“The Revitalization of Dead Land Near Urban Areas: Does It Require the Permission of the Ruler?”

Abstract

This study addresses an important issue related to the Islamic jurisprudence of land development and the revival of dead land (ihyāʾ al-mawāt). It aims to examine the opinions of Islamic jurists regarding the revival of dead land located near urban areas, and whether such revival requires prior authorization from the governing authority. The study also seeks to explore the reasons behind the juristic disagreement on this matter and to determine the most preponderant opinion.

The research concludes with several significant findings. Most notably, it affirms that developing the earth and utilizing its beneficial resources in ways that fulfill the divine objectives is among the core purposes of Islamic law. This objective is clearly emphasized in various verses of the Holy Quran. Moreover, the study highlights that land development is considered one of the key solutions presented in the Prophetic Sunnah to address the pressing crises faced by contemporary societiesparticularly those arising from the concentration of populations in large urban centers. Such concentrations place increasing pressure on public services and cause urban congestion that burdens city infrastructure. Hence, Islamic law promotes opening new horizons through encouraging the revival and development of uninhabited land.