It was narrated that Najrani said:
"I said to 'Abdullah bin 'Umar: 'Can I pay in advance for a date palm before it bears fruit?' He said: 'No.' I said: 'Why not?' He said: 'A man paid in advance for a grove of trees during the time of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), before they had produced any fruit, and they did not bear anything that year. The purchaser said: 'They belong to me until they produce but the seller said: 'I only sold the trees to you for this year! They referred their dispute to the Messenger of Allah who said to the seller: 'Did he take anything from your date palms?' He said: 'No.' He said: 'Then why do you regard his wealth as lawful for You? Give back what you took from him, and do not take payment in advance for date palms until their usefulness appears."'
حَدَّثَنَا هَنَّادُ بْنُ السَّرِيِّ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو الأَحْوَصِ، عَنْ أَبِي إِسْحَاقَ، عَنِ النَّجْرَانِيِّ، قَالَ قُلْتُ لِعَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عُمَرَ أُسْلِمُ فِي نَخْلٍ قَبْلَ أَنْ يُطْلِعَ قَالَ لاَ . قُلْتُ لِمَ قَالَ إِنَّ رَجُلاً أَسْلَمَ فِي حَدِيقَةِ نَخْلٍ فِي عَهْدِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ قَبْلَ أَنْ يُطْلِعَ النَّخْلُ فَلَمْ يُطْلِعِ النَّخْلُ شَيْئًا ذَلِكَ الْعَامَ فَقَالَ الْمُشْتَرِي هُوَ لِي حَتَّى يُطْلِعَ . وَقَالَ الْبَائِعُ إِنَّمَا بِعْتُكَ النَّخْلَ هَذِهِ السَّنَةَ . فَاخْتَصَمَا إِلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ فَقَالَ لِلْبَائِعِ " أَخَذَ مِنْ نَخْلِكَ شَيْئًا " . قَالَ لاَ . قَالَ " فَبِمَ تَسْتَحِلُّ مَالَهُ ارْدُدْ عَلَيْهِ مَا أَخَذْتَ مِنْهُ وَلاَ تُسْلِمُوا فِي نَخْلٍ حَتَّى يَبْدُوَ صَلاَحُهُ " .
