Sharʿi Ruling on Pledging (Rahn) Land with Evidence
Source: Fatāwā ʿIlmiyyah (Tawḍīḥ al-Aḥkām), Vol. 2, p. 221
Question:
Is it permissible to pledge (mortgage) land? Please explain with evidence.
Answer:
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu wa-s-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh, ʿAmma Baʿd!
It is permissible to pledge (rahn) land. The evidence is the practice of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, who pledged his iron armor.
✿ As mentioned in the ḥadīth:
“The Messenger of Allah ﷺ pledged his armor.”
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 2508, Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 1603)
Benefit from the Pledged Land
✿ If the person holding the land as a pledge benefits from it,
✿ he should keep a record of that benefit,
✿ and when the land is returned:
❀ The benefit he took should be deducted from the pledged amount.
❀ The remaining amount should be taken back, and the land should be released.
ھٰذَا مَا عِندِي وَاللّٰهُ أَعْلَمُ بِالصَّوَابِ
