Whatever wealth the Muslims rightfully seize from the unbelievers through combat is ghanīmah (war booty). The commander divides it into five portions: one portion follows the ruling of fayʾ and is spent on the Muslims’ overarching public interests, while the remaining four-fifths are distributed among the fighters. The foot-soldier receives one share, whereas the mounted warrior receives three shares—one for himself and two for his horse.

The basis for the ruling on fayʾ is the Almighty’s words: “Whatever Allah has restored to His Messenger from the people of the towns belongs to Allah, the Messenger, the relatives, the orphans, the needy, and the traveler” (Qur’an 59:7).

The foundation for the obligation of setting aside one-fifth is His statement: “Know that whatever you gain as spoils, one fifth of it belongs to Allah, the Messenger, the relatives, the orphans, the needy, and the traveler …” (Qur’an 8:41); the remainder goes to the combatants. The text establishing the distribution of ghanīmah is His saying: “So consume of the spoils you have taken—lawful and good” (Qur’an 8:69). It is also sound and well known that the Prophet ﷺ divided booty among the fighters. Aḥmad and Abū Dāwūd narrate from Ibn ʿUmar that “the Prophet ﷺ allotted three shares: one for the man himself and two for his horse.” The wording in the two Ṣaḥīḥs states: “He assigned two shares to the horse and one share to the foot-soldier.”

This hadith therefore shows that if the Muslims approach a village or tribe, besiege it, and no fighting occurs—Allah, in His might and honor, having cast terror into their hearts so they flee—its property is classified as fayʾ and is directed to the Muslims’ common welfare. However, if a village or tribe defies the Messenger, fighting ensues, and their wealth is captured, that wealth is ghanīmah and is divided among the combatants. Any land tax subsequently imposed upon them is treated like fayʾ and spent in the same manner.