Iqta'

Iqta' was a system used in medieval Islamic societies where land or revenue rights were granted to officials or nobles in exchange for military or administrative service. Instead of owning the land outright, the recipient managed it and collected taxes, fitting into a hierarchy that supported governance and defense. The land remained technically under the state's authority, but the iqta' holder had control over its resources. This system encouraged loyalty and provided a way to finance the state’s needs without direct taxation, functioning as a form of revenue-sharing that linked service to land management.