What is the legal classification of the land of Sham (the Levant)?

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The land of Sham is generally considered conquered land (*'anwah*). However, exceptions exist; Homs and one other location were excluded from being considered *'anwah* according to Ahmad. Abu Ubayd stated that the cities of Sham were conquered by treaty (*sulh*), except for Caesarea (*Qaysariyya*), which was conquered by force (*'anwah*).