What is entailed for me or upon me after the seller reneged on the sale of a plot of land I wished to purchase, having gone through the hardship of incurring debt to complete the transaction?

If the sale was concluded without a condition of option (khiyar), the seller cannot cancel it except with the buyer's consent to annulment (iqalah). It is recommended for the buyer to agree, based on the Prophet's (peace be upon him) saying: "Whoever annuls a sale for a Muslim, Allah will annul his slip-ups."

If the buyer does not agree to the annulment, then the land is his property, and the seller receives the agreed-upon price.

As for the actual nature of what transpired, one should refer to the mediating office to determine whether a sales contract was concluded or if it was merely a promise. If it was merely a promise, then the seller has the right to withdraw.

However, concerning a binding promise (al-wa'd al-mulzim), if the promised party, because of it, entered into an obligation and suffered harm, and the promisor did not fulfill his promise, then the promisor bears the harm. The promise becomes religiously binding unless there is an excuse.