Fatwa No : 37698
Take a portion of the cultivation in exchange for water from a tube well

Take a portion of the cultivation in exchange for water from a tube well

Can one take a portion of the cultivation in exchange for water from a tube well?
I have a tube well. I supply water to nearby land owners. In exchange for this, I take a portion of their cultivation. Half of it is for the land owner and half is for the owner of the tube well. I also pay for half the price of seeds, fertilizers etc. Is Zakat or ‘Ushr due upon the income from the tube well?

الجوابُ حامِدا ًو مُصلیِّا ً

The mentioned procedure is not correct. However, it will be permissible if the questioner stipulates a fixed fee for supplying water to the land owners. Furthermore, half of the value of ‘Ushr is due upon the cultivation that has been watered by a tube well.

مأخَذُ الفَتوی

كما في بدائع الصنائع: (ومنها) : أن يشترط في عقد المزارعة أن يكون بعض البذر من قبل أحدهما، والبعض من قبل الآخر، وهذا لا يجوز؛ لأن كل واحد منهما يصير مستأجرا صاحبه في قدر بذره، فيجتمع استئجار الأرض والعمل من جانب واحد وإنه مفسد اھ (6/ 180)
وفي الدر المختار: وشرطها كون الأجرة والمنفعة معلومتين؛ لأن جهالتهما تفضي إلى المنازعة اھ (6/ 5)