Type of land tenure system practiced in early Islamic societies.
Under the iqṭāʽ system, which began in the 9th century, political leaders awarded the right of usufruct over land to an individual (usually in exchange for military service) for a limited period. It differed from feudal land tenure practiced in Europe by the fact that land in the Islamic system remained the property of the original owner, not the recipient or granter of the iqṭāʽ . The exact implementation of the system varied from region to region and changed over time.