Is it permissible for the ruler to forcibly seize private land from its owner, even if the owner does not agree to compensation, in order to establish public facilities?
It is permissible for the ولي الأمر (ruler/guardian) to expropriate land forcibly from its owner for the public interest, if a necessity or a considerable need arises, provided that the owner is compensated immediately and fairly. This compensation should be assessed by experts at a value no less than the market price, and the expropriation should not occur prematurely. Scholars have unanimously agreed on the permissibility of this to avert public harm, as happened in the expansion of the Grand Mosque (Masjid al-Haram) and the Prophet's Mosque (Masjid al-Nabawi).
Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026
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