’ard al-mamlakah

Definition of "’ard al-mamlakah"

A generic term used for all lands owned by the state. In case of such lands, the cultivator is a state tenant and does not possess the right of alienation or transfer. It is also known as al-’ard al hawz, al-’ard al-sultaniyah or al-’ard li-bait al-mal. Main sources of these lands are: (i) conquest of foreign lands not occupied by anyone at the time of conquest; (ii) state accession of lands left by the heirless; (iii) khumus of the conquered lands; and (iv) lands conquered by storm and appropriated by head of the state to the bait al-mal.