Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith 2634 ⓘ

Narrated Tawus: That he was told by the most learned one amongst them (i.e. Ibn `Abbas) that the Prophet went towards some land which was flourishing with vegetation and asked to whom it belonged. He was told that such and such a person took it on rent. The Prophet said, "It would have been better (for the owner) if he had given it to him gratis rather than charging him a fixed rent.

حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ بَشَّارٍ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الْوَهَّابِ، حَدَّثَنَا أَيُّوبُ، عَنْ عَمْرٍو، عَنْ طَاوُسٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي أَعْلَمُهُمْ، بِذَاكَ ـ يَعْنِي ابْنَ عَبَّاسٍ ـ رضى الله عنهما ـ أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم خَرَجَ إِلَى أَرْضٍ تَهْتَزُّ زَرْعًا فَقَالَ ‏"‏ لِمَنْ هَذِهِ ‏"‏‏.‏ فَقَالُوا اكْتَرَاهَا فُلاَنٌ‏.‏ فَقَالَ ‏"‏ أَمَا إِنَّهُ لَوْ مَنَحَهَا إِيَّاهُ كَانَ خَيْرًا لَهُ مِنْ أَنْ يَأْخُذَ عَلَيْهَا أَجْرًا مَعْلُومًا ‏"‏‏.‏