Close examination of any of the property assets, whether they exist naturally, like a mushroom or whether they exist by man’s effort, such as a loaf or a car, clearly suggests that their acquisition requires work.

The term ’Amal (work) has a wide meaning encompassing numerous types and forms and has various results, therefore the Shar’a (divine legislation) did not leave the word ‘Amal in its absolute form without definition. It also did not define ‘Amal in a general form but mentioned certain specific forms of work. It demonstrated the types of work and those that are accepted to be means of ownership. By examining the divine rules that describe work, it appears that the types of legal work, which are a valid means of possessing property, are the following:

1. Cultivation of unused (dead) land.

2. Extracting that which exists inside the earth, or in the air.

3. Hunting.

4. Brokerage (Samsara) and Commission Agency (Dalala).

5. Partnership of body and capital (Mudharaba).

6. Sharecropping (Musaqat).

7. Working for others for a wage.