Question 1360) - What is Mawat [virgin land]? How is its Ihya [revival/cultivation] made?

A: Mawat is such land from which no benefit is derived, because the land no longer receives water; or it is submerged in water; or for any other similar reason which prevents cultivation. It is permissible to cultivate ancient land which has no master; or it had an owner during the Islaamic period but its specific owner cannot be identified' The land must be so far from the city that if one stood by the building right at the end of the city and shouted, one would not be heard in that land.

~ al-Quduri ~