What is the ruling if an Imam grants land that the grantee proves unable to revive?

General Chapter

Al-Mughni

Book of Reviving Dead Land

Book 26 · Issue 2 · Bab 1

Open in Qurani

Primary text

If the Imam grants land and it subsequently becomes clear that the recipient is incapable of reviving it, the land must be reclaimed from him. This is established by the precedent where Umar reclaimed from Bilal ibn al-Harith that portion of Al-'Aqiq, which the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) had granted him, which Bilal was unable to cultivate.