2. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from ‘Abd Allah ibn Muhammad from Ali ibn al-Hakam from Aban from ‘Isma’il ibn al-Fadl al- Hashimiy who has said the following: “This is concerning my question before abu ‘Abd Allah عليه السلام, about the case of a man who leased from al-Sultan al-Kharaj (tax) land for a known amount of dirham or foodstuff of known amount, then rented to someone with the condition to cultivate it and to divide the produce in half and half or more or less and still something extra remained for him from the land; if it was valid for him. He (the Imam) said, ‘Yes it is valid, provided, he digs a canal or a certain work to help them, then it is for him.’ I then asked him (the Imam) about the case of a man who leased a piece of land of Kharaj (tax) land for a certain amount of dirham or foodstuff, then rented it in pieces or by Jirib (a certain unit of measurement) for a known amount, then a certain amount extra remained for him after payment to al-Sultan but he did not spend anything, or that he leased that land in pieces with the condition to give them seed and expenses, then extra remained for him over the rent; if the soil was for him or not. He (the Imam) said, ‘If you rent a land and spend on it or do mending work in it, then the matters you have mentioned are not unlawful.’”