We worked on farms more than anybody else in Medina. We used to rent the land and say to the owner, “The yield of this portion is for us and the yield of that portion is for you (as the rent).” One of those portions might yield something and the other might not. So, the Prophet (ﷺ) forbade us to do so.
Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) forbade a practice which was useful for us. I said: What is this? (I believe) that whatrver Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) says is absolutely true. He (Zuhair) said that he (the Holy Prophet) asked me: What do you do with your cultivable lands? I said: Allah’s Messenger, we rent those irrigated by canals for dry dates or barley. He said: Don’t do that. Cultivate them or let them be cultivated (by others) or retain them yourself.