The Qualities of Those Entitled to the Fay
It is incumbent upon everyone who receives a share of the fay—whether from the Prophet’s kin or from any other group—to adorn themselves with the traits that Allah attributes to the beneficiaries of the fay in His Book, where He says: “Whatever Allah has restored to His Messenger from the people of the towns belongs to Allah, to the Messenger, to the near of kin, the orphans, the needy, and the traveler” 2—and so on in the following verses.

From this passage, Allah divides the people of the fay into three categories: (1) the Emigrants, (2) the Helpers, and (3) those who came after them, praying, “Our Lord, forgive us and our brothers who preceded us in faith; do not place in our hearts any resentment toward the believers. Our Lord, You are Most Kind, Ever-Merciful.”

The fay came into Muslim hands only through the striving, faith, emigration, and support of the Emigrants and the Helpers. Those who appear later take from it merely as successors to those pioneers, just as an heir takes his father’s estate; and if he is not loyal to his forebear, he does not deserve the inheritance—just as a Muslim does not inherit