gathering at the Farewell Pilgrimage, where he said: “Indeed, your blood, your property, and your honour are inviolable to one another.” (1) It is authentically reported from him, may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him, that he said: “The property of a Muslim man is not lawful except with his willing consent.” (2) And it is authentically reported from him, may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him, that he said: “Whoever wrongfully takes even a handspan of land, Allah will encircle him with it on the Day of Resurrection from seven earths.” (3)

The scholars are agreed in general on its prohibition; that is, it is forbidden for a person to take his brother’s property without right. Sound public interest also requires its prohibition, because it entails transgression against people’s property and leads to disorder.

Is it among the major sins?

The answer is that there is no general text establishing usurpation as one of the major sins. However, certain forms of usurpation have been designated in the Sacred Law as major sins, such as wrongfully taking land and consuming the property of orphans. So should we confine this to what has been specifically threatened with punishment, saying that the remainder falls under the general prohibition? Or should we say that what has been mentioned is by way of example, and that this ruling is general? There is