the spoils of Badr, for the verse was revealed concerning them when they disputed their distribution:

“Say, ‘The spoils belong to Allah and the Messenger.’” [al-Anfāl: 1] The verse continues.

The term anfāl is also used for both fay’ and war spoils, since both are gifts from Allah Most High bestowed exclusively upon this community, to the exclusion of all other communities. Nāfilah means a gift. Allah, Mighty and Majestic, says:

“And We granted him Isaac, and Jacob as an additional gift.” [al-Anbiyā’: 72]

And He, Most High, says:

“And rise in prayer during part of the night as an additional act of worship for you; it may be that your Lord will raise you to a station of praise.” [al-Isrā’: 79]

For this reason, whatever the imam grants from the spoils beyond the army’s allotted shares is called nafl (a bonus). The man who questioned Ibn ‘Abbās about anfāl was only asking—Allah knows best—about the word’s derivation and what it meant for the spoils to belong to Allah and the Messenger. He was not satisfied with the answer Ibn ‘Abbās gave him, although it offered ample clarification for anyone who reflected, and kept repeating his question until Ibn ‘Abbās had him leave.

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There is disagreement over the portion from which the imam may award bonuses. One view is that he may award them only from the fifth, since the remaining four-fifths belong to those who took the spoils, whereas the allocation of the fifth is subject to the imam’s judgment. This is Mālik’s position. Another view is that bonuses may be awarded only from the four-fifths remaining after the fifth has been deducted, since, according to those who hold this view, Allah Most High has assigned the fifth to those mentioned in the verse, and none of it may be diverted from them. A further view permits the imam to award bonuses from the entire booty before deducting its fifth.

Mālik—may Allah Most High have mercy on him—does not consider it permissible for the imam to promise bonuses before battle, lest people become eager for the reward and their intentions in jihad be corrupted. If this does occur, however, it is allowed to stand, given the disagreement on the matter and the reports transmitted concerning it.

As for the personal effects of a slain enemy, one view is that they belong to the one who killed him only if the imam awards them to him as a bonus, whether from the fifth, from the booty before any deduction, or after the fifth has been deducted, in accordance with the disagreement already mentioned regarding bonuses other than these personal effects. Another view is that they belong to the killer by a ruling of the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, without requiring a fresh order from the imam. A further view is that the imam deducts a fifth from them, leaving the killer only four-fifths.

It has also been said that the imam may award bonuses only from one-fifth of the fifth. This is refuted by Ibn ‘Umar’s report concerning the detachment sent by the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace—