَالَ قِطَعاً مُتَفَرِّقَةً وَ لَوْ كَانَتْ فِي مَوْضِعٍ [وَاحِدٍ] كَانَتْ أَيْسَرَ لِمَئُونَتِهَا وَ أَعْظَمَ لِمَنْفَعَتِهَا فَقَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع اتَّخَذْتُهَا مُتَفَرِّقَةً فَإِنْ أَصَابَ هَذَا الْمَالَ شَيْ‏ءٌ سَلِمَ هَذَا الْمَالُ وَ الصُّرَّةُ تُجْمَعُ بِهَذَا كُلِّهِ

Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from Mu’ammar ibn Khallad who has said:

‘I heard Abu Al-Hassan^-asws saying: ‘Once a man came to Ja’far^-asws as if giving him good advice; he said: ‘O Abu Abd Allah^-asws why have you made the properties in scattered pieces? Had they been in one piece, more profit with fewer expenses would incur’.’ Abu Abd Allah^-asws replied: ‘I have kept them scattered so that if losses affect one piece, others remain unaffected, but a bundle keeps all of them together (vulnerable to losses)’.^[2]

عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَمَّنْ ذَكَرَهُ عَنْ زُرَارَةَ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ مَا يُخَلِّفُ الرَّجُلُ شَيْئاً أَشَدَّ عَلَيْهِ مِنَ الْمَالِ الصَّامِتِ كَيْفَ يَصْنَعُ بِهِ قَالَ يَجْعَلُهُ فِي الْحَائِطِ يَعْنِي فِي الْبُسْتَانِ أَوِ الدَّارِ

Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from ibn abu ‘Umayr from the one whom he has mentioned (in his book) from Zurarah who has said the following:

‘I heard Abu Abd Allah^-asws saying: ‘Most difficult to protect property is of the silent kind (gold and silver)’. I then asked, ‘What should one do about it?’ The Imam^-asws replied: ‘One should keep them inside walls, (to buy a) a garden or a House’.^[3]

حُمَيْدُ بْنُ زِيَادٍ عَنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ سَمَاعَةَ عَنْ غَيْرِ وَاحِدٍ عَنْ أَبَانِ بْنِ عُثْمَانَ قَالَ دَعَانِي جَعْفَرٌ ع فَقَالَ بَاعَ فُلَانٌ أَرْضَهُ فَقُلْتُ نَعَمْ قَالَ مَكْتُوبٌ فِي التَّوْرَاةِ أَنَّهُ مَنْ بَاعَ أَرْضاً أَوْ مَاءً وَ لَمْ يَضَعْهُ فِي أَرْضٍ أَوْ مَاءٍ ذَهَبَ ثَمَنُهُ مَحْقاً

Humayd ibn Ziyad bas narrated from al-Hassan ibn Muhammad ibn Sama’ah from more than one person from Aban ibn ‘Uthman who has said the following:

‘Once Ja’far^-asws called me and asked: ‘Has so and so sold his land?’ I replied: ‘Yes, he has done so’. The Imam^-asws said: ‘It is written in the Torah that whoever sells a piece of land or water and does not replace it by another piece of land or water its price (money received) loses its blessings’.^[4]

عَلِيُّ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ صَالِحِ بْنِ أَبِي حَمَّادٍ عَنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ عَلِيٍّ عَنْ وَهْبٍ الْحَرِيرِيِّ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع قَالَ مُشْتَرِي الْعُقْدَةِ مَرْزُوقٌ وَ بَائِعُهَا مَمْحُوقٌ

Ali ibn Muhammad ibn Ali has narrated from Salih ibn abu Hammad from al-Hassan ibn Ali from Wahab al-Haririy who has said the following:

‘Abu Abd Allah^-asws has said: ‘The buyer of real property receives sustenance and the seller thereof suffers a serious loss’.^[5]

الْحَسَنُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ أَحْمَدَ النَّهْدِيِّ عَنْ يَعْقُوبَ بْنِ يَزِيدَ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ مُرَازِمٍ عَنْ أَبِيهِ قَالَ قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع لِمُصَادِفٍ مَوْلَاهُ اتَّخِذْ عُقْدَةً أَوْ ضَيْعَةً فَإِنَّ الرَّجُلَ إِذَا نَزَلَتْ بِهِ النَّازِلَةُ أَوِ الْمُصِيبَةُ فَذَكَرَ أَنَّ وَرَاءَ ظَهْرِهِ مَا يُقِيمُ عِيَالَهُ كَانَ أَسْخَى لِنَفْسِهِ

Al-Hassan ibn Muhammad has narrated from Muhammad ibn Ahmad al-Nahdiy from Ya’qub ibn Yazid from Muhammad ibn Murazim from’ his father who has said the following:

‘Abu Abd Allah^-asws once said to his Mawla’, Musadif, ‘Find some real property or goods; when man faces hardship or misfortune, and then finds out that behind him there is something for support of his family, he feels more generous to allow his soul to depart (his body)’.^[6]

عَلِيُّ بْنُ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ بُنْدَارَ عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَلِيِّ بْنِ يُوسُفَ عَنْ عَبْدِ السَّلَامِ عَنْ هِشَامِ بْنِ أَحْمَرَ عَنْ أَبِي إِبْرَاهِيمَ ع قَالَ ثَمَنُ الْعَقَارِ مَمْحُوقٌ إِلَّا أَنْ يُجْعَلَ فِي عَقَارٍ مِثْلِهِ

Ali ibn Muhammad ibn Bandar has narrated from Ahmad ibn abu Abd Allah Muhammad ibn Ali ibn Yusuf from’ Abd al-Salam from Hisham ibn Ahmar who has said the following:

‘Abu Ibrahim^-asws has said that the price (money) received in exchange for real estate is a loss unless another piece of real estate is purchased therewith’.^[7]

أَبُو عَلِيٍّ الْأَشْعَرِيُّ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ عَلِيٍّ الْكُوفِيِّ عَنْ عُبَيْسِ بْنِ هِشَامٍ عَنْ عَبْدِ الصَّمَدِ بْنِ بَشِيرٍ عَنْ مُعَاوِيَةَ بْنِ عَمَّارٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع قَالَ لَمَّا دَخَلَ النَّبِيُّ ص الْمَدِينَةَ خَطَّ دَوْرَهَا بِرِجْلِهِ ثُمَّ قَالَ اللَّهُمَّ مَنْ بَاعَ رِبَاعَهُ فَلَا تُبَارِكْ لَهُ

Abu Ali al-Ashariy has narrated from Muhammad ibn al-Hassan ibn Ali al-Kufiy from ‘Ubays ibn Hisham from ‘Abd al-Sarnad ibn Bashir from Mu’awiyah ibn ‘Ammar from who has said the following:

‘Abu Abd Allah^-asws has said that when the Holy Prophet^-saww arrived in al-Madinah he drew a line around its houses and said: ‘O Allah, do not make it a blessing for those who sell their houses’.^[8]

عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ سَهْلِ بْنِ زِيَادٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ شَمُّونٍ عَنِ الْأَصَمِّ عَنْ مِسْمَعٍ قَالَ قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع إِنَّ لِي أَرْضاً تُطْلَبُ مِنِّي وَ يُرَغِّبُونِّي فَقَالَ لِي يَا أَبَا سَيَّارٍ أَ مَا عَلِمْتَ أَنَّ مَنْ بَاعَ الْمَاءَ وَ الطِّينَ ذَهَبَ مَالُهُ هَبَاءً قُلْتُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ إِنِّي أَبِيعُ بِالثَّمَنِ الْكَثِيرِ وَ أَشْتَرِي مَا هُوَ أَوْسَعُ رُقْعَةً مِمَّا بِعْتُ قَالَ فَلَا بَأْسَ

A number of our people have narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad from Muhammad ibn al-Hassan ibn Shammun from al-Asamm from Misma’ who has said the following:

‘Once I said to Abu Abd Allah^-asws ‘I have a piece of land in which buyers are much interested to purchase.’ The Imam^-asws said: ‘O Abu Sayyar, do you know that whoever sells land or water (like a fountain for irrigation and so on), his wealth goes away as a bad loss’.  I then said: ‘I pray to Allah to keep my soul in service for your cause, I will sell it for a high price and then I can buy a piece of land bigger than this one.’ The Imam^-asws said: ‘Then it is all right’.^[9]

Respect the Earth like a mother

نَوَادِرُ الرَّاوَنْدِيِّ، عَنْ عَبْدِ الْوَاحِدِ بْنِ إِسْمَاعِيلَ الرُّويَانِيِّ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ الْحَسَنِ التَّمِيمِيِّ عَنْ سَهْلِ بْنِ أَحْمَدَ الدِّيبَاجِيِّ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ الْأَشْعَثِ عَنْ مُوسَى بْنِ إِسْمَاعِيلَ بْنِ مُوسَى عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ جَدِّهِ مُوسَى عَنْ أَبِيهِ جَعْفَرِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ آبَائِهِ ع قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‏ تَمَسَّحُوا بِالْأَرْضِ فَإِنَّهَا أُمُّكُمْ وَ هِيَ بِكُمْ بَرَّةٌ.

(The book) ‘Nawadir’ of Al Rawandy – from Abdul Wahid Bin Ismail Al Rowbany, from Muhammad Bin Al Hassan Al Tameemi, from Sahl Bin Ahmad Al Dibajy, from Muhammad Bin Muhammad Bin Al-Ash’as,

‘From Musa Bin Ismail son of Musa^-asws, from his father, from his grandfather Musa^-asws, from his^-asws father Ja’far^-asws Bin Muhammad^-asws, from his^-asws forefathers^-asws having said: ‘Rasool-Allah^-saww said: ‘Wipe with the earth (to purify), for it is your mother, and it is righteous with you’’.^[10]

بيان: رَوَاهُ الرَّاوَنْدِيُّ أَيْضاً أَنَّهُ أَقْبَلَ رَجُلَانِ إِلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص فَقَالَ أَحَدُهُمَا لِصَاحِبِهِ اجْلِسْ عَلَى اسْمِ اللَّهِ تَعَالَى وَ الْبَرَكَةِ

Explanation (Hadeeth only) – It is reported by Al-Rawandy as well, ‘Two men came to Rasool-Allah^-saww. One of them said to his companion, ‘Sit, upon the Name of Allah^-azwj the Exalted and Blessings!’

فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص اجْلِسْ عَلَى اسْتِكَ

Rasool-Allah^-saww said: ‘Sit upon your backside!’

فَأَقْبَلَ يَضْرِبُ الْأَرْضَ بِعَصًا فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص لَا تَضْرِبْهَا فَإِنَّهَا أُمُّكُمْ وَ هِيَ بِكُمْ بَرَّةٌ.

He went on to strike the ground with a walking stick. Rasool-Allah^-saww said: ‘Do not strike it, for it is your mother, and it is righteous with you all!’’[11]

[1] Jawaahir Al Saniya Fi Ahadeeth Al Qudsiya – CH 7 – H 60

[2] Al-Kafi, vol. 5, H. 8405, Ch. 18, h, 1

[3] Al-Kafi, vol. 5, H. 8406, Ch. 18, h, 2

[4] Al-Kafi, vol. 5, H. 8407, Ch. 18, h, 3

[5] Al-Kafi, vol. 5, H. 8408, Ch. 18, h, 4

[6] Al-Kafi, vol. 5, H. 8409, Ch. 18, h, 5

[7] Al-Kafi, vol. 5, H. 8410, Ch. 18, h, 6

[8] Al-Kafi, vol. 5, H. 8411, Ch. 18, h, 7

[9] Al-Kafi, vol. 5, H. 8412, Ch. 18, h, 8

[10] Bihar Al-Anwaar V 77 – The Book Cleanliness  – Ch 6 H 25 a (Chapters on Washing)

[11] Bihar Al-Anwaar V 77 – The Book Cleanliness  – Ch 6 H 25 (Chapters on Washing)