The iqta system, developed during the Abbasid period, reached a new level of sophistication and importance in the context of the military fiefs in the Sultanate period. The Sultan granted iqtas (land grants) to military commanders and administrators in return for military service. These iqtadars collected revenue from the land they were granted and used a portion of it to maintain their troops and for their own salaries, remitting the rest to the central treasury.
The iqta system allowed the Sultan to reward his loyal followers and to maintain a standing military force. However, it also led to a weakening of central authority, as powerful iqtadars could become semi-autonomous and even challenge the Sultan's authority. To counter this risk, the Sultans often rotated iqta assignments and implemented other mechanisms to maintain control.