Palestine is an Islamic endowment

3-1-2006 | IslamWeb

Question:

Could you please explain to me whether or not something I heard about Palestine is correct or not? I heard that Palestine is a Wakf, i.e. it is a Muslim trusts could you please confirm that to me along with the Islamic evidence.

Answer:

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger. We ask Allaah to exalt his mention as well as that of his family and all his companions.

 

The scholars may  Allaah  have  mercy  upon  them agreed that when 'Umar  may  Allaah  be  pleased  with  him conquered Ancient Syria, he set it as an endowment. The reason was that during his reign  may  Allaah  be  pleased  with  him there were many conquests and the Islamic state expanded, therefore its expenses increased. So, 'Umar  may  Allaah  be  pleased  with  him considered that he should not divide the land which was conquered by force among the conquerors, rather he thought of setting it as an endowment for all the Muslims and imposed a given tax on whoever sows the land.

Al-Awzaa'i may  Allaah  have  mercy  upon  him said: 'When 'Umar, and the companions  may  Allaah  be  pleased  with  them conquered Ancient Syria, they agreed to leave village dwellers in their villages with whatever land they had, so that they would cultivate it and pay tax on it to the Muslims. They were of the view that no Muslim should buy the land that these villagers had, and these villagers should not sell it to them neither by their own will nor being forced to do so. The Muslims disliked buying or appropriating the land because 'Umar, and the companions  may  Allaah  be  pleased  with  them agreed to set these lands as an endowment for the entire Muslims. This land should not be sold or inherited as it will be used as a force in making Jihaad against the non-Muslims whom the Muslims have not yet fought against.'

Allaah Knows best.

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