the stipendiaries in the military register are not given anything from zakat funds, because their entitlement is from fayʾ. However, the apparent wording of Aḥmad’s statement (may Allah have mercy on him) indicates that either of the two funds may be disbursed to either of the two groups, according to need. In a report narrated by al-Athram, he said: “One may be equipped from zakat for the cause of Allah.” Allah Most High said, “and in the cause of Allah.” He then said: “I have been informed that some people say, ‘It may not be used for the cause of Allah.’ I do not know what they are basing that on.” In the narration of ʿAbd Allāh, concerning a wealthy man who goes forth in the cause of Allah, he said: “He may partake of charity.”
Thus, he permitted zakat to be given for the cause of Allah and did not distinguish between those enrolled in the military register and the volunteers. He cited the verse, which is general in wording.
Fourth, he must appoint ʿurafāʾ (unit leaders) over both groups and nuqabāʾ (senior commanders) over them, so that through their ʿurafāʾ and nuqabāʾ he may learn their circumstances and have them readily at hand whenever he summons them. The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) did this during his military campaigns. Allah Most High also said, “and We made you peoples and tribes so that you may know one another” (49:13). It has been said that the peoples are the more distant lineages, while the tribes are the closer lineages; this was stated by Mujāhid. It has also been said that the peoples are the Arabs of Qaḥṭān, while the tribes are the Arabs of ʿAdnān. And it has been said that the peoples are the subdivisions of the non-Arabs, while the tribes are the subdivisions of the Arabs.
Fifth, he must assign each group a rallying cry to which its members can call one another, so that they may thereby be distinguished and, by gathering around it, mutually support one another. ʿUrwah ibn al-Zubayr narrated from his father that “the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) made the rallying cry of the Muhājirūn, ‘O sons of ʿAbd al-Raḥmān’; the rallying cry of the Khazraj, ‘O sons of ʿAbd Allāh’; and the rallying cry of the Aws, ‘O sons of ʿUbayd Allāh.’ He called his cavalry ‘the cavalry of Allah.’”
Sixth, he must inspect the army and its members, removing anyone who seeks to discourage the fighters, spread alarm among the Muslims, or act as a spy for the polytheists against them. The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) sent Ibn Ubayy ibn Salul back during one of his campaigns because he had sought to discourage the Muslims.