As for the lands: every land which becomes clear to us that it is among that upon which its people accepted Islam, then it is valid for us to dispose of it by purchasing from them, by exchange, and what follows their course. As for the lands of kharaj (aradi al-kharaj), the lands of anfal (aradi al-anfal), and those from which their people have departed, we have also been permitted to dispose of them as long as the Imam (ajf), peace be upon him, is concealed. Then when he appears, the Qa’im (ajf), peace be upon him, will decide concerning that according to his view, and we, in our disposal, will not be sinful. We have already presented what indicates that, and what also indicates it is what he narrated (in the following hadith):
Commentary #5