Land Ownership and Its Forms among the Arabs before Islam

Abstract

Pre-Islamic Arab society was marked by a duality between nomadic and sedentary life. Nomadic groups relied on pastoralism and mobility, leading to limited stability and unclear individual land ownership, with collective ownership prevailing. In contrast, sedentary communities achieved relative stability through agriculture and trade, contributing to the development of property concepts.

Agricultural land ownership took various forms, including state ownership under rulers, temple ownership linked to religious institutions, and private ownership in urban and semi-urban societies. Public ownership also existed, allowing shared use of land, while limited feudal-like features appeared in some regions. These patterns reflect the influence of social structure and economic stability on land ownership systems.