Question
In Fadhail-tijarat, Hadrat Shaykh Zakariyya (rahimahullah) quoted the hadith,
“Nine tenths of sustenance is derived from trade and one tenth from pastoral farming.”
I am looking for its reference.
Answer
Imams Sa’id ibn Mansur and Ibrahim Al-Harby (rahimahumallah) have recorded the following narration with a reliable chain from the Tabi’i; Nu’aym ibn ‘Abdir Rahman that Rasulullah (sallallahu’alayhi wasallam) said:
Engage in trade, for nine tenths of sustenance is found therein
(see Takhrijul Ihya of ‘Allamah ‘Iraqi, Hadith: 1588 & Sharhul Ihya, vol.5 pg.416)
Imam Sa’id ibn Mansur has also reported a longer version from another Tabi’i; Yahya ibn Jabir At-Ta-iy (rahimahullah) which has the following additional sentence:
…and one tenth is found in livestock farming
(Sharhul Ihya, vol.5 pg.416)
And Allah Ta’ala Knows best,
Answered by: Moulana Muhammad Abasoomar
Checked by: Moulana Haroon Abasoomar