Section: Expenditure

In distributing funds, priority must be given to the most important public interests of the Muslims, then to the next most important, such as providing stipends to those whose work benefits Muslims generally.

These include the fighting forces, who provide military support and wage jihad. They have the strongest claim to fay revenues, since these are obtained only through them. Indeed, the jurists have differed over whether fay revenues are reserved exclusively for them or may be allocated to all public interests. As for other state revenues, there is agreement that they serve all public interests, except for funds earmarked for particular categories, such as zakat and spoils of war.

Those entitled to receive funds also include people entrusted with the Muslims’ affairs, such as governors, judges, scholars, and officials responsible for collecting, safeguarding, and distributing funds, and similar duties. This extends to prayer leaders, muezzins, and others in comparable roles.

Funds may likewise be spent on purchases and wages for works of general benefit: securing frontier posts with mounts and weapons, maintaining public thoroughfares that require maintenance—including bridges and arched bridges—and waterways such as rivers.

Those entitled to receive funds also include people in need, for the jurists have differed over whether they should be given priority