Kashif Shahzada

Whose Land Is It Anyway?

Have you ever wondered whether what you think is yours, really is yours? Where did it all come from originally? How did it all get under my ownership? The land that we walk upon was here before we were, therefore we cannot claim to have absolute ownership on it. One could say that land was bestowed on him by his forefathers and to them by their forefathers. No matter how high a chain we go, we cannot prove our absolute ownership of what we possess, for neither were we responsible for bringing it into existence, nor our ancestors, but all was given freely to us. The fact is that we are not owners but trustees on what is under our dominion till our physical lives. Once we die, then the piece of land under us is divided and made into smaller shares to go to someone else.

The fact of the matter is that the world was not created with borders or fences but was meant for all its inhabitants. It is we who draw borders and restrict what is within it only to our own race, class, colour or creed. Originally, this wasn’t the way it was meant to be. Similarly, the smaller piece of land under our dominion, our farms, our factories, our offices, all these are not meant for our sole use only. If we posses them, then there is a purpose behind this possession. This is what I wish to explain here.

Who Is The Ultimate Owner of Land?

Land was created by and therefore “belongs to God, and not to any tribe, national group or individual” (Quran):

 

 

 

Said Moses to his people, “Seek help through Allah and be patient. Indeed, the earth belongs to Allah . He causes to inherit it whom He wills of His servants. And the [best] outcome is for the righteous.” 7:128 Saheeh International

If land belongs to Allah, then those who believe in Him do not monopolise it solely for their own ends.

Then Where Do We Fit In?

We are not absolute owners, but trustees. Land Is a trust or Amanah. One has to be an Ameen i.e. faithful to what has been entrusted to him. Betraying that trust means ignoring the laws regarding it and doing as we wish with our possessions, using it for our sole enjoyment, or worse to create disorder and corruption by its produce. The godly utilise whatever land under their dominion in accordance with God-given values as a trust. They share the produce of the land which is beyond their needs and allow the result of its toil to flow freely among all thereby ensuring that “the wealth does not circulate only among the rich.”

 

 

 

 

 

And what Allah restored to His Messenger from the people of the towns – it is for Allah and for the Messenger and for near relatives and orphans and the [stranded] traveler – so that it will not be a perpetual distribution among the rich from among you. And whatever the Messenger has given you – take; and what he has forbidden you – refrain from. And fear Allah ; indeed, Allah is severe in penalty. 59:7 Saheeh International

Notice the purpose of distribution of surplus wealth being: “so that it will not be a perpetual distribution among the rich from among you.” clearly shows that an arrangement where wealth is not shared, where it is stagnant among a few only, while the wider masses are in extreme poverty, is not the Divine aim and purpose. The godly are commanded to create a just and equitable distribution of wealth among all.

Egoistical Self Aggrandisation Of The Ungodly

In contrast, the ungodly upon laying a claim on land, hoard its wealth, restrict its output for those in need, usurp their rights and declare selfishly that it is solely theirs to keep “because of the knowledge & skill that they possess.” Their psyche in which they seek their own praise instead of being grateful to The Giver is described as:

 

 

 

 

He (Qaroon) said, “I was only given it because of knowledge I have.” Did he not know that Allah had destroyed before him of generations those who were greater than him in power and greater in accumulation [of wealth]? But the criminals, about their sins, will not be asked. 28:78 Saheeh International

Notice the ego in his statement, “I was only given it because of knowledge I have.” It is this self centred false belief of being a superior and higher intelligent being, that makes one greedy and unwilling to depart with the surplus. The fact is that even the knowledge and skill that we possess, is it our own creation? Certainly not. The knowledge was there prior to us, and our skills were taught to us by somebody. Even the genes we carry are coming through generations. So why lie and claim false credit for what we are not really responsible for bringing into existence?

Fulfilment of Basic Material Needs Of The Poor is a Human Right, Not a Privilege or Altruistic Act Done Out Of Sympathy Or compassion

The earth is for all its dwellers and inhabitants – the weak as well as the powerful and not just for a particular class or category of people. Those who have the power, knowledge and skill produce more, while those with lesser abilities produce less. The surplus of the former should be shared with the latter as it was originally their right, which due to weaknesses could not come to them.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And He it is who causes gardens to grow, [both] trellised and untrellised, and palm trees and crops of different [kinds of] food and olives and pomegranates, similar and dissimilar. Eat of [each of] its fruit when it yields and give its due [HAQQAHU] on the day of its harvest. And be not excessive. Indeed, He does not like those who commit excess. 6:141 Saheeh International

“..and give its due [HAQQAHU] on the day of its harvest..” is clear in establishing that the needy, the poor, the disabled have A RIGHT (Haqq) on land, as much as the able bodied have. Not giving them what is their right is to deny Divine law, and qualify one’s self for retribution. But this sharing of wealth can never occur until or unless there is the realisation that all humankind is one fraternity and each and everyone of us has the right to dwell and attain nourishment from this earth:

 

 

 

And in their wealth and possessions (was remembered) the right of the (needy,) him who asked, and him who (for some reason) was prevented (from asking). 51:19 Yusuf Ali

Once we see our fellow human beings as having a commonality that pervades us as well, it is then that we treat them on an equal and just footing. Believers do not give to the needy out of sympathy, but as their right (Haqq) according to the above verses. The surplus that came to us, for some reason, is not ours, it is the right of those in need which they could not acquire because of their weakness. We should restore back to them what was due to them originally.

This is the test on the privileged for which they shall be held accountable in the hereafter. Belief on this accountability enables one to voluntarily give up what does not belong too him or is beyond his needs. While lack of belief would require governments and authorities to impose laws and force the wealthy to part with their wealth.

Change By External Force Vs Change By Inner Conviction

By making laws to coerce people to part with their surplus wealth can never be successful. What will be more effective is education so that people voluntarily and out of their free will realise the importance of parting with land for the sake of a divine duty and belief in accountability in afterlife.

Change brought about externally, through coercive means is no change at all, because it is caused by fear. When fear is no more, old behaviours return. True change, on the other hand is the one which we bring in ourself, within us, by our own means and convictions. Qur’anic education is the means to bring such an change in our inner persons.

So next time you exult over the piece of land under your dominion, then remember, it is not yours to enjoy and keep. It belongs to Allah, who has given it to you for your legitimate use, as a trust and to share its surplus with those in need.

This is the crux of the matter.