Definition & Ruling

**Linguistic Definition:** Al-Mawat (dead land): What has no soul - meaning land that is not cultivated and has no owner. **Technical Definition:** Land free from specific claims and ownership of a protected person. It is barren land that no one owns, with no trace of cultivation - or land with traces of ownership and cultivation but no known owner. **Ruling:** Reviving dead land is **permissible** and may be **recommended** for people's and animals' benefit. **Evidence:** - **Hadith:** "Whoever revives dead land, it is his. And the wrongful claimant has no right" [Abu Dawud, Tirmidhi - sahih] - *Wrongful claimant ('irq dhalim):* One who comes to land another has revived and plants or cultivates to claim ownership - **Hadith:** "Whoever revives dead land has reward in it, and what creatures eat from it is charity for him" [Darimi, Ahmad - sahih]