Is it permissible for a Muslim to own agricultural land that is not cultivated, while he is not a farmer, knowing that the government offers it only to farmers?
Source: FtawySummary from Ftawy's records · added here Sep 2, 2026
If the government exempts some non-farmers and grants them land, and you are among them without favoritism, then there is no harm in that.
If you acquire the land through sale or gift from a farmer, and if the government stipulates that it cannot be sold or gifted to non-farmers, then it is not permissible for you to own it since you are not a farmer. This is based on the Prophet’s (peace be upon him) saying: "Muslims are bound by their conditions concerning what is permissible." However, if the government does not stipulate this condition, then there is no harm in you owning it.
Summary from Ftawy's records · added here
Reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
Read the full answer on Ftawyhttps://ftawy.com/en/questions/69180
Where this answer came from
- Source platform
- Ftawy
- Original fatwa ID
- 69180
- Added here
- . This is when the answer was added to El Fatwa, not the fatwa's date.
- Text
- Summary from Ftawy's records, reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
- Read the full ruling
- Read the full answer on Ftawy