Iqṭā

The practice of land ownership known as iqṭā, derived from the root word qat’, meaning to cut or separate, played a significant role in Islamic history. Within Islamic civilizations, this technique was commonly utilized to allocate land, largely owned by the state, to the populace for their use. While the state retained ownership of the land, the transfer of usage rights and utilization of idle lands through the iqṭā system had multiple objectives that included stimulating conquests, revitalizing barren territories, and generating income for individuals such as poets and faqihs involved in the cultural sector. This study addresses the implementation of iqṭā in diverse Islamic civilizations and its varied functions.