Fully utilize the land

In line with the principle of moderation, Islam also calls for any land owner or land manager to fully utilize the land and shall never leave the land abandoned or idle. Nowadays, people compete to live in town thus leave his property back home unattended. In this regard, Islam allows many other ways of utilizing the land such as lease, rent and enter into a security transaction form. Apart from that, land owners are encouraged to enter into any form of joint venture project as a platform to diversify the economic activities. The Prophet as well as his caliphs made a practice to forfeit any land earlier granted to the owner for failure to enliven the land within certain reasonable period. The common practice is the land will be forfeited after three years the land was left idle.

Man also has a duty to make his life in this world meaningful. (I’mar) He is required to dwell in this earth, work on it, and establish a balanced way of life without excesses or deficiencies. Here, I’mar indicates any positive acts that would make life on earth prosperous. If the acts deviate man from the right path, thus the act cannot be referred as I’mar.

Land management entails justice

Islam allows interference of the ruling authorities to secure the common welfare and eliminate injuries to society. This is in fact, their original and primary duty. Land being the main factor for development requires a collective and integrated management so as to overrule the right of individuals or private right. In line with this, the governing authorities have the right to reserve land for public purpose and to acquire land to be used by the public. This purpose, to a certain extent allowed the government to acquire private land provided that adequate compensation is paid to the owner and any other persons who are affected by the process. Similarly, justice in Islam has no limit, thus, proper area must also be allocated for the preservation of wildlife, forests, water catchments, rivers and grazing area. Allah reminds us that he created the earth for living creatures.(Surah ar Rahman :10). Therefore, land management agenda should not put aside the issue of preservation of other flora and fauna. The issue of environment is fundamental and crucial and should be part and parcel of land management as well.

Good management contributes to social justice

A good management of land will certainly able to solve not only economical problem but also social problems. The teachings of Islam never brush aside the public matters. Islam emphasizes that if there is any conflict between the interest of the community and the interest of the individual, the public interest will always prevail. In this regard, land management in Islam also includes matters pertaining to financial contribution including collection and distribution of zakat, the management of waqaf properties, the distribution of inheritance and hibah, wasissyah as well as harta sepencarian. A good and fair management will certainly reflect equal share of distribution of the properties. Ideally, there should be no problem of poverty when there is even a wealthy man in a Muslim state. Islam determines that land should be granted equally for the individual and the community as a whole. The prophet saw has distributed land for his people based on their needs and contribution. It has been a practice that warriors have been allocated lands from the war. Nevetheless, Saydina Umar refused to continue this practice and he raised his concern over the right of the public in the future when all lands been distributed among the soldiers. The more vigorous the activities of any land, the more profit it shall give to the owner and the state. Contribution to the state should reflect the benefit to be enjoyed by the mankind as a whole.

Good land management eliminates destruction and prevents damage

The principles of land management must include the duty to avoid committing any act that may harm or damage others. The land owners as well as the governing authorities have the obligation to take the necessary measures and actions in order to eliminate or minimize damage and replace when necessary. It is also the duty of the government to take all necessary actions to avoid, prevent or minimize damage before it occurs in application of the principles “There shall be no damage and no infliction of damage”.

Land development must consider sustainable factors in order to make it ecologically sustainable. It should be planned and carried out in accordance with natural constraints, ecological values and environmental balance. Any development should not lead to any kind of damage, harm, or degradation in the natural environment or others.

Man is not allowed to cause damage to this world in order to enjoy and traverse it. No man can forcibly take a thing from another. For this purpose, we are required to maintain the productivity of the soil, and not to expose it to erosion by wind, flood, rain or weak land as a result of excessive forestry activities, buildings constructions, farming, mining and industry activities. Our activities should circumvent degradation but preserve and enhance the earth’s fertility.

Conclusion In conclusion, land management is not confined to management of land per se but it must start with the management of human conduct and attitude. A correct understanding of man’s role and duties would prepare a framework of good land management as prescribed by Allah swt. A Muslim will enjoy both the rewards as well the benefit emanates from good land management in this world and in the Hereafter.

References:

Al Qur an,Abdullah Yusuf Ali, translation and Commentary, Al Rajhi Company, USA.

Fazlun M Khalid, “Islam and the Environment” in Vol. 5, Social and economic dimensions of global environmental change, edited by Peter Timerman, in Encyclopedia of Global Environmental Change, John Wiley Y Sons Ltd., Chichester, 2002,332-339.